Peace Train Canada

  For many years, Canada had a much-lauded and highly respected reputation for peacekeeping — it helped define our national identity. Internationally, because of peacemaking, Canada came to be seen as an honest and reliable broker in international affairs. At the same time, Canadians proudly identified with the nation’s peacekeeping tradition and role, seeing it as a key way we could contribute to the world. Today, however, Canada has virtually no involvement in peacekeeping. In 1992, it had over 3,800 peacekeepers around the globe; today there are only about 30. Keith and Bernadette Wyton think Canada can and should do better. Earlier this year, the retired couple from Port Alberni, B.C., came up with the idea of a Peace Train that would travel from Vancouver to Ottawa to call on the government to renew support for peacekeeping efforts. Read more about the Peace Train in the Winnipeg Free Press. Photo above: Peace Trainers at the Winnipeg train station.

Two Parliamentarians mentioned the Peace Train in the House of Commons during the week of Nov. 18-22. On Nov. 23, during his regular speaking time, Dave Epp (Chatham-Kent—Leamington, CPC), said: “Mr. Speaker, it is always an honour and a pleasure to bring the voices of Chatham-Kent—Leamington to this chamber. “Before I get into the substance of my speech, I want to take a moment to recognize the efforts of 40 extraordinary Canadians, for that is truly what ordinary Canadians are, for bringing the peace train to Ottawa two nights ago. MPs from a cross-section of this chamber, representing a cross-section of philosophical paths to peace, from our military veterans and peacekeepers to our peaceniks, all agreed on the message represented by the peace train participants: that Canada should do more for peace in our world.   “It has been said many times that war is a failure of statecraft. We thank these folks for reminding us to invest more, in many ways, for peace.”   A day...

"If we want peace, we need to prepare for peace.”   That was the message shared by Lyn Adamson, co-chair of Voices of Women for Peace during her presentation at “Peace and Justice for the War Weary,” a panel discussion at Parkdale United Church in Ottawa on Nov. 22. The event, sponsored by the Peace Train, also heard from panelists Walter Dorn, professor of defence studies at Royal Military College in Kingston and Alex Neve, a human rights lawyer and professor at the University of Ottawa. One of the earliest memories for Adamson, who was born in 1951, was the Cuban missile crisis of the early 1960s. “I didn’t think I would live to be 65,” she said. But she did, and that experience helped convince her to dedicate her life to promoting peace. During her career one thing she learned was “we have agency. We can have failures, and he can get discouraged. But we have no option but to keep going.” For Adamson, peace isn’t just what happens internationally. “We need places to nu...

For the Cathy and Sameer Merchant of Vancouver, getting peace back on track in Canada is a family affair.   The couple are part of the Peace Train with their children, Inara, 10, and Ammar, 7, and Cathy’s father, James.   For Cathy, who is Minister of Community Life at Canadian Memorial United Church and the Founder and Interfaith Leader of the Living Interfaith Sanctuary, an Interfaith congregation in Vancouver, taking her children on the Peace Train is a way to provide them with an “excellent and intergenerational learning experience” and to “inspire other families to work together to promote peace in their own ways.”   She believes the Peace Train is important because “we are dedicating fewer resources to peacemaking now than ever before . . . and yet we think nothing of spending two percent or more of our annual budget on military spending. It's no wonder we don't have peace in the world; no one wants to fund it or take it seriously.”   While on the Peace...

“ You are inspiring in these difficult and uncertain times.”   With those words, Gord Johns, NDP Member of Parliament for Courtenay—Alberni, welcomed Peace Train participants to a reception in Ottawa at the Sir John A. MacDonald Building.   Eleven Members of Parliament attended the reception—something Johns noted was exceptional considering how busy Parliamentarians are each day. “This is a tremendous showing,” he said, noting that every political party was represented at the event. Johns praised the Peace Trainers, saying they were bringing an important and hopeful message to Ottawa in calling for a Centre of Excellence for Peace and Justice—something he was glad to support. Following Johns was John McKay, Liberal Member of Parliament for Scarborough—Guildwood and Chair of the Standing Committee on National Defence. McKay said he spends most of his time thinking about the latest threats. “We live in a fraught environment,” he said, adding “I’m glad to see you here...

Keith and Bernadette Wyton were on CBC Ottawa Morning on Nov. 21, talking about the Peace Train. Click here to listen!