Peace Poles: A Talk for our English Rotary Friendship Exchange Guests
by David Savage, June 17, 2025
- What and Why
The first Peace Pole was erected in 1976 Japan based on the ideas of Masahisa Goi. The first one in North America was in 1983 in California. Every Peace Pole has May Peace Prevail on Earth in 4 to 8 languages.
“May Peace Prevail On Earth is an all-inclusive message. It is a meeting place of the heart, bringing together people of all faiths, backgrounds and cultures to embrace the oneness of our planetary family.” International Peace Pole Association.
There are over 250,000 Peace Poles around the world dedicated as monuments to peace. “Planting a Peace Pole is a way of bringing people together to inspire, awaken and uplift the human consciousness the world over. It is a wonderful project for any community, organization or your home. Peace Poles are now recognized as the most prominent international symbol and monument to peace. They remind us to think, speak and act in the spirit of peace and harmony, and they stand as a silent visual for peace to prevail on earth. Each pole is engraved with 4 or 8 languages which all state, “May Peace Prevail On Earth”. It is an all-inclusive message and prayer to bring people of all faiths, backgrounds and cultures together to understand and embrace our common bonds.” International Peace Pole Association
Cheryl Crich and I have visited Peace Poles in Cranbrook, Kathmandu, Las Vegas, Waterton National Park, Glacier National Park, Europe and South America. All photos in this article are taken by me.
Kathmandu, Nepal, Monkey Temple Las Vegas, Nevada, Healing Garden
In addition to being a member of the Rotary Club of Cranbrook Sunrise, I am a Director of the Waterton Glacier International Peace Park Association. In 1931, in Waterton close to 100 Rotarians from Canada and the United States assembled. Looking south from Alberta to Montana from the Prince of Wales Hotel, one Rotarian observed, “Where no border can be seen, no border should exist.”
The view from the Prince of Wales Hotel in Waterton National Park
looking south to Glacier National Park.
A year later in 1932, both the Canadian and United States governments agreed to create the worlds first International Peace Park.
Today, there are an estimated 265 international peace parks in the world.
Our Waterton Glacier International Peace Park Association has set a goal of 100 additional Peace Poles in the four-member Rotary Districts (Kootenays British Columbia, Alberta, Montana and Idaho from Districts 5080, 5360, 5370 and 5390 ) for our 100th anniversary in 2032.
Waterton Peace Pole installed 2023 Glacier Peace Pole installed 2024
- Our Cranbrook Interact Club Peace Pole
Our Cranbrook Idlewild Peace Park was designated as a Peace Park in 1993.
With escalating wars around the planet in early 2022, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, led by our Sunrise Rotarian Dr. Andrea Ingram, students of our Cranbrook Interact Club at Mount Baker High School decided to design a fresh take on a Peace Pole. These young and future leaders worked with local and internationally recognized metal artist, Paul Reimer, to design and build what we believe is one of the most beautiful Peace Poles on our planet. Paul Reimer outlined how he followed the students’ directions and design ideas. “I just enacted their design”.
On June 17, 2022, 150 people turned out to help dedicate Idlewild Peace Park’s latest addition.
Ktunaxa Nation elder and hereditary Chief Sophie Pierre told the gathering she was honoured to be invited to speak at the event. “Being led by our youth is the most beautiful expression,” she noted.As one of a seven speakers, I spoke on behalf of our Rotary Club of Cranbrook Sunrise;
- honouring the Interact Club’s intention for this Peace Pole to be a place to reflect “What does peace mean to me?”, and
- “Positive peace is defined by a more lasting peace that is built on sustainable investments in economic development and institutions as well as societal attitudes that foster peace.” Positive Peace Organization.
Rotary International’s Seven Areas of Focus are;
- Promoting Peace,
- Fighting Disease,
- Providing Clean Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
- Saving Mothers and Children
- Supporting Education
- Growing Local Economies
- Protecting the Environment
I invite you to join us in the Waterton Glacier International Peace Park Association’s
Pledge Of Peace
" In the name of all we hold sacred, we will not take up arms against each other. We will work for peace, maintain liberty, strive for freedom and demand equal opportunities for all. May the long existing peace between our nations stimulate other peoples to follow this example"
In our current world, we seek positive peace between all nations.
