|
|
|
 |
Week
Without Violence and forum approaching fast The annual Week Without Violence will be kicking off on Sunday, October 20, in communities across Canada. In Peterborough, the major event of the week is the Wouldn't That Be Amazing forum taking place on Wednesday, October 23, and Thursday, October 24 at Fleming College. The forum will be a time for community members as a group to begin the development of a co-ordinated movement towards a more peaceful community. "We need to learn and teach skills and values that create the sort of community where no one resorts to violence as a way of getting what they want," says Lynn Zimmer, executive director of the YWCA of Peterborough, Victoria and Haliburton and chair of the Peaceful Communities Steering Committee. Julie Dotsch, diversity consultant, will facilitate a day of discussion around what community-members need to do now in order to create this sort of community. During the forum, people will also be able to hear from leading experts in violence prevention, social change and law and justice from across North America. Dr. Avis Glaze, director of education for the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, will be focusing on the importance of empathy in establishing a peaceful community. Dr. Susan Bradley of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto will speak about the origins of peaceful tendencies in young children. Stephen Lewis, Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa for the United Nations, and reputed to be one of Canada's best orators, will be closing the sessions with a presentation geared to motivating people towards the task of building a peaceful community. Twenty-five workshops on four main themes will be offered throughout the forum. The four themes include Where Peaceful Behaviours Begin, Exploring Equity and Diversity, Skills and Tools for Healthy Communities and Enhancing Safety for Vulnerable Populations. Other activities are planned for the Week Without Violence, both in the Peterborough area and surrounding community. For instance, the Buckhorn community is looking forward to jump-starting the week with a Peace March and peace-focused ecumenical service on October 20. For more information about Week Without Violence activities in Peterborough, or the upcoming forum, contact Margaree Edwards, forum planner, at 745-5864 or the YWCA of Peterborough, Victoria and Haliburton at 743-3526. To register on-line for the forum, visit www.amazingforum.org. |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
Send
this page to a friend |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||