Event

05.11.09 - FINALISTS FOR THE 2009 PEACE MEDALS

Share this moment with us on November 13, 2009, (12pm - 2pm) in the presence of Sentor Dallaire.

Montreal, November 3, 2009 – The YMCAs of Québec is happy to announce the names of the finalists for the 22nd annual Peace Medal ceremony to be held on November 13th, at the Hyatt Regency Montreal (Complexe Desjardins) at noon. During this ceremony, exceptional individuals who have thought about peace, demonstrated it, and inspired it at the local, national, or international levels will have their contributions publicly recognized.  This year, 17 nominees are in the running in six different categories.

In a world where the notion of peace is often left by the wayside in many nations, The YMCAs of Québec wishes to pay tribute to the exceptional contribution of individuals who demonstrate vision, creativity, and dedication in the promotion of peaceful causes, often with very little human, material, and financial resources.

THE 2OO9 HONORARY PEACE MEDAL: SENATOR AND LIEUTENANT-GENERAL ROMÉO DALLAIRE

This year, the YMCAs will also award an honorary medal to Senator and Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire in recognition of his commitment to maintaining peace at the local, national, and international levels. A respected member of the international community, Roméo Dallaire had a distinguished career in the Canadian military reaching the rank of Lieutenant-General before becoming Assistant Deputy Minister (Human Resources) in the Department of National Defence in 1998. In 1994, General Dallaire commanded the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR).

Senator Dallaire is said to be honoured to be receiving the 2009 Peace medal. “I am touched to be receiving this award from my very own community. Making peace, promoting it, inspiring it; it can be achieved daily through small and grand gestures. I work to promote peace; something I believe in deeply. I also work with conviction in order to ensure that our children, who are the future generations of Canada or of other countries, live in a world where peace is fundamentally, universally, and absolutely valued. I would like to congratulate the seventeen 2009 Peace Medal nominees, in their respective categories. You have made a difference in the promotion of peace, and this is something worth recognition and the respect of your peers” he stated.

Since his retirement from the Canadian military, Senator Dallaire has worked to raise the public’s awareness and to promote peace. Notably, he has been a lecturer at Canadian and American universities, he has published several articles on conflict resolution, humanitarian assistance, human rights, genocide prevention, and has taken a stance during the civil war in Darfur. He has also worked to bring an understanding to the Canadian population regarding post-traumatic stress disorder.
While a Fellow of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy (Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University), Roméo Dallaire pursued research on conflict resolution. He is currently leading a project aimed at creating a conceptual framework for eliminating the use of child soldiers, and also manages activities aimed at the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Mr. Dallaire’s initiative regarding the elimination of the use of child soldiers is entirely in line with the values and educational approach of The YMCAs of Québec. Notably, the Hands Up! program integrates the rights of children into the daily work of educators, community workers, and all who interact with children. This approach creates an environment where the latter are not only aware of their rights, but also of the responsibilities they carry. Hands Up! was created in such a way that it reflects the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child in the lives of the children and those who work with them.

2009 Finalists

Individuals:

Halah Al-Ubaidi: Mrs. Al-Ubaidi organized, strengthened, and helped make various local focus groups in the borough of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce more dynamic. She also works to help immigrant families break out of their isolation, and chairs the Homework Help committee.

Pierre Jasmin: president of ‘Artists for Peace’, Mr. Jasmin organizes musical evenings for peace, writes articles and, along with other organizations, rallies to fight against nuclear weapons and war.

Helen Knight: Mrs. Knight founded the Creative Social Centre in 1982. She works in her community by promoting camaraderie, creativity, and tolerance of others.

André Leclerc: is founder of Kéroul. For over 30 years now, Mr. Leclerc has helped improve the quality of life of individuals who have a physical disability, while promoting their integration and breaking their isolation.

Albert Mc Ardle: Chief Topleaf, his Mohawk name, has spent his life building bridges between native and non-native cultures.  Working with Scouts and Guides, he travels the country giving conference presentations and workshops in elementary schools, summer camps, inner cities, and with senior citizens.

François Prévost: producer of the movie “Ce qu’il reste de nous”, Mr. Prévost has travelled throughout Tibet in order to spread the word of the Dalai Lama. He is also the founder of “Médecins pour la Paix”.

Louis Roberge: Mr. Roberge is the first vice-president of the Fondation Jules et Paul-Émile Léger, member of the management committee, and a volunteer for eighteen years now. His contributions to the well-being of humanity have made him an architect of peace wherever he passes.

Gigi Vidal: herself an immigrant, Mrs. Vidal now helps new arrivals while helping to protect their rights. She also participates in a multitude of events and forums that promote peace.

Catherine Kissell: Mrs. Kissell has contributed to the construction of a hospital in a small village in Tibet. She has also offered the villagers hygiene courses and tetanus vaccinations. As well, she has collaborated in helping eliminate endemic ringworm.

Noreen Majeeed: Mrs. Majeed has participated in many projects aimed at eliminating racism in Montreal. She has also taken part in various international support groups.

Nadia Van Leeuwen: For many years now, Mrs. Van Leeuwen has been volunteering in a Montreal shelter for individuals suffering from HIV/Aid. She has participated in the ZERF Challenge in order to raise funds for mothers and children in Africa affected by HIV/Aids.

Claudine- Michèle Desjardins: Mrs. Desjardins lived in Mali for three months in order to help women create a micro-credit organization, which allowed them to become financially independent. She is also a member and founder of the Association des simulations de l’ONU for francophone high school students.

Groups:

Dr. Clown: Dr. Clown is a theatre group composed of 27 professional artists with backgrounds in theatre, clown games, dance, or music. Once a week, the clowns visit sick children at the Montreal Children’s Hospital in order to make them smile and give them and their families hope.

Leadership Services Youth and Sexualization Project: is a project aimed at raising the awareness of young girls and women regarding violence and sexual abuse, while preventing the hypersexualization phenomenon in society.

Exeko: Exeko is an organization that works both at the local and international levels, by supporting or carrying out projects that combine social and cultural action. Exeko’s initiatives are linked to many causes: education, arts and culture, and health.

Okala Foundation: an organization that helps children in isolated villages in Cameroon by providing them with the tools necessary for them to  successfully continue their studies in order to achieve a better quality of life  and to give them hope.

Handicap International: Handicap International is committed to the fight against the use of landmines since 1982, and against the use of cluster bombs since 2003. The organization leads humanitarian mine-clearing operations, accident prevention programs, and also helps empower victims so that they may go back to leading a normal life

A detailed profile of each of the nominees is attached. For additional information, please visit click here.

Aside from members of the media, The YMCAs of Québec would like to invite the general public to attend the 2009 Peace Medal luncheon. For tickets ($75), please contact Marie-Claude Landry at the following email address:
marie-claude.landry@ymcaquebec.org or call 514-849-8393, extension 297.

Proceeds from this event will help fund YMCA activities that promote respect, understanding, peace, and cooperation between Montreal youths and youths from our YMCA partners in Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Ecuador, and Haiti.

We would like to highlight the exceptional support of many donors including Solstice Financial Group, Centaure Financial Services Firm, Liquid Nutrition, and Radio Centre-ville.

About The YMCAs of Québec
The first YMCA in North America was founded in Montreal in November 1851.  The mission of this charitable organization is to promote the development of people in spirit, mind, and body, and to the empowerment of individuals, families, and communities.  Its ten centres are visited each year by more than 100,000 people who benefit from its health, fitness and recreation, and education and training programs, as well as its children and youth programs, its community and international initiatives, and its donations and volunteering. The YMCAs of Québec is part of the Canadian network of 54 YMCA associations.