Thousands around the world, each Rotary peace pole displays the message, 'May Peace Prevail on Earth.'
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Downtown Windsor has a new symbol of peace.
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On Friday, Rotary District 6400 unveiled a new peace pole inside St. Clair College Centre for the Arts on Riverside Drive.
Rotary International Directory Marty Helman, who made the trip from Maine to attend Friday afternoon’s event, said the peace pole is a “visible reminder that we are one people” at a time when there is tension between Canada and the United States.
“Everyone on earth shares common dreams: goals for peace, for a better world for their children, for a better world for themselves,” she said.
“Rotary believes in peace through service. We understand that peace does not happen in boardrooms. Peace happens person by person — by making sure that our neighbours, whether they are across the street, across town, or in another nation, have what we would want for ourselves.”
Each Rotary peace pole, of which there are hundreds of thousands worldwide, displays the message, “May Peace Prevail on Earth” on each of its four sides. Windsor’s latest peace pole says the phrase in English, French, Mandarin, and Arabic.
“The pole, of course, does not ask us to solve all of the world’s conflicts,” said Kim Spirou, district governor of Rotary D6400. “It asks, however, for each of us to do our part — to choose kindness, understanding, and respect, every single day, right here in this community.”
Although some peace poles are installed into the ground, the one at the centre for the arts is mobile, Spirou told reporters. Most of the time, it will stand in a high-traffic area inside the performing arts building, but it can also be put on display elsewhere during events.
“It serves as a symbol that, regardless of our backgrounds or beliefs, we all have a role to play in building stronger and more compassionate communities,” said Joe D’Angela, director of St. Clair College Centre for the Arts.
“May this peace pole inspire everyone who passes by to choose compassion, embrace diversity, and work together towards a more peaceful future.”