Peace Tree Day is generously supported by a grant from

Welcome toPeace Tree Day 2011!

It is with great pleasure that we welcome all the Peace Tree Delegates and Ambassadors from across Toronto and from as far away as Jammu/Kashmir, India. We are delighted that you could

join us for the 6th year celebration of Peace Tree Day, a festival of peace, diversity and fusion through the arts by children and youth.

Today you will experience and learn about the many arts and peace initiatives from different cultures and experience the vibrant Peace Tree Concert with dances, rhythms and beats from around the world. You will also have a ‘Taste of Diversity’ at the Peace Tree Stand and learn of the many ways you can work together to celebrate diversity and create peaceful communities.

We are very fortunate to live in a country that has become the home to families from all corners of the world. This gives us the unique opportunity to share our cultures and learn so much about each others’ customs, traditions and beliefs in order to develop respect and create a peaceful society. We hope you will share your experience today with your friends and soon begin to celebrate the Peace Tree Spirit in your schools and communities so we can continue to live in peace.

Peace Tree Day is also a time to create unique and innovative ways through the arts to raise funds for children less fortunate. We thank you for your donation to WarChild Canada and hope children in other parts of the world will soon have the chance to also live in peace.

And finally, why has Peace Tree Day been created for and by children? The answer is simple – You have the most open-minds and the most imagination! When you are exposed to diversity, the ideas are endless. We wish you a wonderful experience this Peace Tree Day and hope you discover many new ways to contribute to society and have fun as we celebrate our vibrant cultures of peace TOGETHER!

‘If we are to create peace in our world, we must begin with our children.’

~ Mahatma Gandhi

Message from Your Host City

I am pleased to extend greetings and a warm welcome to everyone participating in the 2011 Peace Tree Day Celebrations in Toronto.

Organized by the Toronto Peace Tree Committee, Harmony Movement and the Toronto District School Board, Peace Tree Day is a festival for children and youth of all cultures and faiths to celebrate peace, diversity and fusion of the arts.

Originally inspired by Mitra Sen’s award-winning film The Peace Tree, Peace Tree Day encourages students to

work together to create new forms of art, fusing dance, music and crafts to reflect peace and diversity. Student ambassadors will lead panel discussions, intercultural and interfaith workshops and share their artwork at the event.

This is an excellent opportunity for student participants to interact, explore, experience and develop peace initiatives that can be used in their schools and communities and help shape a positive outlook of the world. Funds raised will support War Child Canada.

On behalf of Toronto City Council, I thank the organizers who made this event possible and participating students for their enthusiasm. Please accept my best wishes for an enjoyable and memorable day.

Yours truly,

Rob Ford Mayor, City of Toronto

Welcome to Peace Tree Day 2011

I would like to extend my warmest greetings to all those attending the Peace Tree Day celebration organized by the Toronto Peace Tree Committee, Harmony Movement, and the Toronto District School Board. On behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, I would like to thank you for your unwavering devotion to Canada – the open and diverse society we are proudly building together.

Events like this one provide young Canadians the tools to develop their creativity and an exciting environment where they can learn about diversity, inclusivity and tolerance. Through their curiosity and ingenuousness, young people always manage to bring us a new perspective on the Canada of today and provide us with renewed faith in the future path of the pluralistic society we are building together, with them.

Canada has always fostered the enthusiasm and resourcefulness of its youth – their leadership being essential to our future as a thriving nation. Young new Canadians in particular have always been keen to contribute and reach their full potential in this land of opportunity.

Helping them achieve their goals is key to our continued social, cultural and economic prosperity. As Prime Minister Harper noted: “Canadians are rightly proud of the fact that we are a nation of immigrants, people who have come from all corners of the earth and who have worked together to build one of the most peaceful and prosperous nations in human history.”

As Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the organizers and all the participants for your continued commitment to Canada’s success as a pluralistic nation.

Best wishes for a wonderful event.

Sincerely,

The Honourable Jason Kenney, PC, MPMinister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism

1 June 2011

I am pleased to extend greetings to the Harmony Education Foundation, as you participate in the 6th year of celebration of Peace Tree Day.

Since 1994, your organization has been dedicated to promoting diversity, combating discrimination and cultural barriers, and encouraging youth to become leaders for social change.

With this special day being a festival of peace, diversity, and arts through the spirit of young people, it is appropriate that you are participating, as 500 student ambassadors from 75 schools across the GTA gather for intercultural/interfaith events, and to view their artworks that reflect the theme of the day.

As The Queen’s representative in Ontario, I send my very best wishes for a day filled with understanding, joy, and peace for all, now and into the future.

David C. Onley

June 1, 2011

I am pleased to send greetings to all those gathered for Peace Tree Day.

