Echoes of Peace: Uniting Local Organizations for a Peaceful Future
Yaw Bayyim, Community Outreach & Engagement Coordinator
On September 21 2026, the lobby of Edmonton City Hall filled with citizens, all sharing one commitment in common: to stand for and work toward a more peaceful world. Community members, grassroots advocates, and local leaders gathered for Echoes of Peace: Commemorating the Anniversary of Hiroshima & Nagasaki. Co-hosted by the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights (JHC) alongside a dedicated team of local partners, the afternoon served as the heart of the year-long Seniors for Peace initiative, bringing together many intergenerational and intercultural voices under one roof.
The foundation of the gathering relied on a strong coalition of co-hosts who brought the day's vision to life. The JHC coordinated community outreach and dialogue, while the Edmonton Japanese Community Association and the National Association of Japanese Canadians helped honour historical memory and cultural connections tied to the commemoration. Their work was supported by the Office of David Shepherd, MLA, the Interfaith Centre for Education and Action, Women in Black, and the Edmonton Peace Council, all of whom contributed to ireflection on non-violence and local peacebuilding resources.
Throughout the afternoon, the City Hall lobby vibrated with conversation as attendees explored interactive displays and connected with community groups. DearFutureYEG highlighted youth civic engagement, while the Step Up Anti-Racist Association shared tools for anti-racism and equity. NiGiNan Housing Ventures offered insights into supportive housing and Indigenous-led care, and the Youth Restorative Action Project engaged volunteers around restorative justice. Visitors also learned about intercultural education through the Canadian Multicultural Education Foundation and explored global peace symbols presented by the Alberta Banner of Peace Association.
The formal program blended cultural expression, expert insight, and civic leadership. Elder Lewis Cardinal opened the ceremony with a grounding blessing that linked global peace, environmental stewardship, and Indigenous sovereignty. Attendees experienced a resonant performance by Kita no Taiko drumming, as well as lively music and commentary from the Raging Grannies. A photographic record exhibit from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum offered a moving backdrop to keynote addresses by former Canadian Ambassador for Disarmament Hon. Douglas Roche, O.C., and Dr. Mojtaba Mahdavi, who both spoke on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and modern risks of nuclear proliferation. The afternoon concluded with Mayor Andrew Knack and Edmonton City Councillors officially presenting the Civic Proclamation of Peace, rounding out a memorable day of community solidarity.
We are grateful for the program support provided to us from the New Horizons for Seniors Program, Government of Canada.