Peterborough Peace Council celebrates nine years of monthly Vigils for Peace
Events are held the last Monday of each month at the corner of George and McDonnel streets
The Peterborough Peace Council (PPC) celebrated nine years of their monthly Vigil for Peace, with a vigil at the corner of George and McDonnel streets on Monday.
The vigil highlighted the group’s ongoing message about the challenge to move to a world without war and that humans can find better ways to settle differences.
The Vigil for Peace event originally began on the last Monday of March, 2015. It grew from the Unitarian Fellowship of Peterborough’s vigil in response to the fatal shootings on Parliament Hill, and the Abraham Festival to grieve over the loss of life in Gaza.
A vigil has been held for one hour each month on the corner calling for peace and sharing concerns with the local community, according to a PPC news release.
“The intention was to challenge our own society with the values of peace with justice and let us see what love can do,” reads the release.
“A Quaker study group took the lead in calling for support for this idea,” the release goes on to read. “Nine people from diverse faith and nonfaith groups founded the Peterborough Peace Council and undertook to continue a monthly vigil for peace.”
At times over the nine years the number of attendees has reached upwards of 70, while in other instances it’s been as few as two, according to the release.
Following the main vigil, those in attendance were invited to attend a potluck at a member’s home, before reconvening at city hall later in the afternoon for a second vigil.
PPC invites people to continue attending their monthly event on the last Monday of each month, as the organization enters its 10th year of vigils.