Philanthropy – one of the pillars of my mandate as governor general – is defined both as an act of giving and

as a love of humankind. When we give what we can, whether on a grand scale or through small acts of kindness, we are, at heart, philanthropists.

I believe that, together, we can define our identity by what we show the world and how we treat those in need. It is up to us to take an active role in improving the human condition for all – in Canada and around the globe.

I comment the organizers and volunteers on their efforts to make this event happen, and I thank everyone for their contributions to such an important cause.

David Johnston

June 1, 2011

I bring warm greetings to everyone participating in Toronto’s Peace Tree Day celebrations hosted by Harmony Movement and the Toronto District School Board.

In Ontario we are so fortunate that people from many cultures live peacefully together. In fact, diversity is Ontario’s strength. It hasenriched us in many ways – culturally, socially and economically.

I thank everyone involved in Toronto’s Peace Tree Day project and please accept my best wishes for a successful celebration, and for the future.

Yours truly,

Dr. Eric HoskinsMinister of Citizenship and Immigration

June 1, 2011

On behalf of the Government of Ontario, I extend warm greetings to everyone participating in Peace Tree Day.

I am delighted to see so many young people

coming together in celebration of peace, diversity and artistic expression. This much- anticipated event is an occasion to renew our collective belief in the values of tolerance, respect and understanding – while also raising funds for War Child Canada.

To the students attending Peace Tree Day: you are a fine example of how young people can use their skills and talents to build bridges, foster co-operation and transform the world into a better place for all.

Please accept my best wishes for a great day.

Dalton McGuintyPremier of Ontario

June 1, 2011

On behalf of the Ministry of Education, I am pleased to extend my best wishes to everyone attending Toronto’s Peace Tree Day.

I would like to thank the Toronto Peace Tree Committe, the Harmony Movement and the Toronto District School Board for organizing this day that includes all cultures and faiths in celebrating understanding and respect among peoples.

I also commend the commitment of the 600 student ambassadors from across the Greater Toronto Area who are attending intercultural events and sharing their visions of peace. Your worthwhile endeavour should indeed be celebrated.

Once again, I extend my warmest wishes to you all.

Sincerely,

Leona DombrowskyMinister of Education

June 1, 2011

As Minister of Children and Youth Services, I am pleased to extend wam greetings to all participants, friends and organizers of Toronto’s Peace Tree Day.

I would also like to thank the Toronto Peace Tree Committee, Harmony Movement and the Toronto District School Board for your commitment to providing innovative programs about diversity for chidren and youth across the Greater Toronto Area.

By encouraging young people of all races, cultures and faiths to show their creativity and share ideas with their peers, this festival celebrates peace and harmony in the best possible way.

Our government shares your vision of a province and a world where all children and youth have the opportunity to grow, learn, play, dream and reach their full potential. That is why we continue to work with all our partners to build a strong, inclusive and prosperous Ontario.

Please accept my best wishes for a successful and inspiring event.

Yours truly,

Laurel BrotenMinister of Children and Youth Services

10:00 - 10:30 am Student Registration (Main Square) Decoration of Peace Tree

10:30 - 10:45 am Welcome and Introduction to Peace Tree Day (Main Stage) MCs • Alyna J. Nanji & Jewel Fraser

Opening Ceremony and Blessing • Gaisheda Kheawok, Peace Elder

10:45 am - 12:45 pm Student-Led Intercultural Workshops (Main Square and Upper Balcony behind Stage)

12:45 - 1:00 pm Lunch (Main Stage)

1:00 - 2:00 pm Peace Tree Concert (Main Stage • Open to Public)

• Dances and songs reflecting peace, diversity and fusion by children and youth from across Toronto

Peace Tree Day Schedule

Sadako and the

1000 Paper Cranes

Deaf Culture and Sign Language

Peace Tree Fusion

Dance

Peace Tree Day Workshops Peace Quilt

Afro-Caribbean Dance

Medicine Wheel...Peace from

All Directions

Peace TreeSymbols

Rangoli

Taste of Diversity and

Peace Tree Stand

Dia de Los Muertos

Mexican Mask Making

Welcome to thePeace Tree ConcertGuest Speaker • Emma Cosgrove

from WarChild Canada

Lion Dance by Students from Maplewood High SchoolWith origins hidden deep within ancient Chinese lore of the Jade Emperor, the Lion Dance is intended to ward off evil spirits and express joy and happiness. Inspired by traditional lion dance, the Maplewood Lion Dance troupe celebrates the joy and diversity of Asian culture and the unity of all people through our performances. The troupe is thrilled to be a part of this year’s Peace Tree Day celebrations. Teacher • Jason Kenemy

