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
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery caught on video
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
New evidence challenges the Pentagon's account of a horrific attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan: CNN exclusive
New video evidence uncovered by CNN significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.