VIDEO: Rotary Brockville Held Dedication for Brockville Peace Pole on September 18th

Brockville – On Thursday, September 18th, Rotary Brockville (Rotary Club of Brockville and Rotary Club of the 1000 Islands) hosted a special dedication ceremony for the city’s first Peace Pole in Reynolds Park.

Fellow Rotarians, along with special guests and the public, surrounded the Peace Pole for the dedication. Brockville’s pole bears the words “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in English, French, Mohawk, and Anishinaabe.

Video News Story Below:

Rotarian Susan Brister, Rotary International Service Chair and the person behind the Brockville Peace Pole, led the ceremony last Thursday.

Candace Loyd, a Métis traditional knowledge holder, shared a thoughtful Indigenous greeting while Sandra Villeneuve followed with a meaningful land acknowledgement.

Representing the mayor, Councillor Natalie Lavergne delivered remarks of appreciation, highlighting Rotary’s ongoing contributions to Brockville.

Susan Brister also shared the story of how the Peace Pole idea came to her a few years ago, inspired by the global message of peace. First planted in Japan after World War II, Peace Poles now stand in more than 250,000 locations worldwide.

Students from Vanier’s EarlyAct Club, sponsored by both Brockville Rotary Clubs, Georgia Sherstone, Molly Johnston, Jaxon Kluje, and Aiden Metcalfe, recited a poem about peace in our world, our communities, and our homes.

Representatives from L’Association Champlain and the local Filipino community also read the Peace Pole’s inscription aloud in their languages.

The ceremony concluded with the inspiring message: “Let our Rotary Peace Pole stand as a silent yet powerful reminder that peace begins with us—in our hearts, our homes, and our communities.