Peace Week

What is Peace Week?

In keeping with this year’s International Day of Peace theme of “Actions for Peace: Our Ambition for the #GlobalGoals,” YMCA Peace Week 2023 focuses on the call to action that recognizes our individual and collective responsibility to foster peace. The goal is that this year’s theme continues to inspire our work throughout the year.

Peace is more than the absence of violence and conflict. Peace is the ongoing work of building and rebuilding conditions of fairness, inclusion, empathy, security, and respect for diversity.

YMCA Peace Week is celebrated the third week of November (November 19 – 25) to recognize the work that happens year-round to build peace in our communities, both inside and outside the YMCA. At the YMCA, we are committed to doing this work as a healthy community cannot exist without the presence of peace for all.

We invite you to join us in embodying the values of PEACE through your daily actions. Together, we can build a better Canada. Peace is an active state of being, not a passive one. Together, let’s Build community. Act for Peace.

The values of PEACE:

P = Participation – getting involved and encouraging others to get involved in community-building activities
E = Empathy – listening and understanding diverse perspectives to create a sense of belonging for all
A = Advocacy – making the case for positive change in the community
C = Community – building and strengthening community connections and capacity
E = Empowerment – inspiring others to foster peace and helping them gain the skills and tools to succeed

YMCA Peace Medals

P = Participation – getting involved and encouraging others to get involved in community-building activities
E = Empathy – listening and understanding diverse perspectives to create a sense of belonging for all
A = Advocacy – making the case for positive change in the community
C = Community – building and strengthening community connections and capacity
E = Empowerment – inspiring others to foster peace and helping them gain the skills and tools to succeed

Nomination Guidelines

  • Nominations should focus on activities that have taken place within the last two years
  • YMCA staff members are not eligible for nomination
  • Professionals who are paid to do peacemaking work are not eligible for nomination
  • Self-nominations will not be considered

    Deadline: Submit your nominations by October 25, 2024