Timmins International Peace Park celebrates cultural diversity
A result of a wide variety of community partnerships, the Schumacher Lions Club unveiled its International Peace Park on Tuesday, a show of celebration for the city's cultural diversity.
Coinciding with the International Day of Peace recognized by the United Nations, the park features 20 'peace poles,' each celebrating different cultures present in the area and designed by people in the community.
Lions Club past president, Mark West, said a former resident gave him the idea, which he agreed would be a great addition to the city.
"It's about bringing cultures together, bringing peace on Earth, maybe enhancing our park with something formal on International Peace Day," said West, chairman of the collaborative committee between the club and the Schumacher Arts Culture and Heritage Association.
"It's wonderful to have everybody coming together."
Among the variety of peace poles is one celebrating four African countries: Ghana, South Africa, Nigeria and Mali.
One of the people who helped design the pole said it's a powerful statement and show of acceptance to be able to share her culture with the community.
"Having Africa stuck in the ground in Canada is a big thing for us," said Agnes Okonmah.
"Most of the things we put there represent togetherness. Where we think there's togetherness, there's unity and where there's unity, there's love and above all, there's peace."
West said the plan is to add more peace poles with different cultures, to install 'peace benches' and to have an annual day-long community celebration in the park on the International Day of Peace.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Video shows suspect setting Toronto-area barbershop on fire
Video of a suspect lighting a Richmond Hill barbershop on fire earlier this week has been released by police.
'I have the will to live': N.B. woman needs double lung transplant
A New Brunswick woman suffering from sarcoidosis, a disease that limits your lung capacity, is in need of a double lung transplant.
The kids from 'Mrs. Doubtfire are all SUPER grown up now, and we're not OK
The adorable trio of child actors from the 1993 classic comedy 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' which starred the late and great Robin Williams, are all grown up and looking back on their seminal time together.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
Boeing is on the verge of launching astronauts aboard new capsule, the newest entry to space travel
It’s the first flight of Boeing’s Starliner capsule with a crew on board, a pair of NASA pilots who will check out the spacecraft during the test drive and a weeklong stay at the space station.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.