As Tuesday’s dedication of the Schumacher International Peace Park on the shore of Little Pearl Lake proceeded, rainfall got heavier and heavier.
After a handful of peace poles were unveiled, the rest of the 18 were revealed together, each representing a country or countries with “May peace prevail on Earth” painted on them.
Joe Campbell, the city councillor representing Schumacher, spoke of the importance of all of its cultural groups.
“Over the 110-year history of Timmins, immigrants have played a major part in what we have come today,” he noted. “Some of the poles represent people who settled 80 to 90 years ago, here in this community.”
Campbell noted that while early settlers were mostly European, that has shifted to other parts of the world. Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa and Mali share a pole in the park.
“Putting four countries on one pole has a meaning of togetherness and is somewhat fitting as to why we’re here today.”
The park is a project of the Schumacher Lions Club and the Schumacher Arts, Culture and Heritage Association. September 21st is United Nations International Peace Day.
(Bob McIntyre, MyTimminsNow.com staff)