Bob Rae to speak on August 6th, Hiroshima Day, Nathan Phillips Square Toronto
TORONTO, Aug. 3 /CNW/ - August 6th marks the 65th Anniversary of the 1945 atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Hon. Bob Rae, Liberal Party Foreign Affairs Critic in Parliament, will be the lead speaker in Toronto for the Annual Hiroshima Day Peace Commemoration, City Hall Peace Garden, Nathan Phillips Square.
"Hiroshima Day is an important opportunity for us all to re-commit ourselves to the cause of nuclear disarmament. The growing number of international actors with the power to unleash destruction should be a call to action: to reduce, and ultimately to eliminate, nuclear arms in the world," states Bob Rae, who along with over 500 Members of the Order of Canada endorsed a call for a nuclear weapons abolition treaty. The petition was recently presented in person to Prime Minister Stephen Harper by Murray Thomson, Pearson Peace Medal recipient, who will also speak at the event.
Hundreds from across Toronto and beyond, including from the Hamilton and Ottawa areas, are anticipated to attend. The SGI Canada Youth Choir will perform the City of Hiroshima Peace Song in a farewell to the Toronto Peace Garden just days before it is disassembled until the summer of 2012 due to the massive revitalization of the square.
WHAT "65 Years. It's Time to Retire the Bomb!" Annual Hiroshima Day Peace Commemoration & Reflecting Light Lantern Ceremony WHO Performances include 3-time Juno Nominated Artist, Tom Barlow The Raging Grannies, Evelyn Liu - Regent Park School of Music young violinist 30 member SGI Canada Youth Choir, Flautist Scott Kusano, Yakudo Japanese Drummers Keynotes include Joe Ohori, Hiroshima atomic bombing survivor Hon. Bob Rae, Liberal Party Foreign Affairs Critic Murray Thomson, Pearson Peace Medal recipient Dr. Adele Buckley, Pugwash Canada on Arctic Nuclear Weapons Free-Zone High School Student Sophie Feltes on abolishing nuclear weapons University Global Zero students on importance of civil participation With MC Phyllis Creighton, Veterans Against Nuclear Arms and Science for Peace WHEN Friday, August 6th, 2010. 5:30 PM - Origami Paper Crane & Lantern Making 6:30 PM - Peace Commemorations Begin 8:45 PM - Reflective Light Ceremony WHERE Toronto Peace Garden, Nathan Phillips Square 100 Queen Street West (corner Queen St. W. @ Bay St.) PLUS Hiroshima, Nagasaki Exhibit & Survivors Artwork. August 4 to 6th, 2010, Toronto City Hall, Rotunda. Daily including evenings.
All events are free to the public. For further info, complete program schedule, exclusive interviews & photo opportunities with atomic bombing survivors, and anti-nuclear weapons experts, contact event organizers with the Hiroshima Day Coalition (HDC):
For further information: Helen Chilas, HDC Publicist, [email protected], 416-473-8238; Anton Wagner, HDC Committee Member, [email protected], 416-863-1209; For Bob Rae, contact Kate Purchase, [email protected], 613-992-5234; Visit Online: www.hiroshimadaycoalition.ca
Share this article