Peace Tree Day
Peace Tree Day is an annual festival for children and families of every culture and faith to share and celebrate peace and diversity together. It was founded by educator/filmmaker Mitra Sen, the producer/director of the award-winning film The Peace Tree.
In 2004, Mitra Sen, the founder of Peace Tree Day, produced and directed the film The Peace Tree, which shares the story of two little girls, one Muslim and one Christian, who dream of celebrating each other’s festivals, Christmas and Eid. While working on the film, she came up with the concept of a Peace Tree that has the symbols of all our cultures and faiths on one tree to reflect the beauty of “diversity in unity”. She also realized that it was important to create an inclusive festival that celebrates all cultures and faiths together as most of the festivals have their roots in only one religion and not all.
In 2006, Mayor David Miller proclaimed June 1 as Peace Tree Day in the city of Toronto. The city of Vaughan, Windsor, Markham, Richmond Hill, Whitchurch-Stouffville, York Region, York Region District School Board, York Catholic District School Board and York Regional Police have all proclaimed Peace Tree Day and have organized celebrations for June 1, 2007. Children in schools in Canada, the United States, the Bahamas, England, Ireland, India, Pakistan and Australia are creating Peace Trees that highlight symbols from all our cultures and faiths on one tree.
On June 1, 2006, 300 school children and educators from over 40 schools across Southern Ontario, from Niagara to Durham, flocked to Nathan Phillip’s Square in downtown Toronto, celebrated the world’s first Peace Tree Day celebration, proclaimed by Mayor David Miller in the City of Toronto. Crafted by their own hands, each child created a symbol of cultural or religious significance, and as an act of fellowship and harmony, placed it upon the Peace Tree. Each participant, given the title of Peace Tree Ambassador, was encouraged to teach their family, friends, and entire communities the value of the Peace Tree project and Peace Tree Day. Peace Tree Day celebrations included workshops presented by children and seniors that shared literature, music, art, dance, and food from around the world.
Since 2008, Building Peace Together Committe, is the organizer of this event in Windsor, Ontario.
Click here to find more about the event in Windsor.