Peace Walk Marks International Day of Peace

To mark the International Day of Peace, four organizations affiliated with the Basilian Centre for Peace and Justice participated in a Blue Scarf Peace Walk. On Sunday, September 18, approximately 50 people, including 17 youth, gathered to walk along the streets of Toronto, Ontario stopping at landmarks and hearing from speakers on a range of social justice issues. The itinerary was:

START at Peace Garden – ‘Reflection on Indigenous Solidarity: Whose Land is this?’ by Father Bob Holmes, CSB

1. Court House – ‘Charter of Rights and Freedom’ by Rosemary Keenan
2. U.S. Consulate – ‘Ending Militarism’ by Eduard Uralek
3. Police 52 Division – ‘Ending Systemic Injustice’ by Father Bob Holmes, CSB
4. Trinity Square – ‘Clash of Consumerism and Homelessness’ by Len Desroches
5. Ryerson University – ‘Educating for a Sustainable Future’ by Sister Mary Anne Olekszyk
6. Cloud Gardens – ‘Climate Justice, Laudato Si” by Angela Orellana Schwalm
7. Bay Street – ‘Political Corruption, Dark Money’ by Eduard Uralek
8. War Memorial – ‘Resistance to all War’ by Susan Cannon
9. Toronto City Hall – ‘Civil Engagement’ by Rosemary Keenan
10. Peace Garden – ‘Ban Nuclear Weapons’ by Larry Carriere

FINAL PRAYER at Peace Garden by Carolyn Sue Kralik

The group fastened a blue scarf at some stops as reminder of the urgent need to work towards peace in a border free world. The event was organized by Father Bob Holmes, CSB and members of Camp Micah, Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), and Pax Christi Toronto. It was one of the 725 Campaign Nonviolence events world-wide.

The Blue Scarf Movement began in 2008 when a group of women wearing blue scarves gathered in war-torn Khandahar to publicly pray for peace and justice in Afghanistan. The movement continued to grow and today the symbol of the Blue Scarf is used all over the world.