Main Events

YMCA World Peace Week

YMCA World Peace Week is an annual YMCA Canada event to celebrate and promote peace and peace building in communities across Canada and around the world. Each year the YMCAs across Canada dedicate a week of programming in November to explore and facilitate peacemaking from a personal, community and international perspective.

From November 17-24, 2012, YMCAs across Canada celebrate Peace Week as an opportunity to join people of all ages in activities focused on exploring peace from a local and global perspective. Local YMCAs take the opportunity during Peace Week to recognize unsung heroes within our community - individuals who give of their own time and money to make a positive difference in our world. 

YMCA honours 3 local peace-keepers with YMCA Peace Medallion

Sarnia/Chatham/Goderich, ON – Three local peace keepers have been awarded the 2012 YMCA Peace Medallion during YMCA World Peace Week.  YMCAs across Canada annually celebrate YMCA World Peace Week in November as an opportunity to join people of all ages in activities focused on exploring peace from a local and global perspective. Local YMCAs take the opportunity during Peace Week to recognize unsung heroes within our community - individuals who give of their own time and money to make a positive difference in our world.

Chatham, ON- Marjorie Crew has devoted over 10 years of her life addressing crime on the streets of Chatham. With very little in the way of economic resources, she co-founded ‘East Side Pride’ working very hard to foster positive relationships, partnering with the Chatham-Kent Police and outreach groups to make the neighbourhoods of Chatham a safer place for children and their families.  It is her commitment to peace keeping efforts that has resulted in her being this year’s YMCA peace medallion recipient in the Chatham-Kent community.

Goderich, ON - Jessica Bokhout is an extraordinary individual who has demonstrated self-sacrifice, hard work and determination in her work as a social activist in the global village. Jessica has spent many years committed to social justice through her work with AIDS orphans and children living with HIV in Johannesburg and Zambia and continues to raise funds to support these causes overseas.  It is her selfless actions and commitment to social justice that has resulted in her being this year’s YMCA peace medallion recipient in the Goderich-Huron community.

Sarnia, ON - Chandrika Patel, Manager – YMCA Newcomer Services, has worked with newcomers adjusting to their new life in Sarnia for the past 20 years. She speaks four languages and uses this skill in communicating with many, effectively breaking down the language barriers for people.  Chandrika has many ties to different associations, is committed to volunteering on committees that impact newcomers and assists them in engaging in their new life in Canada.  It is her caring and commitment to newcomers that has resulted in her being this year’s YMCA peace medallion recipient in the Sarnia-Lambton community.  The Peace Medal will be awarded to Chandrika on
December 10, 2012, 12:00 noon at the YMCA Learning & Career Centre, 660 Oakdale Avenue, Sarnia.

YMCA Peace Building Activity Guide
A YMCA Peace Building Activity Guide is available at no charge to help children, youth and adults explore topics such as conflict resolution, cooperation, environmental awareness, and the connections between local and global issues.  Parents and educators are encouraged to visit www.ymca.ca to download this free guide.

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