Montreal, Canada—About 20 guests and members of the Montreal chapter of UPF-Canada, including the mayor of the borough of Saint-Laurent, convened at the local headquarters of UPF on September 19, 2017 for a breakfast meeting held to commemorate the UN International Day of Peace, whose theme for this year is “Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All.”
Among the other guests were community leaders, candidates for political office and a Syrian refugee couple who recently immigrated to Canada.
After a warm welcome from Mrs. Isabelle Laurin, who moderated the meeting, UPF-Canada secretary general, Mr. Franco Famularo, gave a presentation on the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP) and UPF-Canada representative, Mr. Pierre Beauregard, spoke on the significance of the International Day of Peace and the theme for this year’s Day.
The couple from Syria gave a moving testimony in which they spoke of the challenge of losing everything, including one’s country, because of war.
The community leaders offered their support and compassion to the couple. The feeling was shared amongst everyone; every participant either experienced or had parents who experienced the reality of integration. For many, it was a very fresh experience. As the discussion closed, the guests from Syria asked: “Are we welcome in Quebec and Canada?” This question says a lot. UPF-Canada, Montreal’s next meeting will explore “Diversity and Living Well Together.”