Imagine by John LennonInglewood Junior Choir

Over the last year, the Inglewood Junior Choir has been committed to sharing songs that inspire peace, youth activism and triumph over adversity. The choir had the opportunity to perfrom at the concert, ‘Keeping the Dream Alive’, at Roy Thomson Hall held on Martin Luther King Day. It is therefore fitting that the choir’s final public performance of the year be two songs that continue with the theme of peace and unity. We are thrilled to be able to perform both ‘Imagine’ and ‘All You Need is Love’; two songs that have become anthems of peace, love and respect. On behalf of the entire Inglewood Junior Choir, we hope that you enjoy Peace Tree Day 2011 and are inspired, in the words of John Lennon, to give peace a chance!Teachers • Matt Ross and Sheryl Robinson Petrazzini

Special Guest • Aiishwariya Haran Actor from ‘The Peace Tree’ Film

Cha Cha Cha by Students from Joy of Dance

Cha Cha Cha was derived from the Cuban Mambo dance called Chasse mambo. It was then named Cha Cha Cha from the sound of women’s shoes shuffling across the floor.Teacher • Mark Read

Kathak Dancers by Raagini DanceKathak is a dance that originated in North India. The name Kathak is derived from the Sanskrit word katha meaning story, and katthaka in Sanskrit means she/he who tells a story. The girls from Raagini Dance will share the dance ‘Shanti’, which means peace in Hindi and perform Kathak-style movements praying for world peace. Teacher • Bageshree Vaze

Welcome to Peace Tree Ambassadors from Jammu/Kashmir, IndiaAyaz Khan, Mushahid Khan, Taranum N. Khan, Altaf Habib

Ogún by Students from Nelson A. Boylen C.I.Ogún is an Afro-Cuban sacred piece stemming from the Yoruba ethnic group of Nigeria, West Africa. Ogún is an African deity representing iron and hard work. He is the patron of all blacksmiths. Teacher • Varvareh Hakoub Gourjianrad

All You Need is Love by the BeatlesInglewood Junior Choir

IMAGINE

Words and Music by John Lennon

Imagine there’s no heavenIt’s easy if you try No hell below usAbove us only skyImagine all the people living for today, a-ha-ah-ah-ah

Imagina que no hay países (eemaheena kay no i pie-ee-ses)No es difícil de hacer (no ess deefeesil day assair)Nada para matar o morir (nada para matar oh moreer)Y tampoco religión (ee tampohco ray-lee-he-on)Imagina toda la gente (eemaheena toda la hen-tay) Viviendo la vida en paz, yoo-hoo-ooh-ooh-ooh (beebeer la beeda en paz)

You may say I’m a dreamerBut I’m not the only oneI hope some day you’ll join usAnd the world will be as one

Imaginez aucune possession (emajeenay ohkun possession)Je me demande si vous pouvez (je muh demande see vous pooh-vay)Un monde sans avarice ou faim (un monde sans av-a-reese ooh fa)Une fraternité de l’homme (une fra-tern-ee-tay de lum)Imaginez tous les gens (emajeenay two lay jon)Partageant tout le monde ... yoo-hoo-ooh-ooh-ooh (partajon two le monde)

You may say I’m a dreamerBut I’m not the only oneI hope some day you’ll join usAnd the world will live as one

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

Words and Music by The Beatles

Love, Love, Love.Love, Love, Love.Love, Love, Love.

There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done.Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung.Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game.It’s easy.

Nothing you can make that can’t be made.No one you can save that can’t be saved.

Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time.It’s easy.

All you need is love.All you need is love.

All you need is love, love.Love is all you need.

Nothing you can know that isn’t known.Nothing you can see that isn’t shown.

Nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be.

It’s easy.

All you need is love.All you need is love.All you need is love, love.Love is all you need.

Start a Peace Tree Club andCreate a Peace Tree in Your School…

In the fall, students can start a Peace Tree Club in their school in order to organize all the peace and diversity initiatives to be celebrated throughout the school year. The Peace Tree

Club will run like a mini non-profit organization in the school that empowers students to utilize their skills and talent in a very meaningful way to help create a peaceful society. Students can be assigned positions of responsibility including Artistic Directors, Treasurers, Web Masters etc., so they are able to understand how they can utilize the skills they are learning in school in a practical setting as their outreach will be to the entire community.

As a first activity for the Peace Tree Club, a Peace Tree can be created for the entire school. Peace Tree Ambassadors can engage students in every grade to create a symbol of peace for the

school tree. The Peace Tree is a very important symbol for our society as it highlights all our cultures and faiths on one tree and shares the hope of people around the world living together in peace. Now children in Canada, USA, England, Scotland, India, Pakistan, Bahamas, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Taiwan and Australia are creating Peace Trees in their schools.

