We left early from Port Angeles on a Ferry to Victoria, Vancouver Island, Canada
Deputy Mayor of Port Angeles accompanied our team on the ferry to Victoria. He was very enthusiastic about the Peace Run and wanted to represent his city and country in handing over the torch to our Canadian friends.
In the bay there were many interested vessels.
This amazing waterway was full of sailboats and interesting ships.
The Legislative Buildings in Victoria,B.C. is the magnificent location for our Peace Run ceremony.
Canada welcomes the U.S. to British Columbia, Canada
Victoria is quite colorful and tourist friendly.
Even the buses have a colorful character.
Water taxis make it seem as if we are transported to Venice, Italy.
Victorian dress can be seen downtown as well.
First Nation indigineous culture is reflected in some of the sculptures here as well.
The colorful lawn of the Legislative Buildings was being prepared for this well-organized peace event.
The Department of Peace is an intiative to estalish a Ministry of Peace in Canada.
When we first arrived Patrick Downie, Deputy Mayor of Port Angeles, Washington, U.S.A., handed the Peace Torch to City Councillors Shellie Gudgeon and Marianne Alto(with Torch).
The passing of the torch took place at Confederation Garden Court with a beautiful waterfall and fountain.
Our group started gathering with bagpiper Mel Johnston getting ready to lead us to the ceremony.
All of the official Provincial Banners of Canada are displayed in this beautiful courtyard.
Sulabha, one of the volunteers from our Canadian Peace Run team were anxiously awaiting our arrival.
Sumitra, from Victoria, was all smiles as we finally made it to her beautiful city.
The Speedy Gopher team, a group of professional volunteers, were on hand to help set up this event.
Prapti, from the Peace Run, Butch Dick from the Songhees Nation, Donna Morton and MP Elizabeth May happily make their way to the event.
A peace labrynth was set up on the lawn for children to wish for peace.
Tim Gosley with Puppets for Peace came to offer their goodwill and skills to entertain the crowd.
The team was led by Canadian Brahmata Micheal carrying the torch.
Mel Johnston, from Victoria, offers his beautiful bagpipe music.
Mel leads the group to the steps of the Legislative Building.
Victoria City Councilor Shellie Gudgeon hands the torch to MP Elizabeth May.
They share the torch with our local Coordinator for this event, Narmada Trusz(center) and Patrick Downie, Deputy Mayor from Port Angeles, Washington.
The Peace Runners sing the 'America Canada' song written by Sri Chinmoy, Founder of the Peace Run, in 1991.
MP Elizabeth May accepts the torch. She is the first woman to represent the Green Party in Parliament and has worked tirelessly for environmental policies.
Victoria City Councilor Shellie Gudgeon accepts the torch and offers her goodwill for this peace initiative and global event.
Patrick Downie and Shelly Gudgeon offer a Proclamation from the City of Victoria proclaiming June 27 as Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run Day in the City of Victoria, B.C., the Traditional Territories of the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations.
Our guests and Peace Run team on the steps of this beautiful Parliament Building.
Scenic vistas from the steps of the Legislative Building.
Captain of the U.S. Team, Arpan DeAngelo, introduces the Peace Run and explains how we made the 6,000 mile trip here from New York since April 19.
MP Elizabeth May enjoys the ceremony.
Natabara Rollosson from New York introduces himself and explains his work with environmental issues at the United Nations.
Donna Morton, from SunDrum Youth, First Power, and Principium, receives the Torch Bearer Award for her decades of service for the environment and for empowering aboriginal women to make their own cottage industries.
Jhalmala, from Victoria, introduces Frances Litman, from the Creatively United for the Planet group, to recieve the Torch-Bearer Award.
Frances is a pioneer in environmental initiatives.
Butch Dick of the Songhees Nation was a past recipient of the Torch-Bearer Award. He offered his kind support of the Peace Run and illumined us on some of the ways of the First Nations.
we offered MP Elizabeth May a Certificate of Appreciation and a special Peace painting by Sri Chinmoy.
Tai Chi was one of the peaceful activities offered on the lawn after our event.
Cakes and snacks were offered by the local coordinators after the ceremony.
Our core team had to sadly say good-bye to Harita who was with us from the beginning of our journey.
Teary-eyed Harita had to go back to work and will join us in August toward the end of our journey in New England.
A group of runners then took off and ran the torch through downtown.
Our RV driver was Arpan who went to meet the team at our next destination.
We were welcomed to the Songhees Recreation Center by Butch Dick, one of the elders of the First Nation tribe.
A very nice ceremony was begun with a prayer by one of the elders.
Narmada and Sumitra receive a gift from Butch and the Songhees Nation.
The gift shop was incredibly beautiful with tradtional native crafted gifts.
The art workshop downstairs was filled with panels being painted by young artists for a large mural, called the Rock Bay Project, to be installed in the city.
We explain our Peace Run to the gifted artists and share the torch with them.
We are so grateful to the Songhees Nation and the Rock Bay Project artists for their hospitality and friendship.
Butch Dick and his nephew, Ron Sam, who is the current Chief of the Songhees Nation.
Ron was happy to have a chance to view our Peace Run music video.
Our runners are grateful to the Songhees Nation and their beautiful new facility.
We ended our day with a delicious meal at Raymond's Restaurant in Victoria.
