June 21, 2023

ALL THEY SANG IS ‘GIVE PEACE A CHANCE’ … BUT SAID A LOT MORE: PEACE POLES STAND SILENT VIGIL IN PARK

GRAVENHURST — What’s everybody’s talkin’ ’bout.

“Talkin’ ’bout Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Russia, Ukraine, genocide, femicide …

“Let’s put killing aside ….”

Those are a few of the opening words of a reworked version of John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance.”

GHS guitarist Dakota Clifford and student vocalists Leah Church and Derrick Miller sang the 1969 anthem at a Peace Poles dedication at Gull Lake Rotary Park.

“My opinion, your opinion, politics, thumbs up, thumbs down, someone’s voice, silenced voice, you have a choice.

“Everybody’s talkin’ ’bout: Racism, sexism, ageism, classism, ableism, colourism, this-ism, that-ism.

“Let’s put killing aside ….”

**Dakota Clifford strums as Leah Church and Derrick Miller offer their own take on “Give Peace a Chance” at the June 15 Peace Pole dedication at Gull Lake Rotary Park.**

The trio “updated the words of the verses to reflect some of the language and issues of present day surrounding barriers to peace,” said music teacher Dan Farmer who paraded the school band through the pines for the ceremony and to play a couple of numbers.

It was a truly was a youth peace march with the kind of folk song feel that their grandparents heard more than 50 years ago and that the GHS students are carrying on today.

Students Kaitlyn Courville and Julia Beaverstock read an Indigenous land acknowledgment statement.

Incoming Rotary president Kay Godden organized the event, which is part of an international May Peace Prevail on Earth NGO project.

A visibly moved Godden called it a “great day for Gravenhurst, Rotary, students and the world.”

**Rotarian Kay Godden organized the event that will also see 10 trees planted in the African continent in recognition of the Peace Poles planted in Gravenhurst Rotary Park.**

Some 70 club members, students, teachers, Mayor Heidi Lorenz, councillors and citizens turned out to Rotary’s Friendship Circle where the six poles circled a stone seating encampment.

Godden had had erected the initial eight-foot white plastic pole with messages of peace in multiple languages — including English, French, Chinese, Ukrainian, Cree, Arabic, Braille and sign language among others.

Her objective is to “foster world peace at home and abroad.”

A lofty one task alone, but which inspired more than a dozen Grade 9 students in Aimee Bulloch-Moore’s art class to paint five other poles with colourful messages of peace that bring together new ideas for peace and harmony.

The poles add to the 250,000 raised in other small towns and cities around the world, standing as silent vigils of peace, added president Barb McCabe.

The site is to be included in an international registry that will also see 10 trees planted in the African continent in recognition of the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst and as talking points for peaceful passersby.