Pursuing Peace: Stories from Home and Abroad

“I always find hope in the resilience of the Rohingya people — in their dignity in the face of incredible abuse,” remarked the Honorable Bob Rae, in a CBC interview in early March. Currently working as Canada’s Special Envoy to Myanmar, Rae has spent four months traveling to Indonesia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam, and the UN in New York. Tasked with investigating the humanitarian crisis, Rae is actively assessing efforts required to ensure the secure return of refugees to their homes, and gathering evidence of breaches of law and human rights. He reports that Canada has been “publicly associated with the peace process, with the dialogue on governance and pluralism, and with a number of other critical issues, and this engagement needs to continue.”

“When receiving news about our world, we often miss out on initiatives and efforts that give hope,” remarked Nathan Funk, Director of the Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) program at Conrad Grebel University College and the University of Waterloo. “Sharing stories of the pursuit of peace, and about the strengths of people who are experiencing conflict, is vital to the peacebuilding process. It brings awareness of hidden resources, and of dynamics we can engage and support. Likewise, storytelling is a way that we can celebrate the impact our graduates have at home and abroad, as they use their skills and knowledge as well as their personal qualities and visions to make a difference in the world.”

In celebration of the Peace and Conflict Studies 40^th anniversary, Grebel is hosting a gala dinner featuring the Honourable Bob Rae as keynote speaker. Under the theme of "Pursuing Peace: Stories from Home and Abroad," Rae will share stories of his work in Canada's Indigenous issues and his recent work in Myanmar. Rae is a Canadian lawyer, negotiator, public speaker, and former Premier of Ontario.

At the Friday, April 20 Gala, guests can meet alumni, supporters, and current students who are passionate about peace! The evening includes a PACS alumni networking opportunity at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m., remarks from PACS representatives, keynote speaker Bob Rae, alumni profiles, and a group sing-along led by Bob Rae. Proceeds from the dinner go to the Master of Peace and Conflict Studies Student Support Fund. This fund makes education more accessible for our future leaders and peace practitioners.

For over 40 years, the PACS program has helped students to widen their perspectives and build a multi-faceted view of the world. As the first undergraduate peace program in Canada, PACS continues to be a leader in peace education, providing a vibrant, interdisciplinary learning experience at an undergraduate, master’s, and certificate level.

WHAT: “Pursuing Peace: Stories from Home and Abroad” Gala Dinner
WHEN: Friday, April 20, 2018 | Alumni Networking: 5:30pm, General Arrival: 6:00pm, Gala Dinner: 6:30pm
WHERE: Federation Hall, University of Waterloo
COST: $100 per person ($50 receiptable)

Purchase tickets online or contact Alison Enns 519-885-0220 x24217.

2018_pacs_gala_poster.pdf