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2007 YMCA Peace Medal Award

Local School Teacher to receive YMCA Peace Medal Award

Saint John, NB— The Saint John YMCA-YWCA will be recognizing this year’s YMCA Peace Medallion recipient, Angela Marr, at a ceremony held on November 23rd at Lily Lake Pavilion.  Doors open at 7:00 a.m. and breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m.

Ms. Marr, a native of Saint John, is a teacher of grades 7 & 8 at Princess Elizabeth School.  She received her BSC at UNBSJ and went on to earn her Bachelor of Education at UNB Fredericton.  Her love of travel has enabled her to use her experience to enhance her student’s education and to give them a rare insight into truly helping others.

In 2005 Angela, with the help of her current Grade 7 homeroom students, produced the first ‘See the World and Share a Dish” Cultural Night and Pot Luck Dinner.  Princess Elizabeth School has a high population of international students, and at that time Angela had 9 additional language kids in her class.  “Diversity was very evident” explained Angela, “I wanted to make the whole school, not just the kids in my class, feel welcome and feel comfortable.”  So her class got together and decided to host a pot luck dinner.

“That first year I thought if we get 50 it would be awesome”, she said.  “We got about 130.”  So began a very successful event that continues to grow within the school as well as in the community.  The grade 7 students plan everything; Angela says she’s just the overseer.  The event is normally held in March on or around the ‘Day for the Elimination of Discrimination’.

Angela, whose experience in Guatemala has encouraged the children in her class to participate by raising money for soccer balls and food for students and families in Guatemala, which she had the privilege to deliver personally.  “It was really cool on my end to see them take ownership of this initiative; I just delivered the items, but it was really their gift.”

Asked why she thinks she was nominated for the 2007 YMCA Peace Medal, Angela struggled to answer.  When initially asked if her name could be put forward for nomination, her response was ‘Are you sure?”.  She finds it difficult to reconcile other people’s perceptions with her actions, but explains it as showing her students that there is a world bigger than their own.  “We need to appreciate that we are different and when we are blessed with something then it’s our responsibility to go the next step and help other people.”  Angela explains it very simply.  “Bottom line is that you need to help people.” 

Kent Staal, who had the honour of informing Ms. Marr that she would be this years’ recipient of the YMCA Peace Medal sums it up very easily.  “When you speak to past recipients, the answer is always the same:  strong values and just doing the right thing.”  Kent explained.  “It is not an easy question to answer.  From Angela’s point of view, she isn’t necessarily doing anything special, until somebody recognizes that yes, there is something special going on.”  Angela is very appreciative of the recognition from her peers and the honour from the Saint John YMCA-YWCA.

The International Committee invites the community to join them in honouring Ms. Marr at a breakfast on November 23rd, 7:30 a.m. (door open at 7:00 a.m.) at Lily Lake Pavilion.  Tickets are $10.00 each and can be purchased at the Membership Services Desk at Prince Edward Square or by calling 634-4937.

Every one of us has the power to make a peaceful difference, yet we don’t always use it. The Saint John YMCA-YWCA, together with YMCA associations across Canada, is marking YMCA World Peace Week held November 17-24, 2007 by encouraging kids, youth and adults to create peace by living it, every day, with family, friends, neighbours and colleagues. 

“In today’s globalized world, our many interconnections are defining the world in which we live. Our actions at home have an impact on the people elsewhere in the world. The more we understand these connections, the more empowered we become to make a positive impact, locally and around the world,” says Kent Staal, General Manager, at the Saint John Y.

Although the YMCA incorporates peace building activities year round, YMCA World Peace Week places special emphasis on teaching children and youth about exploring peace from a personal, community and international perspective and on recognizing the peace efforts of local residents.

2007 marks the 20th anniversary of recognizing community peace builders in Canada by awarding them the YMCA Peace Medallion. Since 1987, some 900 individuals and groups have received YMCA Peace Medallions during YMCA World Peace Week.

“The Peace Medallion recipients have led the way in showing how any one of us has the ability or power to create positive social change without special resources. They are a tremendous inspiration and role model for improving the quality of life in a community, either at home or overseas,” says Gary Howard Board Chair.

To commemorate this significant milestone, a special commemorative booklet, called Voices for Peace, was developed. Recipients of the YMCA Peace Medallion were asked to synthesize their lifetime’s journey of experience and learning into one brief message of wisdom to help create Voices for Peace. This resource, along with the YMCA Peace Building Activity Guide for children and youth, is available for download at www.ymca.ca.

The Saint John YMCA-YWCA is a charity serving the community since 1854.  Our ‘open door’ policy of not turning away anyone, regardless of their economic circumstance, has helped more than 600 youth with memberships in the past year.  The Sponsored Membership/Campership program is made possible by the generous support of the United Way, the donors to the Strong Kids Campaign, foundations and grants.

T-shirts will be available in November. 

Thank you to everyone who order a Peace T-shirt.  You will be notified when and where they can be picked up.

2006 YMCA Peace Medal Award

YMCA Peace Week will be celebrated November 18th to the 25th, 2006.  The 2006 YMCA Peace Medal will be presented at a luncheon on Thursday, November 23rd, 2006 at 12 noon at the Saint John YMCA-YWCA, Hazen Avenue.  Tickets will be available October 10th for purchase at the front desk at a cost of $10.00 each. 

The Saint John YMCA-YWCA Will Honour
Two with 2006 YMCA Peace Medal

YMCA World Peace Week 2006

Each year, many YMCAs and YMCA-YWCAs across Canada celebrate YMCA World Peace Week by dedicating a full week in November to explore peace from a personal, community and international perspective. This year’s Peace Week is being held November 18-25, 2006 and the theme is, “the power of peace…the power of people.”

As a values-based charity, the YMCA in Canada is dedicated to teaching children and youth about the many dimensions of peace while also instilling values such as tolerance, inclusiveness, caring, respect and responsibility for others. YMCA World Peace Week includes programs that promote peace building activities both at home and abroad.

On Thursday, November 23 at noon at the Saint John YMCA-YWCA, Yasmin Ojah and the Dr David Stephen Memorial Foundation will be honoured as recipients of the YMCA Peace Medal.   This is the first year in recent history that the Saint John Y has chosen to award two medals.  “There were a number of outstanding nominations this year and the selection committee chose Yasmin Ojah as an individual and the Dr. David Stephen Memorial Foundation as a group, each for their efforts in creating peace in our communities.” said Pat Davis, CEO.

Yasmin has been, and is active locally, provincially and nationally with concerns and issues regarding Immigration and Literacy.  “She leads by quiet and consistent example as a teacher, a mentor and a friend.”

The Dr. David Stephen Memorial Foundation is concerned with heightening awareness of child abuse and its effects.  Their educational and training efforts are aimed at eliminating child abuse and allowing children to become confident, productive people in spite of their unfortunate circumstances.

The community is welcome to attend the luncheon and can purchase tickets at the Y on Hazen Ave for $10.  All proceeds from the luncheon will be directed to Y International initiatives.