On Sunday, September 22, the Montreal Bahá'í Shrine hosted special guided tours in celebration of the International Day of Peace. The event was part of the tenth annual Peace Days, a local initiative organized by the Network for Peace and Social Harmony under the theme “Working Together for an Inclusive Society”. Held from September 21 to October 2 each year, Peace Days feature diverse activities that emphasize the need to work collectively in building a peaceful society. The guided tours at the Bahá’í Shrine were among 92 activities delivered by 104 local partners across Montreal during the twelve-day program.
Visitors to the Shrine were invited to learn about the historical ties between the Shrine and the international peace movement, Bahá’í teachings on peace, and explore how these teachings are being translated into peace-building efforts at the grassroots. The program included a brief presentation followed by a guided visit to the Shrine where participants could take time to quietly reflect, meditate, or pray. Participants also had the opportunity to engage in further conversations about peace with Shrine guides and other visitors.
“Visitors arrived with profound reflections about the troubling condition of the world and the pressing need to work for peace” said Carmel Davey-Hatcher, a guide at the Bahá’í Shrine. “Our discussions centred around the impact of observable integrative and disintegrative forces simultaneously shaping our society. Despite witnessing instances of war and increased polarization, many individuals in Canada, as in other parts of the world, still choose to align their actions with integrative efforts that foster peace. The influence of these peace-building efforts on society is a significant source of hope.”
The Montreal Bahá'í Shrine, recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada, holds a distinctive connection to the international peace movement. Its designation as a Shrine is due to its association to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, a central figure of the Bahá'í Faith during its early development and ambassador for international peace. During His historic visit to Montreal in 1912, ‘Abdu’l-Baha referred to the dwelling as his home and gave several talks there to public audiences. These addresses, widely reported in both English and French newspapers, focused on themes of peace, the oneness of religion, the elimination of all forms of prejudice, and the need to address economic inequality.
“When ‘Abdul-Baha visited Montreal over 112 years ago His message of peace was met with great receptivity by people from all walks of life. Seeing the breadth of activities taking place across the city for the International Day of Peace shows that dedication to peace remains strong in Montreal, so many years later” said Davey-Hatcher.
The Montreal Bahá’í Shrine is open to all as a site for contemplation and prayer. Information about visiting the Shrine is available here.