Before leaving Victoria some of us visited a small garden called Oneness Heart Park.
Our good friend Sahoshi created this beautiful garden 10 years ago and carefully grooms it 6 months out of the year when the weather is good.
An early morning ferry ride from Victoria to Vancouver was quite scenic from beginning to end.
The deck was quite windy as demonstrated by two of our runners.
We passed many islands in the strait on the way to the bustling and beautiful city of Vancouver.
Some islands were quite small.
Other islands were very big and full of lush forests.
After docking we were back on the road again.
The run started at White Rock Pier.
We made our way through the streets and running paths to the Peace Arch Park, on the border of the USA and Canada.
Running through the Peace Arch from one country to another was quite thrilling.
We were invited to an International Arts and Music Festival in the park for a ceremony.
Dr. Agraha Levine, from Seattle, offers his kind words as he introduces the Peace Run to our guests.
Salil, our Executive Director, introduces our international team of Peace Runners to the audience at the park.
Our good friend Kaye Mcmahon reads out a letter from the Mayor of White Rock.
The Mayor of Blaine, Harry Robinson, and Kaye Mcmahon share the torch between two friendly countries.
Mayor Robinson kindly offers a Proclamation from from the City of Blaine declaring today as Peace Run Day in Blaine, Washington.
Jason Snow, Park Ranger here at the Peace Arch Park, was very helpful to us. He expressed his understanding for what we are doing as well as the importance and significance of this park contributing to peace and friendship between two countries.
Nirabadhi Wyatt, who received the Peace Run Torch Bearer Award in 2012, is honored at the event for his incredible feat of carrying the Peace Torch to the top of Mount Everest.
Our Certificate of Appreciation and flowers for both cities sharing a common border.
To the Organizers of the Music and Art Festival, Diane and Brian Major, we offer our heartfelt gratitude for arranging for us to participate here. Moni, our local coordinator and Peace Runner from Seattle, offers flowers ad a colorful print of some of Sri Chinmoy's artwork on the theme of peace and harmony.
Everest Aspiration becomes Peace Manifestation.
est Aspiration
Flower garden flag of Canada
We visited a Peace Tree and garden planted here in 1991 close to the Peace Arch.
Daulot was one of our coordinators in Seattle who came up to the Peace Arch as a representative of the U.S. Peace Runners.
Sulabha is one of our Canadian Peace Run coordinators joining us for a few days here in BC.
Moni was our hard working coordinator for this event. He came up from Seattle with a team of other runners representing the USA to meet with those of us running now in Canada.
Moni offers our good friends from the International Festival some colorful gifts of gratitude.
A big smile from Deborah Harger, Community and TourismDevelopment Coordinator for the city of Blaine. She was also instrumental in mking this event happen.
Passing the torch to everyone present here at the Peace Arch Park.
Some of the musicians later played for the crowd after offer their wishes for peace with our torch.
Our good friend Brian came up from Seattle and was met by his mom and dad and their peaceful little dog.
Part of the team stands by the Peace Tree and plaque planted here 25 years ago.
The Canadian and American flags fly strongly over the Peace Arch as we get ready to run east again through southern Canada.
Our first stop was at the Thrangu Buddhist Monastery in Richmond, Vancouver.
We were warmly greeted by Tenzin Yonten.
Yatkara, our local coordinator in Vancouver, offers Tenzin a Peace Run Torch Bearer Award for his valuable service to the community.
The main Temple hall was very peaceful, colorful and soulful
A very sacred Buddhist prayer.
A few moments of silent meditation for peace.
Prayers wheels for peace.
After our inspirig visit at the monastery we were off to our next destination close by.
Bojana from Poland leads us through the arched hedges.
At the Vedic Culture Society we were kindly offered colorful garlands.
Swami Ashwini Prajna and PT. Chaman Lal (Pujari), offer their blessings and prayers for peace.
Yatkara offers them the Peace Run Torch Bearer Awards for their valuable contributions and service to the community here in the Richmond area of Vancouver.
One of the beautiful shrines in this pristine Temple.
Devendra, our ace coordinator for our accommodations, enjoys his last day with us on this section of the Peace Run in traditional Indian style.
Swami Prajnaa joins us during a wonderful lunch they provided for us after the ceremony.
Two 'Pujaris'
Our team (and theirs) in a beautiful setting of the Temple building.
Their hospitality was so kind and sincere they did not want us to leave.
In the home of one of our local members Yatkara and Salil place a beautiful flower garland on the statue of Sri Chinmoy, Founder of the Peace Run, holding a peace torch.
