The Civic Holiday was a special day for our Canadian Peace Run!
A team of five, including three members of our 2026 Atlantic Canada Peace Run, set off from Toronto in Medur’s Peace Run van to meet the USA Team. They are nearing the end of a five month, 8,000 kilometre Peace Run to all 50 states to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of America’s independence.
Our first stop was at the Peace Plaque in Niagara Falls on the Canadian side. This plaque was dedicated by Sri Chinmoy in 1992. The inspiring words include:
"With its thunderous majesty, Niagara reminds us of the boundless and energising power of a higher force. Such will be one day the power of peace on earth. When human beings everywhere aspire and strive for peace based on love and the feeling of oneness, the cascading power of peace will transform the fate of humanity”.
We then crossed the border and met the USA Team at a layby by the Niagara River called Fort Schlosser.
It was thrilling to come together in oneness to be a part of the epic journey of the USA team! There were three Americans on their international team of fourteen, which included members from Australia, Portugal, Bulgaria, Romania, Great Britain, Latvia, Croatia, New Zealand.
We had a ceremony with a short meditation, songs and speeches. We sang a song of unity, "America-Canada Your Oneness-Hands" and we also sang the Peace Run song.
Speeches included acknowledging the 1976 American Bicentennial when a Canadian relay team ran from Ottawa to New York to meet Sri Chinmoy and the USA Liberty Torch Team, who then conducted a relay run through all 50 states.
Sri Chinmoy’s speech at that time included the following words:
“Canada’s Oneness-Heart today has extinguished the countless flames of division and has kindled one flame: the flame of union, the flame of inseparable oneness”.
Meeting with old friends is always a joy!
Harita, the USA Team Captain, presented Karnayati, Co-Director of The Canadian Peace Run, with a certificate of appreciation.
Everyone was so happy that Shivaram made the journey. At 92 years, he is Canada's most senior Peace Run member and one of the most dynamic!
The USA team continued their run to Niagara Falls and they go on to reach New York in Mid-August. Our Canadian Peace Run Team returned to Toronto.
Daily reports from their amazing 50-State Peace Run can be found at peacerun.org/us
"America-Canada your oneness-hands, Supreme amity’s perfect fondness-lands, Canada-America." -Sri Chinmoy
