Cyclists, Walkers & Entertainers Enliven Montreal Peace Road
- khwang562
- Sep 27
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 3
Montréal, Canada – On the warm and sunny morning of September 13, 2025, UPF-Quebec marked its 8th annual Peace Road event in conjunction with the UN International Day of Peace 2025. Cyclists rode from Peace Park (Beaudet Park) in the borough of St.-Laurent to Park Eusèbe-Ménard in Montreal Nord, a distance of 15 kilometers.
Ambassadors for peace and friends of UPF gathered in both parks to celebrate this day. Inspired by the Peace Road project, they invited members of their organizations to participate, and the best of their artists to perform. Elected representatives of the boroughs of St. Laurent and Montréal-Nord responded to UPF’s invitation with a resounding "yes."
Federal member of Parliament for St.-Laurent, Ms. Emmanuella Lambroupolos, Mayor Alan DeSousa, and Councilor Aref Salem joined from St.-Laurent borough. Federal member of Parliament Mr. Abdelaq Sari was represented by his staff member, Ms. Lina Messioune; Mayor Christine Black and Councilor Philippe Thermidor were on hand in Montréal-Nord. And greetings from Ms. Madwa-Nika Cadet, provincial member of Parliament, were read by UPF-leader Ms. Chantale Lee.
The atmosphere was both deeply meaningful and festive as some thirty cyclists travelled the 15 kilometers separating these two boroughs of Montréal, a symbolic way of promoting the vision of UPF founders Rev. Sun Myung Moon Dr. Hak Ja Han of an international highway crossing the globe and uniting humanity as one family under God.
From outset to conclusion, district councilors and community and religious leaders expressed their support for this vision.
After greetings from government and municipal officials, the mayor of St.-Laurent launched the cyclists on their journey, and they were welcomed in Montréal-Nord with the sound of the Bon Courage youth marching band.
Meanwhile, at the Peace Park (Beaudet Park) in the borough of St.-Laurent, once the cyclists had left, less athletic folks expressed their support for this vision by walking around the park.
In Montréal-Nord, after the arrival of the cyclists and welcoming remarks from local elected officials, the event, with UPF-Quebec coordinator Ms. Isabelle Laurin serving as MC, continued with an hour of performances. Ms. Kadiétou Savadogo, director of the Centre du Bon Courage, introduced the youth dance troupe, and a young girl from the Maison des jeunes l'Ouverture offered a song.
Mr. Antoine Nahas and Ms. Diane Boudreau, respectively area leader in Canada for Lions Clubs International and governor of District U1 of the Lions Club, introduced Ms. Christa Maria Abu Akl, a young girl who was a finalist on the Quebec talent show La Voix, to brilliantly perform songs of her own composition.
Mr. Emanuel Lallement, director of the Montréal Stake for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, invited Ms. Marianne Lambert, an internationally renowned soprano, to perform two songs in her magnificent voice, accompanied by Mr. Michel-Alexandre Broekaert on the piano.
Rev. Serge Célestin, president of the Montréal-Nord Council of Religious Leaders, a loyal partner organization, added some words of support for the initiative.
The program ended with a picnic on tables supplied by the borough of Montréal-Nord. The event was enjoyable and educational, and helped to develop a network of collaboration between participating organizations.
International Day of PeaceTwo weeks later, on September 27, 2025, UPF-Montréal held an education session for ambassadors for peace. Several guests and UPF members gathered for presentations on the vision of UPF in relation to the International Day of Peace. The two lectures highlighted UPF’s ongoing work in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and other peace efforts.
UPF-Canada was also invited to speak at the annual gathering for the International Day of Peace on September 26, 2025, in the Montreal Borough of St.-Laurent, where UPF-Canada President Mr. Franco Famularo spoke of the organization’s good work, locally and globally.
