On Fri. Sept. 9 at 9 a.m., nine Manitoba communities will be simultaneously raising the Peace Days flag at their respective municipal offices to mark the official launch of the 7th annual Peace Days Festival.
This symbolic gesture represents a first-of-its-kind coordinated effort led by multiple municipal councils, including the Cities of Winnipeg and Selkirk, the Towns of Morris and Winnipeg Beach, the Village of Dunnottar, and the Rural Municipalities of East St. Paul, Gimli, St. Clements and West St. Paul.
“We would like to thank the Peace Days committee for allowing us to be a part of this,” said His Worship Randy Woroniuk, mayor of the Rural Municipality of Gimli.
“This festival celebrates the International Day of Peace as well as the International Day of Democracy and we believe this is a worthy cause to support. As a local government, this event will help us raise awareness about democracy, non-violence and peace-related initiatives.”
This year, Peace Days is taking place from Sept. 11 to 25 with events located in and around Winnipeg.
This year, with events located in and around Winnipeg, Peace Days is taking place from Sept. 11 to 25. Events include the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre’s Peace Day Art Display, the Compassion Games – Survival of the kindest, Caring For Families the “Ma Mawi Way”, Concert for Peace: “We Share the Moon, Why Not The Earth,” the Seeds of Hope Exhibition, Youth Reconciliation in Action – Breaking Down Barriers, the 3rd annual student walk for Peace at the Forks, and Seven Sacred Fires: Reconnecting the Circle, among many others.
Sponsored by Rotary District 5550 World Peace Partners, the International Day of Peace has been celebrated in Manitoba since 2010 with the ‘Music for Peace’ concert and eventually grew to become the Peace Days Festival in 2013.
Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on Sept. 21. The United Nations General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, within and among all nations of peoples.
“This year’s theme is ‘sowing the seeds of hope’ and we are thrilled to have a growing number of communities in the Rotary District 5550 region, comprising Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Northwestern Ontario, participate in the movement by sowing seeds of peace and compassion,” said David G. Newman, Q.C., Co-Chair and Co-Founder of Rotary District 5550 World Peace Partners and Peace Days.
“We strongly encourage all in the region to participate in taking meaningful action for peace in any way that they are capable by either attending one of the many events or by committing one minute, one hour or a day during Peace Days, in the spirit of peace and non-violence.”
More info on events and programming can be seen here: http://www.peacedays.ca/
Flag raising ceremonies: Sept. 9 at 9 a.m. – municipal offices.
All are invited to attend.
- Winnipeg: 510 Main Street
- Selkirk: 200 Eaton Avenue
- Morris: 1 – 380 Stampede Grounds
- Winnipeg Beach: 29 Robinson Avenue
- Dunnottar: Matlock Beach flag pole
- East St. Paul: 3021 Birds Hill Road
- Gimli: 62 – 2nd Avenue
- St. Clements: 1043 Kittson Road, East Selkirk
- West St. Paul: 3550 Main Street
