Honourable senators, I rise to recognize the extraordinary work of one of Canada’s leading charitable organizations, the Peace Network for Social Harmony.

The network promotes healthy relationships as the key to peace in our homes, our communities and our country and focuses its efforts on the fields of diversity and inclusion, violence prevention and promotion of peace. Its members include philanthropic foundations, institutions, organizations and corporations.

Based in Montreal, the Peace Network for Social Harmony applies the power of collaboration in its projects as an effective means of advancing peace. In so doing, it maximizes impacts and generates greater social harmony.

Through its vast network of relationships with stakeholders — including community organizations, researchers, the arts, government and education — and guided by the tremendous expertise of its internal team, the Peace Network is uniquely positioned to play a leading role in promoting peace and non-violence, encouraging inclusion and diversity and strengthening community harmony.

Among the initiatives undertaken over its 15 years of operations, the network has organized bullying prevention symposiums and a province-wide program for hundreds of stakeholders in the educational sector; organized a multi-sectoral Forum on Violence Against Women and Girls and Its Impact on Children and provided government with recommendations based on its findings; coordinated 10 years of Peace Days activities, shining a 12-day spotlight on organizations and initiatives that help build and maintain peace; and much more. I have a long list here.

With initiatives that are apolitical and solution-oriented, the Peace Network has helped hundreds of stakeholders to create joint projects, share best practices, promote values such as respect, trust, equity, empathy and inclusion and, more broadly, overcome the constraints of working in silos through collective action.

Honourable senators, this unique mandate has made the Peace Network for Social Harmony a leader for peace in Canada that is appreciated by both the Canadian public and the network’s many partners. We know that what the world needs most today is peace.

What the world needs most today is peace.

Please join me in congratulating and thanking the Peace Network for 15 years of meaningful advocacy for social harmony and peace building. Thank you. Meegwetch.