2014 Peace Plaza Dedication

Each year, the Rotary Club of Saskatoon Nutana recognizes past winners of the Nobel Peace Prize through the dedication of bricks in the Peace Plaza at Rotary Park. The dedication ceremony takes place on the Tuesday closest to September 21, the International Day of Peace. The aim is to inspire others to follow the example of the Nobel Laureates in working for peace at home and abroad, and to emphasize the role of the Peace Plaza as a centre of peace-related activities in Saskatoon. In 2014,  Anne and Doug Porteous sponsored a brick in honor of Nelson Mandela and F. W. de Klerk, who were the co-winners of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.  Doug works for Meewasin and has been a strong supporter of the Nobel Peace Prize program since its inception in 2010. He spoke about the development of the Peace Plaza, the Nobel Peace Prize recognition program, and how Mandela and de Klerk engineered a peaceful transition of power in South Africa from apartheid to majority rule.  His Worship Mayor Don Atchison and Rotary 5550 District Governor Pat Chernesky both brought greetings. Observing the ceremonies were students from the grade 8 Eco-Justice class that operates out of St. Edward Catholic School. Teachers Mel Sysing and Dustin Kasun spoke about the importance of acquainting young people with the many opportunities to work for peace at home and abroad.