The following steps outline how to create your Peace Tree ...

Collect leafless branches from

around the yard and plant in a large pot or planter. Place planter in front foyer, library or classroom. The tree can range from 4’ to 8’ in height; however, it should have many small branches to hang the symbols. A real tree can also be bought so that children can watch as it grows from year to year. Some students paint a Peace Tree on the wall and create the symbols out of construction paper. Otherwise you can contact your local Parks and Recreation and ask them to donate a tree they have cut down. You can also think of other ways to create your Peace Tree.

Peace Tree Ambassadors can inspire every student in the school to make a symbol from their culture or a peace symbol from their

faith that they would like to share on the school Peace Tree. Students should research their symbols and share their meaning with the class. Students can create their symbol out of colourful construction paper (cut and paste), paper mache, Fimo, foam sheets, sticks etc. Be imaginative.

Symbols from different faiths and cultures can include, the Moon and the Star from Islam, the Star of David from Judaism, a Diya

from Diwali, the Om from Hinduism, the Cross from Christianity, a Sikh Khanda, a Kwanzaa Kinara, the Yin Yang from Taoism, a Chinese Lantern etc. Visit www.peacetreeday.com and click on Peace Tree Day Kit and then symbols for stencils. Make sure there is a diversity of symbols represented on the tree to reflect the true meaning of The Peace Tree – ‘embracing the beauty of every culture and faith to create peace in our world’.

Each class can go down to the Peace Tree in the foyer/library and place their symbols on the tree. One class can be responsible for

creating a large origami paper crane to place at the top of the tree as the paper crane was the inspiration for creating the Peace Tree. Every class should assign Peace Tree Ambassadors to take care of and maintain the tree as peace needs to be created and that means the Peace Tree needs to be taken care of and nurtured. Some schools may want to create a Peace Tree Centre in the library or turn their guidance office into the Peace Tree Centre with their Peace Tree, peace books and music reflecting peace and diversity.

Throughout the year, as students research different countries, festivals and cultures, they can add more life and colour to their

Peace Tree with new symbols, so it continues to grow and highlights the beauty of ‘diversity in unity’. Similarly, the Peace Tree Centre can have displays of the festivals, famous peace leaders, peace quotes and many creative reflections of peace and diversity. Please visit http://peacetreespirit.blogspot.com to see images of Peace Tree Ambassadors at work to create their Peace Tree Centre.

By the end of the school year, the Peace Tree will be adorned with ornaments, symbols and messages from all our diverse cultures and

faiths and be truly reflective of the children in the school and what they have learned through the year.

To celebrate the learning over the year and as a culminating |activity, the Peace Tree Club can organize their school and

community’s Peace Tree Day celebration on June 1st every year. Peace Tree Ambassadors in the Peace Tree Club can begin planning Peace Tree Day from January and brainstorm creative peace initiatives including dances and music that blend concepts from different cultures and conduct workshops like ‘Paper Cranes for Peace’, ‘Mehndi Mela’, ‘Peace Tree Dance Fusion’ etc.). They can also create a Peace Tree Stand where students sell drinks from different cultures in order to raise funds for children in war torn countries. On this day children can also dress up in clothes from their cultures or a culture other than their own, greet each other in a different language, play music from different cultures and bring in clothes and old toys to give to underprivileged children. Please visit www.peacetreeday.com to see the many ways to celebrate Peace Tree Day.

Once your Peace Tree and Peace Tree Centre have been created in your school please send a photo to info@peacetreeday.com, so we

can post it on our site at www.peacetreeday.com.

Peace Tree Day at Home…

At home, children can create a mini Peace Tree and add a new symbol yearly. Every year children and their families can choose a culture

to research, learn about and celebrate. In addition to reading stories, listening to music and creating art from this culture, families and friends can get together to cook a meal or go to a restaurant and enjoy food from the chosen culture. It’s wonderful if you can find a friend from your chosen culture and learn about their traditions and customs over a nice dinner together.

It is our hope that Peace Tree Day will be celebrated in cities around the world as it is a festival when people of all cultures and faiths can celebrate peace and diversity TOGETHER!

‘The Peace Tree…on our own we glitter

…TOGETHER WE SHINE!’

When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.

~ Jimi Hendrix

‘We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all threads are equal in value, no matter what their colour.’

~ Maya Angelou

‘I dream of the day when my four little children will grow up in a land where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character.’

~ Martin Luther King Jr.

‘Even as a tree has a single trunk, but many branches and leaves, there is one religion – human religion – but any number of faiths.’

~ Mahatma Gandhi

‘Every kind of peaceful cooperation among people is primarily based on mutual trust.’

~ Albert Einstein