The Leaning Tower of Peace

Action for peace is on the rise - 20 feet to be exact!  Over at St. Francis Xavier Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario, a Peace Tower was erected in the middle of their main foyer to create daily awareness of peace.  The team responsible for initiating this project included Maria Nichols, Xavier’s former English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher, Chaplain Brian Finamore, and John Lezon, the woodworking teacher.  Almost immediately, their students took on this task passionately and whole-heartedly.

The tower, adorned with religious mosaics and the word “Peace” in 16 different languages, is a symbol of unity where students can gather around for celebrations and cross-curricular presentations.  Nichols’ ESL students designed and created the mosaics, while the wood-working students built the tower itself.  All of the students involved in the project feel very proud that they were able to contribute something to the school and community that fosters togetherness and cultural inclusion.  The tower has not only become the focal point for many special occasions in the school, but it has come to be an important symbol within the school community.  “All the students at Xavier,” says Nichols, “have benefited from the presence of the tower as a symbol of peace, strength, solidarity and tolerance.”

One of the reasons we love this project is that, while most of us can think of war memorials located in our communities, it is difficult to recall monuments that serve as symbols of peace.  Xavier’s Peace Tower acts as a daily reminder of the importance of peace in our lives and the need for everyone to take daily action to support a culture of peace and denounce a culture of violence. 

Congratulations to all the students and teachers at St. Francis Xavier Secondary School for their amazing project and the cooperation involved in its completion. 

PeaceMaker Challenge:  Can your school create a monument that reminds people to support a peaceful school and community?  Is there a bare wall that could be the beginnings of a mural?  Let us know what you create.

And remember...

It isn't enough to talk about peace; one must believe in it.  And it isn't enough to believe in it; one must work at it.
-Eleanor Roosevelt