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New aluminum dove lands in Centennial Park for rotary peace initiative in Kitimat

The dove is a visual representation of Kitimat’s commitment to being a rotary peace community
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Rotarians and councillors come together to celebrate the new peace dove that has been installed at Centennial Park. The dove is a visual representation of the rotary’s commitment to being a peace community. (Jacob Lubberts photo)

Kitimat Rotary Club installed an illuminated peace dove in Centennial Park.

The aluminum dove is a visual representation of Kitimat’s commitment to being a rotary peace community.

Council approved the rotary club’s request to install a peace dove structure at Centennial Park in August last year, committing up to $2,500 towards the installation and maintenance.

The idea of the dove came about so people could drive by it slowly in a parade formation on International Peace Day and celebrate Kitimat’s accomplishments of being a peaceful community. The dove will also be lit through the Christmas season.

“With COVID 19, we wanted to do something that would be uplifting and brighten the lives of the people of Kitimat so we thought, why not an illuminated peace dove, that people could drive by and see,” Eleanor Kendell, Kitimat Rotary Club member said.

Kitimat was originally declared a Rotary Peace Community on September 21, 2012, by former town mayor, Joanne Monaghan and council. That year, a plaque was also installed on a ‘peace rock’ in Centennial Park commemorating the event.

Between 2012 to 2014, peace poles were also erected at Kildala Elementary, Nechako Elementary, and St. Anothony’s School to recognize them as peace schools.

“In my trip to the Rotary Peace Summit held in Windsor, Ontario, in 2008, we learnt about Peace Communities, so we brought peace the community approach home to Kitimat and our club wrote a letter to the council explaining the concept behind Rotary Peace Communities,” Kendell said. “We worked on becoming a peace community, until 2012 when we finally became one.”

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jacob.lubberts@northernsentinel.com