Check out the results from our Nov 24th Volunteer Social!
We were thrilled with the turnout and excellent ideas that came out of our November 24th Volunteer social. We were so busy discussing projects and eating tasty foods that we completely forgot to take photos! The image above is actually from our open plenary in September of 2014 but this is basically what the volunteer social looked like. =)
The most important thing that came out of this event was a summary of our ongoing projects and the roles on which we are still seeking volunteers for. At the event we realized quickly how busy we have been over the past year and we look forward to all the new partnerships we’ve forged in that time.
Anyone across Canada can take on many of the roles listed below. Take a look and see what you’re interested in!
Contact information for each project is listed below.
1) Canada 150 Peace Gardens & Peace Poles
Timeline: Ongoing (meet every 4-6 wks)
Number of dots: 13
This project encourages communities across Canada to demonstrate peace as a cultural value by installing a peace garden, peace pole, or both in public places. There are few rules for how each community would like their garden and pole sites to appear. A list of suggested flowers and/or peace pole suppliers will be offered, but otherwise the project is up to the imagination of each host community.
Roles Needed:
- Someone to contact and invite community groups across Canada to participate
- A gardener who can help compile the list of recommended plants
- Someone to develop a social media campaign promoting the peoject.
2) Canada 150 Moments
Timeline: Ongoing (Meet every 4-6 wks)
Number of dots: 13
In the 150 days leading up to the 150th anniversary of Canada as a nation, this project will highlight 150 Canadians who made contributions to the cause of peace. This campaign will largely play out online and on social media but may also have a public launch event of some sort. Short biographies will be written of each featured Canadian. How do we choose who to feature? Canadian peacemakers throughout history will be selected by a committee gathered for the purpose.
Roles Needed:
- Help compile and research names
- Send name suggestions to bronekkorczynski@gmail.com
- Join the organizing and selection Committee
- Help us write the mini-biographies for each selected Canadian
- Devise and implement the social media strategy
3) Memorial Walk App
Timeline: Ongoing til release date (2016-2017?)
Number of dots: 2
The Kingston Memorial Walk honours the lived history of Kingstonians who were affected by and those who served in WWI. This walking tour will focus on family homes, individual stories and other relevant points around downtown Kingston. This multimedia tour will be made available as a downloadable app or podcast audio.
Roles Needed:
- Software and Programming Support
- Research Support
- Fundraising Support (Grant deadlines coming up Jan 31st and September 2016)
4) PQ Plenaries & Lectures
Timeline: 2-3 events per year
Number of dots: 7
Since the beginning, PeaceQuest has occasionally hosted public lectures throughout the year. With peace being the only core theme, the topics discussed can vary quite widely. Each event tends to offer one feature presentation and a short participatory discussion.
Roles Needed:
- Making connections with new ideas and speakers
- Event organizers and logistics
- Day-of event support (Clean-up, set-up, etc.)
- Postering, promotion
5) Guest Blog: Personal Stories of Peace
Timeline: Any time!
Number of dots: 5
The PeaceQuest Blog has always been open to anyone who wanted to contribute, so we took the opportunity to offer an idea for inspiration: personal stories of peace. Stories should be between 200 and 1000 words. They can be about peace and peacemaking at any level: personal, interpersonal, community, national etc.
Roles Needed:
- Those interested in writing about their own stories and experiences
- Those who would like to share their stories in an interview
- Those who would like to conduct interviews and write up the stories
6) Remembrance Day (or “Circle of Remembrance)
Timeline: October-November
Number of dots: 4
PeaceQuest has always been uncertain about whether or not to have an event on Remembrance Day due to concerns that it could be read as being in direct competition with the Civic and Military ceremonies. This year two friends of PeaceQuest independently organized a small ceremony at the same time as the local civic ceremony. In the future, we are looking to establish a small ad-hoc community to further develop this concept by exploring different programming, times, locations, etc. We have already received interest from the Queen’s Muslim Student’s Association and the Interfaith Chaplain at RMC.
Roles Needed:
- Speakers
- Interfaith Leaders
- Musicians, poets
- Promotional support and postering
- Day-of support (clean-up set-up etc.)
7) Peace Poppy Campaign
Timeline: A couple meetings in the spring, but typically October-November
Number of dots: 6
The Peace Poppy Campaign in British Columbia currently orders and distributes roughly 5000 poppies across Canada (2000 of those to Ontario and Eastern Canada) each year. They have notified us that this number is at the limit of their current volunteer capacity and have requested that PeaceQuest take on distribution for Ontario and Eastern Canada. We are currently considering taking this on and would love some help with sorting out our possible options.
