Press Release - HDC Event with Bob Rae

For Immediate Release. Attention News Editors. Photojournalists.
BOB RAE TO SPEAK HIROSHIMA DAY LAST EVENT EVER AT TORONTO PEACE GARDEN

TORONTO, August 4: August 6th marks the 65th Anniversary of the 1945 atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Hon. Bob Rae, Liberal Party Foreign Affairs Critic in Parliament, will be the lead speaker in Toronto for the Annual Hiroshima Day Peace Commemoration, City Hall Peace Garden, Nathan Phillips Square.

“Hiroshima Day is an important opportunity for us all to re-commit ourselves to the cause of nuclear disarmament. The growing number of international actors with the power to unleash destruction should be a call to action: to reduce, and ultimately to eliminate, nuclear arms in the world,” states Bob Rae, who along with over 500 Members of the Order of Canada endorsed a call for a nuclear weapons abolition treaty. The petition was recently presented in person to Prime Minister Stephen Harper by Murray Thomson, Pearson Peace Medal recipient, who will also speak at the event.

Hundreds from across the GTA and beyond, including from the Hamilton area, are anticipated to attend. The SGI Youth Choir will perform the City of Hiroshima Peace Song in a farewell to the Toronto Peace Garden just days before it is disassembled until the summer of 2012 due to the massive revitalization of the square.

WHAT "65 Years. It's Time to Retire the Bomb!"
Annual Hiroshima Day Peace Commemoration & Reflecting Light Lantern Ceremony

WHO Performance include 3-time Juno Nominated Artist, Tom Barlow
The Raging Grannies, Evelyn Liu - Regent Park School of Music young violinist
40 member SGI Youth Choir, Flautist Scott Kusano, Yakuodo Japanese Drummers

Keynotes include Joe Ohori, Hiroshima atomic bombing survivor
Hon. Bob Rae, Liberal Party Foreign Affairs Critic
Murray Thomson, Pearson Peace Medal recipient
Dr. Adele Buckley, Pugwash Canada on Arctic Nuclear Weapons Free-Zone
High School Student Sophie Feltes on abolishing nuclear weapons
University Global Zero students on importance of civil participation
With MC Phyllis Creighton, Veterans Against Nuclear Arms and Science for Peace

WHEN Friday, August 6th, 2010.
5:30 PM Origami Paper Crane & Lantern Making
6:30 PM Peace Commemorations Begin
8:45 PM Reflective Light Ceremony

WHERE Toronto Peace Garden, Nathan Phillips Square
100 Queen Street West (corner Queen St. W. @ Bay St.)

` PLUS Hiroshima, Nagasaki Exhibit & Survivors Artwork.
August 4 to 6th, 2010, Toronto City Hall, Rotunda. Daily.

All events are free to the public. Visit online to get the facts on City of Toronto peace history & actions including the Peace Garden and more: www.hiroshimadaycoalition.ca

For exclusive interviews with Hirsohima survivors, experts, complete program schedule, and media kit, contact direct:

Helen Chilas, HDC Publicist, h-chilas@rogers.com, 416-473-8238
Anton Wagner, HDC Committee Member, awagner@york.ca, 416-863-1209
For Bob Rae, contact Kate Purchase, raeb7@parl.gc.ca, 613-992-5234