Rotarian Erects Second Peace Pole in Second Country

Tom Schneider knows a lot about peace! From promoting peace to children in five countries to being the driving force behind peace poles in two countries, Tom has become an icon for peace in our time.

After developing a coalition to install a peace pole in his second home of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico, years ago, Tom began manifesting his dream of a similarly impactful peace pole in his primary home of Nelson, British Columbia, Canada. That vison materialized Sunday, September 21, the United Nations’ International Day of Peace.

Working with the municipality and Interactors – Rotary’s junior-high- and high school-aged members – Tom’s vision became one of 300,000 other peace poles in the world. The City created the base – a three-meter, circular cement pad stamped with salmon swimming in a circle. The, the Interactors planted the adjacent garden with native species.

The Peace Pole itself was crafted from a red-heart cedar tree trunk shaped into a hexagon engraved with May Peace Prevail on Earth in 12 languages which represent Nelson's history, diversity and inclusiveness. 

Two of the languages were Japanese and Russian, for Canada's only internment camp museum is in the area, so there's quite a population of people of Japanese descent there. And the Doukabors who escaped persecution in Russia in the late 1800's make Russian the second most spoken language in Canada. They hold to pacifist ideals and rejection of materialism.

This Sunday, Tom and friends will plant the first Hiroshima Peace Tree, a ginko biloba, nearby. Tom has been growing it for five years.

Interactors planting native species in the Peace Garden next to the Peace Pole on September 11

Ginko biloba leaves from a Hiroshima peace tree

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