International Peace Week
YMCA Peace Week is an annual event where YMCAs across Canada plan activities to celebrate and promote peace and peace-building within their communities and communities internationally.
YMCA International Peace Week provides an opportunity to teach children, youth and adults about the many dimensions of peace such as tolerance, inclusiveness, caring, respect and responsibility for others.
The Saint John Y, together with YMCA’s across Canada, are always inspiring and empowering children, youth and adults to make a positive impact. This is especially true during Peace Week which runs from November 19 - 26, 2011.
Although peace building is part of the Saint John Y’s year round programs, extra emphasis is placed on exploring peace on many different levels during Peace Week. This year, inspiring others to become actively engaged in peace in their everyday lives is being emphasized as an important part of peace building. “In today’s globalized world, we are all connected to each other more than we may realize,” says Shilo Boucher, Acting CEO of the Saint John Y. “Through sharing our message of peace we are able to inspire others to become engaged in peaceful actions”.
The Saint John Y will be hosting the popular YMCA Peace Medal Breakfast on November 25th at 7:00 a.m. at Lily Lake Pavilion where the 2011 Peace Medal and the Youth Peacemaker Award will be presented.
The YMCA Peace Medal is awarded to an individual who, without any special resources, demonstrate a commitment to peace through special contributions made within their community. This year’s recipient is Scott Crawford. He has served as an ambassador and youth advocate in the community promoting peace and harmonious relations. Scott has brought programs to the city that have been instrumental in lowering crime rates. His service to the community is very evident in his work with the Old North End where he has demonstrated a belief that by investing in our youth, communities can overcome obstacles such as crime and poverty. Scott has been a role model to many and has proven that having faith, using innovative strategies and getting people to work together results in a more peaceful and harmonious community.
This year’s Youth Peacemaker Award recipient is Hanna Daltrop, a student at Saint Malachy’s Memorial High School. Hanna is very involved in school activities and was the inspiration behind District 8’s Pinwheels for Peace initiative. She has raised money for an orphanage in Uganda and is currently raising funds for the CHAT organization in Uganda. She is a leader for peace efforts in her school.
Tickets for the 2011 YMCA Peace Breakfast are $12.00 each and can be purchased at the Membership Services Desk at the Y’s Prince Edward Square location or by calling 634-4937. All proceeds raised go towards the Saint John Y International Programs.
As part of Peace Week activities, Karin Sundin, a volunteer with the International Committee, will be holding a public information session. The Saint John Y has a partnership with the Y of Honduras and Karin recently travelled there. There is an International Youth Participation Program in place that will provide the opportunity for youth aged 18 – 30 to travel to Honduras during the summer of 2013. Karin will provide information on the program and the application process. The session will be held at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, November 23 in the multi-purpose room at the Y’s Prince Edward Square location and on November 17 in Room G31 at Oland Hall at the UNBSJ campus.
Another fundraising event is being held in November in support of Y International Programs. On Saturday, November 12, 10,000 Villages will donate 15% of all purchases to the Y. The store, located at 116 Princess St, will be open extended hours from 10 am – 5 pm.
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