'May peace prevail on Earth': Westville unveils new peace pole

WESTVILLE – One of the most globally recognized monuments dedicated to peace was unveiled Oct. 8 at Acadia Park in Westville.

First created in 1955 in Japan, peace poles are handcrafted symbols of peace found around the world, each displaying the message “May peace prevail on Earth” in multiple languages. Westville’s peace pole shares the message in eight different languages: English, French, Mi’kmaq, Gaelic, Dutch, Tagalog, Arabic, and Hindi.

The Rotary Club of Westville organized the installation of the peace pole.

“It’s a simple structure that carries a truly powerful message,” said Charlie Parker, of the Rotary Club of Westville.

“We found plenty of other organizations worldwide planting peace poles, and we felt it was right for us to do the same. The Rotary Club has a strong emphasis on peace, which really begins with each of us in our own hearts. It spreads to our family, neighbours, communities, and eventually, across the whole world.”

The Multicultural Association of Pictou County is a volunteer-based, professional organization formed in 2008 to serve people of diverse cultures living in Pictou County. It is focused on enriching the cultural life within Pictou County by encouraging and promoting all aspects of multiculturalism.

The association’s president, Oksana Sichkar, came to Canada four years ago after fleeing the war in her homeland of Ukraine. She said the meaning of the word “peace” has evolved for her and her family after coming to Canada on Oct. 8, 2022.

“Peace isn’t just a word to me,” said Sichkar.

“In February of 2022, my family had everything we could ask for in Ukraine. And one morning, we woke up and had everything taken away from us by war. Coming to Canada was a decision to make life better for my two children, and we are very happy to be able to live this life here. This world means everything to us, containing everything that could be important to us, and we must strive to keep it peaceful.”

The Westville peace pole is one of the over 200,000 that can be found across the globe, transcending race, religion, and politics to bring people together.

Mayor Lennie White said that quite a few languages spoken throughout Pictou County were unable to be fit on the first peace pole, but that another may be placed in the future to represent the entire community.

“May this peace pole become a familiar and enduring part of our community, a place that reminds us to choose understanding over division, kindness over indifference, and co-operation over conflict,” he said.

“In a small town, we understand that peace is not simply an idea reserved for world leaders or distant places. Peace begins right here – with how we speak to one another, how we treat our neighbours, how we welcome those who are new to our community, and how we come together when someone needs a helping hand,” he added.

“This peace pole will stand as a reminder that, despite our differences, we share far more in common than we sometimes realize. As a town, Westville wants to be welcoming and safe, and a community where people feel they belong. May peace prevail in our community, in our country, and may peace prevail on Earth.“