An opportunity to do something for peace: Peace Trainers on why they are going on the Peace Train









Over 40 people from B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia will be taking the Peace Train to Ottawa to call on the federal government to give more attention to peace and peacekeeping. Why are they going? Find some thoughts below.

For Jan Teversham of Bamfield, B.C., this is the second time she has been on the Peace Train. She will be boarding the train in Vancouver. 

Jan is going on the Peace Train because this is a time of great uncertainty in the world, a time when it is easy for people to feel discouraged and disheartened. 

“The very process of making the effort to travel right across our country to get to the government is SOMETHING for me rather than NOTHING,” she said. “I will be with like minded people, and maybe we will get results this time! Together we can hope.” 

Her message to the Prime Minister about the need for a peace centre that promotes peacekeeping is that we need a “means of solving conflict without resorting to war . . . Canada needs to be a leader in this and without a peace centre we cannot claim to walk the walk. Just talking the talk isn't enough.” 

Evelyn Labun is from Winnipeg. This is her first time on the Peace Train. She will board it in Winnipeg. 

“This is a new venture for me,” Evelyn says. “I am alarmed that our government is planning to spend five percent of GDP on arming Canada with no real peace initiatives. We used to be a nation that worked on peace. Not all conflict is solved by might and power. This is something I can do to promote a way of resolving the conflict I see both at the national and international levels.” 

What is her message for the Prime Minister about why the creation of a peace centre is important? 

“We need to look at new peace initiatives that are tried and tested. We need to educate and publicize about peace possibilities in our own nation as well as internationally.  We have a history of doing this, but now we have next to nothing left. Let’s be known for our peace initiatives and not for our war power.” 

Although she is new to the Peace Train, “I have always believed in peace as a better way to resolve conflict than war,” Evelyn says. “The Prime Minister says we are in a new world order. So let’s find some new ways of doing peace work—every day, and over the long haul.” 

Ian Thomas of Port Alberni, B.C. is going on the Peace Train for the second time. 

He has a simple message for the Prime Minister about why the creation of a peace centre is important: “Training for Peace will help people see alternatives to fighting, and equip them with tools of diplomacy to reduce suffering.”

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