Students and teachers from Twin Rivers Elementary School, which includes both Twin Rivers and Castlegar Primary campuses, got out into the community to spread the message of peace.
A strong warm-up for the official International Day of Peace on Sept. 21, students were enthusiastic about getting the community involved at their peace rally held at Castlegar’s City Hall on Sept. 20.
Following a brief introduction and roaring cheers for peace, children in Twin Rivers’ Russian Language and Culture program performed Sing for Peace for Children Everywhere to the crowd of friends, family, elders, and community supporters gathered for the occasion.
Doukhobor elder Paul Strelive, a representative of KRUNA (Kootenay Region Branch of the United Nations Association in Canada), shared an invitation to their event the following day at Selkirk College’s MIR Centre for Peace.
Grade four students shared their compositions entitled “What Peace Means to Me.” From spending quiet bird watching time with great-grandparents to feeling safe and happy at school with friends, students courageously shared their perspectives in hopes of protecting all children’s right to feel safe and at peace.
To wrap up the official event, the Russian Language and Culture program's rendition of John Lennon’s Give Peace a Chance, accompanied by the crowd of students, moved supporters to join in with the chorus.
Participating students would like to thank all the drivers who joined in the cause with a “honk for peace” as it helped to keep them energized for delivering peace chants and cheers on the walk to and from City Hall.
“They really helped to keep the walk exciting,” one student remarked. “Yeh, and that showed that we were doing a good job spreading the message of peace,” another student agreed.
