Toronto Mayor David Miller stands on the steps to the Peace Garden while addressing the Bring Back The Peace - Youth March & Rally - January 7 2006. The Peace Garden in Nathan Phillips Square, which was initiated by Toronto priest Fr. Massey Lombardi.
Former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau turned over the sod at the inauguration on March 5, 1984.
The Peace Garden was created as a memorial to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, as well as the "commitment of Torontonians to the principle of world peace."
The sundial in the south end of the memorial pre-dates the "Peace Garden","43.652591","-79.383302" .
The Sundial is inscribed with the words,
"In appreciation of the opportunity to serve," it was originally installed in 1969, designed by G.R. Johnson (in consultation with H.H. Rogers and John C. Parkin), and presented by Nathan Phillips to the residents of Toronto.
During the Toronto's sesquicentennial in 1984, then Prime Minister of Canada Pierre Trudeau turned the first sod for the Peace Garden, which was to sit immediately north of, but also incorporate, the pre-exsiting sundial.
The 600 m² (1800 ft²) garden consists of a pavilion, a fountain, and surrounding plantings.
The gazebo is a stone-clad cube with arched openings on all sides, capped with a pitched roof, and with one corner of the structure is deconstructed, to signify conflict and the fragility of civilization.
The fountain's pool encroaches into this removed corner, with an eternal flame placed in the water so as to appear as though it supports the pavilion structure, to symbolise hope and regeneration.
Pope John Paul II lit this flame with an ember from the Peace Flame in Hiroshima, and poured into the pool water from the rivers that flow through Nagasaki.
The entire monument was formally dedicated by Queen Elizabeth II in October 1984.
Trying to Save Toronto's Peace Garden
Monday, June 18, 2007 Hiroshima Day Coalition - The catalyst for these presentations to the Committee was the threatened demolition of the symbolic Peace Garden dome pavilion inaugurated in 1984 as "a lasting tribute to peace" representing "our continuing struggle to avoid the devastation of war."
The most important recommendation, moved by Councillor Joe Mihevc, was that "City Council reaffirm that the Peace Garden relocation be undertaken in such a way as to maintain and enhance Toronto’s commitment to building global peace and that any relocation reflect this commitment."
There is still final lobbying of Toronto City Council required by Tuesday, June 19, to save the existing Peace Garden at Toronto City Hall from demolition.
Deputations by eleven peace activists made such a strong impression at the Government Management Committee on June 12 that the Committee made five recommendations regarding peace issues to the full City Council, which meets to give final approval to the $40 million Nathan Phillis Square Revitalization project on June 19.
Those making deputations included Father Massey Lombardi of St. Wilfrid's Church, Mary Joe Leddy from the Romero House for refugees, Hiroshima survivor Setsuko Thurlow, Anton Wagner for the Hiroshima Day Coalition, Phyllis Creighton for Science for Peace, Shirley Farlinger (International Institute of Concern for Public health), Sid Ikeda (Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre), Audrey Tobias (Veterans Against Nuclear Arms), Eryl Court (Voice of Women for Peace), Gene Tishauer (Toronto East for Peace) and Michael Rosenberg.
There were also over 30 written submissions from peace activists and organizations such as the Canadian Peace Congress, the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee, Physicians for Global Survival, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, the Church of the Holy Trinity, Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, the Humanist Movement, the Quakers, Raging Grannies, the Mir Movement, Nikkei Voice, and the International Association of Peace Messenger Cities.
The catalyst for these presentations to the Committee was the threatened demolition of the symbolic Peace Garden dome pavilion inaugurated in 1984 as "a lasting tribute to peace" representing "our continuing struggle to avoid the devastation of war."
The most important recommendation, moved by Councillor Joe Mihevc, was that "City Council reaffirm that the Peace Garden relocation be undertaken in such a way as to maintain and enhance Toronto’s commitment to building global peace and that any relocation reflect this commitment."
The Committee also recommended that representatives of the interfaith and peace communities be consulted on an ongoing basis as the design for Nathan Phillips Square develops and that an advisory group be established to focus on the Peace Garden and help facilitate the rededication of the new Peace Garden.
Despite this, the existing Peace Garden at the entrance to City Hall is still threatened with demolition. Councillor Mihevc's motion unfortunately also merely "requests the architects to examine the idea of moving the pavilion to the new location...and if this cannot be accommodated, that staff be requested to report back to the Government Management Committee."
Section 6.4.4. on the Peace Garden in the Nathan Phillips Square Revitalization Design Competition Brief clearly states that "The Peace Garden was added to the Square in 1984 and is part of the heritage designation...Any changes to the location of the Peace Garden must place it in an appropriate location relative to the overall Square design, provide an equivalent or better landscape design and relocate the key built components, including the pavilion."
In view of these clear heritage guidelines for the Nathan Phillips Square Design Competition, peace activists are therefore insisting that City Council should not merely "request" that the architects of the winning design "examine the idea of moving the pavilion to the new location" but that Council instead should reaffirm the original Design Competition heritage guidelines and pass a motion that the existing Peace Garden cannot be demolished but that its key elements, including the symbolic pavilion structure, "must" be moved to the new site on Nathan Phillips Square.
Councillor Raymond Cho will introduce a motion to this effect when the $40 million Nathan Phillips Square Revitalization project comes before the full City Council on June 19 for a final vote. Activists in the Greater Toronto Area are urged to telephone or email their City Councillor and Mayor David Miller.
To verify phone numbers and the email addresses of the Mayor and Councillors, go to the link http://app.toronto.ca/im/council/councillors.jsp Mayor David Miller's email address is [email protected]
Ask Councillors and the Mayor to ensure at the June 19 City Council meeting that the existing Peace Garden, including the threatened pavilion dome, not be demolished but that the key elements of the Garden be relocated to the new site on Nathan Phillips Square as stipulated by the heritage provisions of the international Nathan Phillips Square Design Competition guidelines.
Thank you for helping to preserve City Council's commitment to peacebuilding.
Peace,
Anton Wagner for the Hiroshima Day Coalition [email protected] 416-863 1209; fax: 416-863 9973 http://www.acp-cpa.ca/en/HiroshimaDayCoalition.htm
