The Rotary Club of Saskatoon Nutana invites members of the public to attend a ceremony at the Peace Plaza in Rotary Park on Tuesday, September 23rd, beginning at 12:15, at which time a brick will be dedicated to honour 2013 Nobel Peace Prize Awardee Narges Mohammadi. This year’s brick is sponsored by Nutana Rotary Club members Dorothy Hudson and Bill Christensen.
Nobel Peace Prize for 2023 was awarded to the imprisoned Iranian human rights advocate Narges Mohammadi. More than 20 years of fighting for women’s rights made her a symbol of freedom and standard-bearer in the struggle against the Iranian theocracy. In 2003, she joined the Defenders of Human Rights Center, founded by that year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Shirin Ebadi. In the years that followed, Ms Mohammadi helped imprisoned activists, led a campaign against the death penalty and criticized the regime’s use of torture and sexualized violence. The freedom struggle cost her dearly. She was arrested 13 times and sentenced to 31 years in prison and 154 lashes. In October 2023, when her selection as the Nobel Peace Prize laureate was announced, she was locked in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison.
The full story of this Nobel Peace Prize Laureate will be researched and presented by Grade 8 students from St. Anne’s Inquiry School. Meewasin Executive Director, Mike Velonas and Diane Boyko, Chair of the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools Board will be our special guests. Diane quotes, “In a world that is on fire literally and metaphorically, but yet so beautiful, it is important to pause and look both globally and locally to celebrate resiliency and leadership in peace keeping. The relationships and events with The Rotary Club of Saskatoon Nutana, St. Anne’s school and Meewasin are such an important opportunity to honor yet inspire and instill hope for a better world for future generations.”
Since 2010, the Rotary Club of Saskatoon Nutana, in cooperation with Meewasin, has given people and organizations the opportunity to sponsor bricks recognizing winners of the Nobel Peace Prize. The brick honoring Narges Mohammadi will be the 18th brick to be installed in the Peace Plaza at Rotary Park. The bricks emphasize the Plaza’s role as a centre for peace activities in Saskatoon, and serve to inspire visitors to the Plaza to follow the Nobel Peace Laureates’ example in working for peace at home and abroad. Bricks are available for dedication through Meewasin or the Rotary Club of Saskatoon Nutana.