The Rotary Club of Whitecourt now plans to place a Peace Pole at Festival Park in 2025, Sarnia, Ontario- CANADA
Brad Quarin
Published Jan 02, 2025
The Rotary Club of Whitecourt will be making another mark on Festival Park.
The club is planning to install a peace pole at the park as part of an international project, with Whitecourt town council recently approving the request.
“It’s something to bring understanding and promote peace in our community,” Holly Astill, Rotary Club community services director, told the Whitecourt Star.
“It brings together people of all faiths, backgrounds and cultures to embrace peace.”
Astill explained the Peace Pole Project originated in Hiroshima following the Second World War, promoted by Masahisa Goi, who died in 1980.
The message inscribed on the Peace Poles, “May Peace Prevail On Earth,” is universal and can unite peoples of different cultures, Astill wrote in a letter to the Town of Whitecourt.
During their Dec. 16 regular meeting, town councillors considered the Rotary Club’s request to install the Peace Pole.
Chelsea Grande, town community services director, told council that the club requested the Peace Pole go up at the south end of Festival Way, near the parking lot.
Festival Way is the cement pad where vendors can access power.
According to council’s agenda package, the original proposed Peace Pole location of the new traffic circle was rejected because of safety concerns.
Festival Way and the pavilion were two locations considered after that.
Grande told council that having the Peace Pole at Festival Park could provide photo opportunities to residents and visitors.
The Rotary Club suggested the message “May Peace Prevail On Earth” be in four languages: English, French, Cree and Japanese, Grande said.
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Astill wrote the language selection represents Canada’s official languages, along with Cree being a common indigenous language in the region and Japanese reflecting the project’s origins.
Additionally, Whitecourt has a Japanese sister community, Yūbetsu, Astill noted.
According to Astill’s letter, the PVC pole would be 2.4 metres tall with four sides. Astill also wrote that the unveiling may occur on Sept. 21, 2025, during the International Day of Peace.
Regarding expenses, council’s agenda package states the club will provide the Peace Pole and compensate the town for installation costs.
Coun. Serena Lapointe’s motion to approve the request to install the pole was carried unanimously, with all councillors present except Bill McAree.
This isn’t the Rotary Club’s only recent effort to add to Festival Park, formerly known as Rotary Park.
The club received a provincial Active Communities Initiative grant to establish multi-purpose courts at the park.
All ages will be able to use the courts for sports like pickleball, basketball, tennis or ball hockey.