Roles Needed:
- Organizational support (pricing, logistics, etc.)
- Distribution Parties
- Drop-off and Pick Up donation boxes
8) Outreach Tables & White Square Activity
Timeline: Ongoing, as needed
Number of dots: 10
PeaceQuest is routinely asked by community organizations to have an activity or outreach table at their events taking place throughout the year. We would love to be able to say “yes” to every request we get but first need to increase our capacity in this area.
Roles Needed:
- Volunteers interested in outreach training
- Photographers for white square activity
- People with cars – to ferry stuff back and forth
9) PeaceSong
Timeline: Mondays 11:30-1:30 starting March 2016
Number of dots: 1
PeaceSong is an experiential community arts collaboration between PeaceQuest, Kingston Community Health Centres and local singer-songwriter Wendy Luella Perkins. Every voice, regardless of musical experience is welcome to come and sing together in an open and safe environment – and break down barriers between those of different backgrounds.
Roles Needed:
- Participants in the program – come sing with us!
- Those willing to help with odd tasks and errands (shopping, set-up, clean-up etc.)
10) Partnerships with Queen’s Interfaith Community
Timeline: 3-4 events per year
Number of dots: 5
Kate Johnson is a member of the Quaker Community and the Interfaith Chaplain at Queen’s University. Three to four times per year they have interfaith events designed to build strong dialogue on campus. PeaceQuest supporters are invited to partner on any of these events and open up these events to the wider Kingston Community, but also to foster intergenerational relationships.
Roles Needed:
- Baking with students
- Soccer players & Refs
- Promotion and postering
- Random acts of kindness (handing out cookies, flowers in public, etc)
11) Education Stream & PQ Schools
Timeline: Ongoing September-June
Number of dots: 9
The Education Stream exists to offer peace-related educational resources to teachers and students of all ages. PeaceQuest Schools gives teachers and school boards extra incentives to work additional peace-related content and activities into their existing curriculum and spare time.
Roles Needed:
- School and Schoolboard Outreach
- Create promotional powerpoint slideshow
- Review and update our database of teaching resources
- Create youtube playlists of selected content
- Compose a series of tweets and facebook posts directed at participating schools & teachers
12) Faith Stream & PQ Faith Communtiies
Timeline: Meeting Regularly (every 4-6 wks)
Number of dots: 7
The Faith Stream created PQ Faith Communities to give faith communities and avenue for holding more peace themed programming and events, but also to make a commitment to engage in more interfaith discussion.
Roles Needed:
- Committee Members from Jewish, Muslim, First Nations, Hindu, Pagan, Buddhist, and Secular Humanist Communties.
- Anyone interested in pitching membership with PQ Faith Communities to their own faith community.
- Outreach support to reach out to new faith communities
- Public Speakers
13) Music Committee
Timeline: Meet regularly (every 4-6 wks)
Number of dots: 7
The Music Committee is being arranged by Jeff Piker to handle all aspects of musical event coordination, blogging, as well as the compilation of songs and playlists about peace and war.
Roles Needed:
- Variety of music about peace and war
- Network with musicians
- Create formats of presentations to groups
- Bloggers
- Event encouragement and support
14) 2018 Peace Conference
Timeline: Meet regularly (every 4-6 wks) until completion in 2018
Number of dots: 20
The 2018 conference is meant to bring together peace organizations and concerned residents from across Canada and to mark the end of PeaceQuest in its current form. The size, tone, and focus of the conference has yet to be determined by the organizing committee. Expected to take place in May of 2018.
Roles Needed:
- Committee Members skilled in
- Seeking and requesting speakers
- Budgeting and fundraising
- Publicity and Communications
- Logistics
15) UN Peace Day Celebration
Timeline: August-September
Number of dots: 6
The UN International Day of Peace is an opportunity for everyone in the world to celebrate the promise of peace. In Kingston, we are looking to offer a picnic with roughly 30 minutes of programming including a sing-along, poetry, interfaith prayers, and a moment for silent reflection.
Roles Needed:
- Assist with planning
- Those willing to participate in the programming (poets, musicians, faith leaders)
- Day-of event support
16) Celebrate Canada’s Withdrawal from Syria
Timeline: To be determined by date of withdrawal
Number of Dots: 9
The purpose of this event is to celebrate the return of Canadian Fighter Jets from Syria. The celebration portion may be marked by the ringing of bells to signal the end of Canada’s current role in Syria. Candles and mementos will be places around a relevant place to mark that the work is not yet finished.
Roles Needed:
- Liaise with City to decide on appropriate gathering space.
- Two people to develop & edit press release and communications
- Two or more people for postering and outreach