Media Advisory - Children of the world contribute to giant Toronto puzzle
depicting global peace

TORONTO, April 19 /CNW/ - In a colourful demonstration of global cooperation in celebration of peace, a giant jigsaw puzzle will take shape in Scarborough's Stephen Leacock Arena this Thursday, April 22. "In Peace Together" is a community project that is gathering depictions of peace from children around the globe and mounting them onto large puzzle pieces.

The five-year vision is to produce a puzzle that is approximately 10,000 square-feet in size, incorporating art from children representing every nation. The initiative is the brainchild of Adele Spraggon, a mother and peace activist from Markham, Ont., who came up with the idea as part of a self-expression and leadership course.

"The children of the world need a way to have their voices heard, and to express their hopes and dreams for a peaceful tomorrow," explains Spraggon. "I wanted to provide a medium that makes it possible for anyone to participate and to be understood. Art is a medium that crosses all cultural boundaries and age barriers and can unite us all in a creative expression of peace."

Project volunteers have been extending personal invitations to friends and family members in other countries, encouraging them to visit the www.inpeacetogether.com website and to send their art. The assembly - which will involve more than 800 large pieces to date - will be videotaped and featured on YouTube to motivate more of the world's children to contribute to the puzzle's creation.

Students from Crosby Heights Public School in Richmond Hill, and Franklin Street Public and Pierre Elliot Trudeau High School, both in Markham, will be on hand to assemble the puzzle. Students from Centennial College's Event Management course, led by faculty member Bob Dallas from the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culture, are organizing the event.

For more information, please visit www.inpeacetogether.com.

    
    When:      Thursday, April 22, noon to 2 pm

    Where:     Stephen Leacock Arena, 2500 Birchmount Rd., Scarborough
               (north of Sheppard Ave. on the west side of Birchmount)
    

For further information: Media contact: Mark Toljagic, Communications Officer, Centennial College, [phone], ext. 7142 or [phone], [email protected]