Roch Carrier contributes to peace by writing about the effects of war. #Canada150

Roch Carrier wrote the novel La Guerre, Yes Sir! in 1968. It is set in a Québec village during the Second World War and exposes the violence in society, tensions between French and English-speaking Quebecers, and the impact of conscription on everyone’s lives. It was translated into English and adapted for the stage in 1970.

Carrier’s story, Le chandail de hockey (The Hockey Sweater, in English) is a Canadian classic with an excerpt once printed on the Canadian $5 bill.

Carrier has been the National Librarian of Canada and chair of the Canada Council.

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Dr. Alex Bryans contributed to peace by working for the abolition of nuclear weapons. #Canada150

Dr. Alex Bryans (died 2009) was a pediatrician and professor of pediatrics at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. He was active in Canadian Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War and founded Physicians for Global Survival, whose goals, in addition to the abolition of nuclear weapons, include the prevention of war, non-violent conflict resolution, social justice, and a sustainable world.

Dr. Bryans travelled widely to Russia, several African countries, Japan, and across Canada, writing and speaking in favour of the abolition of nuclear weapons. He testified to Parliamentary committees. The International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, with which he was affiliated, received a Nobel Peace Prize in 1995.

Dr. Bryans was also a painter, often depicting scenes reflecting his belief in peaceful conflict resolution.

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Faith Nolan contributes to peace by singing and empowering others to sing. #Canada150

Faith Nolan is a self-taught musician with over a dozen CDs to her credit.  Her music is a blend of blues, folk, and jazz. She is also an activist against racism and for women’s rights.

Born in Nova Scotia, she moved to Toronto where she founded and directed several choirs: Singing Elementary Teachers of Toronto, CUPE Freedom Singers, the Women of Central East Correctional Centre, and Sistering Singers. Nolan produced a film, Within These Cages, about women in prison, shining light on how poverty has created a disproportionate representation of poor women, especially black and First Nations women, in Canadian prisons.

“Music is a place of healing through the music. When women sing and write they express truth and raw emotions. This sharing helps them be present and take a break from their troubles. These songs will help heal in times of trouble.”

So if you’d like to see this magic in action, or if you’re now just feeling inspired to have a sing along, here is a video of Faith leading a few Songs of Solidarity at a demonstration against homelessness in Toronto in 2009.

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Animals used for therapy and their handlers contribute to peace by providing affection, comfort, and healing. #Canada150

Animals used for therapy and their handlers visit hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities; work in rehabilitation centres; and live in facilities such as prisons and hospices, offering mental and physical health benefits, skill development, and a feeling of well-being to people everywhere.

Therapy animals include dogs, horses, cats, cows, rabbits, guinea pigs, snakes, and parrots. Animals may, for example, assist children struggling with anger management, seniors living with Alzheimer’s, people recovering from surgery or post-traumatic stress disorder, and inmates in prison.

Therapy animals are calm and do not judge, bringing a sense of security and peace when they interact with people.

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Dwyer Sullivan contributes to peace as an educator and advocate for an end to military spending on war. #Canada150

Dwyer Sullivan spent most of his career working in Ontario’s Catholic school system, teaching high school science, world religions, world issues, and social justice. He created and coordinated many out-of-the-classroom social justice experiences for teenagers, including The Dominican Republic Experience, The School of Americas Trip, visits to Catholic Worker houses, the Walk Against Male Violence, involvement with the One World Global Education Projects, and a weeklong summer camp: Leadership for Peace and Justice.

He is also an active member of Conscience Canada which wants Canadians to have the right to divert their federal tax payments away from military purposes. Conscience Canada says that to promote peace we must stop paying for war.

Want to learn more? Here is a 11 minutes video introducing Conscience Canada and the Peace Tax Return:

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Madeleine Parent contributed to peace as a union organizer and pacifist who fought for social justice in Quebec and Canada. #Canada150

Madeleine Parent (1918 – 2012) was active in the student movement while at university in the 1930s. She joined the labour movement on graduation and helped to organize a union to fight the exploitation of women workers, some as young as 14, in the textile industry. She continued to seek social justice throughout her life, and contributed to the founding of the Confederation of Canadian Unions and the National Action Committee on the Status of Women.

Her activism focused on labour rights and the rights of women, the poor, and indigenous peoples. She opposed all forms of violence and spoke out against the Gulf Wars, 1991 and 2002, and against military intervention in Afghanistan.

She led the way as a woman in the labour movement and as an advocate for women’s rights.

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Hazar Mahayni contributes to peace by providing schooling to refugee children in Turkey. #Canada150

Hazar Mahayni is a Canadian-trained pharmacist working in Montreal. She runs the Al Salam School for children of refugees in Reyhanli, Turkey, located in sight of the border with Syria. The school has taught over 1900 students and has a staff of 90. After spending a few years getting the school running well, Ms. Mahayni now supervises the school from Montreal, relying on technology to keep in touch.

Students pay no tuition and Ms. Mahayni does not receive a salary. The school offers classes, transportation, a nutritious meal, dental care, and a secure learning environment. Supported by the Syrian Kids Foundation, the school aims to rebuild trust, self-worth, compassion, and open-mindedness in Syrian refugee children.

The Syrian Kids Foundation is a registered charity and the school operates on donations and annual fundraising revenues.

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Dr. Gordon Edwards contributes to peace through his lifelong efforts to expose the risks of nuclear weaponry and radioactive waste. #Canada150

Dr. Gordon Edwards was a co-founder of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility, in 1975, and has been its president since 1978. The not-for profit organization supports research and education on nuclear energy, whether for civilian or military purposes, and on nuclear alternatives.

Dr. Edwards has written articles and reports on radiation standards, radioactive waste, uranium mining, nuclear proliferation, the economics of nuclear power, and non-nuclear energy strategies. He has been recognized by courts as an expert on nuclear science.

“World peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons can never be brought about by means of a hypocritical double standard. If nuclear weapons are indeed the greatest existential threat to the continued survival of humanity and other life-forms on this planet, then no one should have them.”

Here’s Gordon’s take on why nuclear power can’t be the solution to climate chamge. (VIDEO)

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Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East contributes to peace by helping people harmed by conditions in the Middle East. #Canada150

Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is a non-profit organization based in Montreal whose mission is “to enable Canadians of all backgrounds to promote justice, development and peace in the Middle East, and here at home in Canada.”

CJPME believes that all parties to a conflict should be held to the same standard, that all positions should respect international law, and that violence is not a solution.

It opposed the Canadian government allowing the export of war-related equipment to Saudi Arabia. It promotes the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement which aims to end international support for Israel’s oppression of Palestinians and pressure Israel to comply with international law.

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Craig & Marc Kielburger contribute to peace through their organizations which empower young people to get involved to change the world. #Canada150

Craig Keilburger was 12 years old when he learned about a Pakistani boy who had started work in a carpet factory at age 4 and was murdered at 12 after turning the world’s attention to the exploitation of children in the Pakistan work force. Craig started talking about the problems of child labour and with his older brother, Marc Kielburger founded the Free the Children organization in 1995. Free the Children is an international charity active in 45 countries building schools and providing education opportunities for children.

Craig and Marc also founded “Me to We”, an enterprise providing products and services, such as Travel with a Purpose and Take Action camps, and We Day, a one-day event for young people to get together and be inspired to take positive actions in their communities.

Both Craig and Marc have won numerous awards and distinctions.

“Collectively, we have all it takes to create a just and peaceful world, but we must work together and share our talents. We all need one another to find happiness within our-selves and within the world.” – Craig Kielburger

“We wanted to make caring cool and changing the world possible for young people.” – Marc Kielburger

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