Canada—On September 19, 2021, a pleasant Sunday morning, mostly sunny throughout the country, the Canada “Peace Road” 2021 Annual Event sponsored by the Universal Peace Federation Canada, got underway simultaneously in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.
Bright sunshine blessed the city of Montreal as the approximately 30 cyclists and well-wishers gathered at UPF Headquarters to hear words of encouragement from our Borough Mayor Alan DeSousa and three city councilors.
The program was timed to coincide with and support the 40th anniversary of the United Nations’ International Day of Peace. UPF Canada President Dr. Franco Famularo and UPF youth organizer François Tuzet opened the event by sharing the vision of the UPF’s founders to create an International “Peace Road” to circumnavigate the globe – a “highway of peace for all mankind.”
Mayor DeSousa endorsed the activity with very supportive remarks, emphasizing that our city and UPF are both working for harmony and good relations among citizens.
The riders then got underway, pedaling some 15 kilometers to a park on the water’s edge in north Montreal where they enjoyed a picnic lunch under the trees.
In Toronto, 60 activists joined the program to walk 3 miles together along the city’s nature trails. They were encouraged by the Hon. Kaleed Rasheed, Member of Parliament in the Toronto area of Mississauga East—Cooksville. In addition, a good friend of UPF Toronto, Guinness world records holder Surash Joachim, spoke to the peace activists.
Vancouver saw 30 activists participating in the “Peace Road” 2021 program this year, including Professors Dr. Yuri Pancratz and Dr. Ibraham Issifu as well as local religious leader Rev. Jean Dedieu.
Each year’s program adds to the history of the celebration of the ideal of a road to peace – an ideal that all humanity can endorse and ultimately participate in globally.