150+ Canadians Day 89: Raffi Cavoukian

150+ Canadians Who Contributed to Peace..., Education, News 0 Comments

Raffi Cavoukian contributes to peace by honouring children & encouraging adults to do so, too.  #Canada150

Raffi Cavoukian is a Canadian singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur and music producer born in Egypt. Well-known and loved as a global troubadour of childrens’ entertainment his musical work focuses on social and environmental causes. He also promotes those causes through his books, academic lectures and as a speaker. In 2007, Raffi wrote, recorded and produced the single, Cool It, a “call to action” on global warming with Dr. David Suzuki in the chorus.  It was the theme song for Dr. Suzuki’s recent Canadian tour to promote action on climate change. In February 2016, Raffi released a song in support of American Senator Bernie Sanders run for the US Democratic Party nomination and the Presidency. Raffi has sold over 15,000,000 albums and DVDs.

In 2006 Raffi created “Child-Honouring”, a comprehensive meta-framework for societal transformation connecting person, culture and planet. Through his many years of working with children he understands their place in the creation of an evolving world, the primary importance of supporting them; and that through supporting them, we support all of humanity. By putting the universal needs of children first, strategies can be developed to build community, restore the planet’s health, be peace-makers, and create sustainable economies devoted to the wellbeing of all. The essence of the vision is expressed in A Covenant for Honouring Children and its underlying principles. In part:

“We commit ourselves to peaceful ways and vow to keep from harm these (children) our most vulnerable citizens. As guardians of their prosperity we honour the bountiful earth whose diversity sustains us. Thus we pledge our love for generations to come.”  

Raffi‘s supporters have included the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela and an estimated tens of millions of children and their parents.

Awards and Honours:

  • Order of Canada (1983)
  • Order of British Columbia (2001)
  • Fred Rogers Integrity Award (2006)
  • Special Achievement Award at the SOCAN Awards in Toronto in 2000
  • Holds Doctorates of Letters and Music from several Canadian Universities

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