The Mount Baker Secondary School (MBSS) Interact Leadership Team hosted a ceremony at Idlewild Park on Friday, June 17, to commemorate the installation of a peace pole.
The peace pole project has been ongoing since September of last year. A peace pole is an internationally recognized symbol of peace, and they can be found all across the world.
The MBSS team worked with artist Paul Reimer to create the end result. Friday’s ceremony consisted of speeches and performances from students, dignitaries and donors before the peace pole was unveiled.
The pole is a metal sculpture that resembles a tree, with swirling branches that come together in a heart at the top. Around the ‘trunk’ of the pole are the words, “may peace prevail on earth,” in several different languages.
There is also a rock garden surrounding the pole. After the ceremony, students planted 13 wild rose bushes in the garden - one for every Cranbrook school.
Reimer explained that while he did execute the project, the students ultimately came up with the idea and design.
“One of the things that attracted me to creating public art was the opportunity to work with community groups and to be able to bring people together through art. So when I heard about this interact club that was trying to create a peace pole, I was like, this sounds like a great opportunity to work with a community group and build community,” Reimer said.
“I met with the kids and they developed the vision, I had a really kind-of hands-off approach with the interact club, I said - you guys come up with the plan, the vision, the design, and I’ll be here if you need any expertise… I’m very proud to have worked with the interact club and very thankful that they saw this through.”
Speakers and presenters included: Aq’am drummers, Paul Reimer, Sophie Pierre, KOES Grade 1 class, Leanne Jensen (President of Cranbrook Rotary), Chris Johns (Trustee, SD5), PMS Lu Hardford and Chenia Weng, David Savage (President, Rotary Sunrise), Norma Blissett (Cranbrook Council) and students from the leadership club.
corey.bullock@cranbrooktownsman.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter