Vision Statement | Poster & Music | Articles

Ottawa Valley region performers and choirs are adopting an alternative approach to promoting peace. On Saturday, May 14 between 10am and 12 noon they will celebrate peace through song. Attendees of the event will unite as one voice to send their message for peace by participating in a Peace Song Circle on Parliament Hill. Groups performing at the two-hour long event will include: Mennonite Church Choir, Ottawa Folklore Choir, Ottawa Community Gospel Choir, Montessori School Choir, Sacred Dance Guild and Dances for Universal Peace. Local singers and musicians will also perform for us on this special day. By our participation we keep alive Canada's role as a peacekeeping nation. 

The motto for the event sums up what we are asking of participants and of those in attendance -- Sing for Peace, Stand for Peace, Be Peace. We believe that the only way to achieve lasting peace is by fostering it within and by re-evaluating the choices we make daily in our lives. The objectives of Friends for Peace are to promote, strengthen and maintain peace and justice within our communities and the environment. 

Friends for Peace will achieve its goals by: 

(1) supporting specific projects that seek to fulfil our objectives, and to bring about peace through eradicating injustice; 

(2) engaging in outreach programs in schools, churches, environmental and other similar groups to educate and expand awareness and acceptance of one another, thereby uniting people from all walks of life regardless of age, political affiliation, faith or ethnic background; 

3) support the creation of infrastructure in our institutions so that peace processes are valued and legitimized; and 

(4) building spiritual communities and encouraging all to embrace the pursuit of inner peace through meditation and mindful living as an alternative to conflict. 

Building on the positive momentum generated by recent assemblies for peace that have been staged in the Ottawa region, Friends for Peace, a coalition of meditation, activist, environmental and peace groups, have organized the Peace Song Circle as a call to maintain peace and justice within our communities and the environment. The event is created around music because of its universal strength and ability to create a positive energy through which to communicate the message of peace. The Peace Song Circle encourages all to come out on this day and celebrate peace together. 

For more information, please contact: Ian Prattis, Peace Song Circle Coordinator 613 726-0881