Every year, through the Peace Medal Awards, YMCAs across Canada recognize people who, without any special resources, status, wealth or position, give their time and effort to make our communities better places to live.

Peace isn’t just the absence of violence and conflict. It’s the work to create and keep conditions of fairness, inclusion, empathy, security and respect for diversity. Peace-building is core to the YMCA’s commitment to strengthening healthy communities and is built into the YMCA of Eastern Ontario’s programs and services.

We bet our residents know someone who deserves that recognition.

It could be the person who volunteers to run a medical clinic in a developing country or works here to make sure that people don’t go hungry. It could be the young person who raises money to build a school or who mentors younger children here at home.

We’re looking for heroes whether they are young or old, individuals or groups, who have demonstrated a commitment to building peace within our local community or communities elsewhere in the world.

By celebrating the YMCA Peace Awards together, we are thanking those who are creating the future we want for our community, country and world.

Help us honour our community heroes by nominating someone before October 15.

Kingston YMCA will award the medals on November 1 at the Four Points by Sheraton. We are very excited to announce that our special guest speaker will be Tom Jackson– Officer of the Order of Canada, actor, recording artist, activist and philanthropist. He is well-known for his portrayal of Billy Twofeathers in Shining Time Station and playing Chief Peter Kenidi in North of 60. Singing and touring the Huron Carole has raised millions of dollars for Canada’s food banks. Jackson is also a Juno and Gemini Humanitarian Award winner, a 10-time honorary degree recipient, a winner of the 2014 Governor General’s Performing Arts Award and is an ambassador for the Canadian Red Cross.

To nominate someone in Kingston, the nomination form can be found here. To purchase tickets for this special event, please contact Anita at anita_mercier@kingston.ymca.ca.

For more information or to arrange an interview with Tom Jackson, please contact:

Colleen Gareau
Director, Marketing and Communications
YMCA of Eastern Ontario

613-546-2647 ext 258
colleen.gareau@brockville.ymca.ca