Mahasatya, from Poland, leads the men's team on an early morning run to the Vancouver Montessori School.
We met a friendly local runner, Alan Lee, who works here in Vancouver. He joins us for a few miles. He told us that he visits his mother in Forest Hills, Queens, New York City, very close to the neighborhood where some of our Peace Runners actually live also.
Beautiful flowers dot the scenery as we approach the Montessori School.
We are welcomed by Prasannata Runkel, the Founder and Director of the school since 1972. She and her staff were eagerly awaiting our arrival. Our team introduced ourselves by offering clues as to where each runner comes from and the teachers had to guess them all. If they did this successfully then we would sing them some Peace Run songs. Otherwise they would have to sing us a song.
They successfully guessed every one with the help of some good clues. So we sang our Peace Run song for them. Then everyone helped us sing another song with the accompanying actions, called the 'World Harmony Run Song', composed by Sri Chinmoy, Founder of the Peace Run.
After the singing we practiced a silent exercise of feeling peace in the heart, slowly spreading to everyone around us.
Prasannata then presents the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run Torch-Bearer Award to Roni Jones. She has served as school's Administrator for 48 years with dedication, cheerfulness and humor. She was also a founding Board member of the AMI Montessori Teacher Training Center of British Columbia.
Roni offers a heartfelt gratitude to Prasannata and to everyone involved in the school, including the many teachers who have recently joined.
Roni's son, Ainsley, was formerly a student here many years ago. He is currently now 'Person in Charge of Building Operations'. He is proud of his mother and takes after her now in his dedication to this wonderful school she has helped to evolve and grow.
Vice-Principal, Rob Brownie, offers Roni some gifts on behalf of the school, teachers and staff.
Roni displays her well-deserved gifts for her many decades of dedicated service to the school, the children and their families.
Prasannata reads out a poem by Sri Chinmoy written on a plaque for a Peace Tree in honor of Roni Jones, which will soon be planted on the property. It reads: "How can I have peace? Not by talking about peace But by walking Along the road of peace."
Roni and the Peace Tree dedicated to her and her contributions to peace through her involvement in this most special school.
Roni shares one of her gifts with Chrystal Williams who has worked at the school with Roni for 35 years as the school's Registrar. It is a beautifully printed photo album of the evolution of the school from the very beginning in 1972.
We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to meet everyone here and participate in this very meaningful, special and emotionally charged ceremony.
The Peace Torch is passed around for everyone to offer their wishes, prayers and goodwill for peace in the world.
After the ceremony some of the staff and teachers offered us a tour of this beautiful school which began with about 20 students and now has over 220 students.
Two teachers who look quite happy with today's ceremony and with the fact they also have a summer vacation starting in a day or two.
Signatures of many teachers and staff past and present, celebrating the school's 50 Anniversary 2 years ago.
It is clear to see how art and academics are both emphasized and practiced here.
Test your math skills with this 'clock'.
Prasannata explains some of the classroom structures and learning materials.
After the school tour our team met with Prasannata in the large staff meeting room upstairs.
After singing her our 'Thank-You' song Prasannata offers her soulful gratitude before we leave. The feeling is mutual!! Thank you for your decades of hard work and dedicated service to the hundreds of children who have passed through here.
After the wonderful ceremony at the Montessori School three of our runners were leaving us today to fly back to their perspective homes. Virangini from Rhode Island, Roxana from Romania and Ahavani from San Diego. We are so grateful that they were able to join the team and help us share the Peace Torch with hundreds of peace-lovers in the U.S.. and Canada.
Back on the road again, the rest of the women's team did their running partially in the rain.
Olivia and Rupasi sharing the Peace Torch.
Harry, a Vietnam Veteran, stopped his car to meet the women's team and offer his goodwill and wishes for peace .It is truly encouraging to us when people go out of their way to share with us the importance of peace and friendship in the world.
Elvy and Dan share the Peace Torch with the women's team after helping them find each other. The two runner's mobile phone died and they had to knock on the door of these two fine people who let them use their phone to locate the other two team members. Canada's oneness-heart has really shone throughout our few days in Canada so far.
Our next destination was at the border of Canada and the U.S. at the Peace Arch.
A small crowd of people were anxiously awaiting our arrival.
As we were waiting to run from Canada to the U.S. border at the Peace Arch, Councilman Ernie Klassen from White Rock came to visit us before making his way to the Peace Arch. His enthusiasm couldn't wait to meet us and hold the Peace Torch.
Two happy teammates, Nayaja and Hastakamala, ready to run to the Peace Arch, in the background.
A few members from the Coquitlam 5th District Scout Troupe came meet us at the Peace Arch as well.
Tristan from the Scouts shows off his various achievement badges while he waits to run to the Arch with us.
Our team,along with the representatives from White Rock and Blaine, and the Scouts run to the Peace Arch together with the Peace Torch and some of the country flags where Peace Run have taken place in other parts of the world.
After our introductions and singing of the Peace Run song, Christina Winkley, leads us in a song about the Peace Arch.
Tanya Ev, Scout leader, and her two children from the Scouts Coquitlam Troop, Boy Scout Tristan and his sister, Girl Guide Marissa, happily share the Peace Torch. We are so grateful to them for their commitment to come to join us even though some of the other scouts were not able to make it here today.
Tanya also brought copies of the words to the famous song, "Let There Be Peace On Earth and let it begin with me" for everyone to sing. The Peace Run motto has a very similar theme: "Peace Begins With Me."
Christina helps us with the peace song.
Everyone then gets a chance to hold the Peace Torch and offer their wishes, prayers and goodwill for peace.
Rupasi, from Seattle who helped to organize this event, offers our Certificate of Appreciation to Councilman Ernie Klassen from White Rock, Canada and Deputy Mayor Rhyan Lopez from Blaine, Washington, U.S.A. We are very grateful for their presence and participation today.
Christina Winkley, from the International Peace Arch Association, receives our Certificate of Appreciation for coming today and singing for us as well. She also helped to organize this event with our teammate, Rupasi, this time and other years in the past.
After the ceremony as we were walking to visit Christina in her small shop near the parking lot, passersby would stop to offer their wishes for peace with the Peace Torch as well.
These two locals were more interested in our lunch than the Peace Torch.
Chistina's shop was small but full of colorful gifts and surprises. She generously offered us each some tea as well. She has been working for many years to gather support for helping this wonderful Peace Arch Park become a National Park some day.
After our long day of inspiring ceremonies and running adventures we gladly made it to the Ono Kitchen and Restaurant in Bellingham to enjoy their wonderful food.
We are very grateful to the Ono Kitchen Restaurant for offering us dinner at half-price this evening.It is kind and generous gestures like this that helps to keep us on the road.
Our final stop of the evening after dinner was a uniquely wonderful ice cream shop called Mallards.
Greeting the customers when you first walk in are hundreds of 'rubber duckies', hence the name Mallards, which is a common type of duck.
The homemade ice cream had some very creative and unusual names which made the experience here even more mysterious and fun.
While enjoying our delicious homemade ice cream many of our team members were able to play some of the many varieties of table games offered in their large dining room.
Who can get the last block on top safely before crashing?
Salil won this contest. He even recorded it in slow-motion as Pransukh toppled the tower. Devendra seemed to enjoy it as much as his delicious ice cream.
