Nathan Phillips Square Peace Garden - Toronto, Canada
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member northernpenguin
N 43° 39.168 W 079° 22.999
17T E 630370 N 4834581
A peace garden at Toronto's Civic Square
Waymark Code: WM5M1V
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date Posted: 01/20/2009
Published By:Groundspeak Regular Member rogueblack
Views: 25

A peace garden in the centre of Nathan Phillips Square, that commemorates the bombing of Hiroshima. The garden is meant to promote world peace. There is a plaque here, a gazebo, eternal flame and a large sundial.

From Wikipedia:
(visit link)

"The Peace Garden was created as a memorial to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, as well as the "commitment of Torontonians to the principle of world peace."[1] The sundial at the south end of the garden pre-exists the peace memorial; inscribed with the words "In appreciation of the opportunity to serve," it was originally installed in 1969, designed by G.R. Johnson (in consultation with H.H. Rogers and John C. Parkin), and presented by Nathan Phillips to the residents of Toronto. Fifteen years later, during the city's sesquicentennial, then Prime Minister of Canada Pierre Trudeau turned the first sod for the Peace Garden, which was so sit immediately north of, but also incorporate, the pre-exsiting sundial. The 600 m² (1800 ft²) garden consists of a pavilion, a fountain, and surrounding plantings. The gazebo is a stone-clad cube with arched openings on all sides, capped with a pitched roof, and with one corner of the structure is deconstructed, to signify conflict and the fragility of civilization. The fountain's pool encroaches into this removed corner, with an eternal flame placed in the water so as to appear as though it supports the pavilion stucture, to symbolise hope and regeneration. Pope John Paul II lit this flame with an ember from the Peace Flame in Hiroshima, and poured into the pool water from the rivers that flow through Nagasaki. The entire monument was formally dedicated by Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, in October 1984.[2]"

From the City of Toronto
(visit link)

"The Peace Garden in Nathan Phillips Square consists of a simple cube with a pitched roof, an eternal flame, a pool and stone platform walls. The roof has a damaged appearance, which signifies conflict and evokes the theme of civilization's frailty.

The eternal flame appears to support the structure, symbolizing the hope and regeneration of mankind.

Former Mayor Nathan Phillips presented the sundial located in the Peace Garden to the citizens of Toronto. It is inscribed with the words, "In appreciation of the opportunity to serve." The sundial, donated to the people of Toronto by former Mayor Nathan Phillips

The sundial, which was installed on Nathan Phillips Square in 1969, was designed by G.R. Johnson (in consultation with City Property Commissioner H.H. Rogers and architect John C. Parkin) and fabricated by F. Caruk, Master Welding Limited.

On March 5, 1984, during the City's Sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) celebrations, then Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau turned the first sod for the Peace Garden's construction.

In September of the same year, His Holiness Pope John Paul II lit the eternal flame with an ember from the Memorial for Peace in Hiroshima, Japan. The Holy Father poured a vial of water from the rivers that flow through Nagasaki into the pool.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II formally dedicated the Peace Garden in October, 1984.

The Peace Garden measures 1800 square feet (or 600 square metres). It cost $540,000."
Text on Monument/Memorial Sign or Plaque:
THIS PEACE GARDEN REPRESENTS THE DESIRE OF THE PEOPLE OF TORONTO FOR PEACE AMONG THE NATIONS AND PEOPLES OF THE WORLD, THE STRUCTURE IN THE GARDEN SYMBOLIZES SHELTER AND COMMUNITY, AND, WITH ITS INCOMPLETE ROOF, THE VULERABILITY OF OUR EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE PEACE. THE ETERNAL FLAME IS OUR HOPE; THE WATER REPRESENTS OUR FAITH IN THE RENEWAL OF LIFE


Website about the Peace Monument/Memorial: [Web Link]

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