All UFV is saying… is give peace a chance. The University of the Fraser Valley is developing an interdisciplinary Peace Studies program that will feature diversity in the interdisciplinary nature of its curriculum and in engagement of multifaith and multicultural community partners and participants.

And in order to celebrate the launch of this program development, UFV and some valued supporters are presenting Voices for Peace, a free concert and cultural event on Thurs, Sept 27, at 7:30 pm at Peace Lutheran Church, 2029 Ware Street, Abbotsford. This concert joins the worldwide celebration of the International Day of Peace on September 21, established by the United Nations.

The concert will feature cello, chamber music, and poetry, including performances by cellist John Friesen, pianist Jeffrey Gilliam, and violinist Walter Schwede (all faculty members of Western Washington University) and poetry reading from the works of internationally acclaimed British poet Richard Whitfield.

UFV president Mark Evered and Sto:lo elder and drummer Eddie Gardner will welcome the audience.

“I’m very excited about the idea of a Peace Studies program because it gives us an avenue of examining the concept of peace from multifaith, multicultural, multifaceted perspectives,” said Evered. “This wonderful vision grew out of discussions with members of the Mennonite community, who have been working with us on establishing a Mennonite Centre. But we all agreed this project should reach well beyond one community. In fact, one of the first donors to this brand new initiative is a member of the Sikh community.”

The Peace Studies program at UFV is in the early planning stages, but will focus on three streams of study: conflict analysis and transformation, reconciliation and peacebuilding, and sustainability. Donations to a Peace Studies Collection already housed in the UFV library are welcome at the concert.

Read further biographies of the performers, find out more about Peace Studies at UFV, and get directions to Peace Lutheran Church,at http://www.ufv.ca/arts/Events/Peace_Studies.htm

If you are interested in attending this free concert celebrating the launch of the development of a Peace Studies program at UFV, please rsvp before Thurs, Sept 20, to presidentsoffice@ufv.ca  or 604-557-4015.