The Municipality of Clarington and the Bowmanville Rotary Club unveiled a Peace Pole at the new park being developed on the site of the former Bowmanville Zoo, marking the community’s contribution to a global movement that organisers say includes some 250,000 poles around the world.
Symbol placed at park to reflect local and global diversity
The Peace Pole bears the phrase “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in eight languages: English, French, Ojibway, Mandarin, Hindi, Hebrew, Arabic and American Sign Language. Rotary officials and municipal leaders said the selection of languages was intended to reflect both the local community and the international spirit of the project.
- Location: new park on the site of the former Bowmanville Zoo
- Organisers: Bowmanville Rotary Club with support from the Municipality of Clarington
- Inscription: Eight languages including Ojibway and American Sign Language
Joe Solway, a Bowmanville Rotarian who led the project, said the goal was to mirror the community in the pole’s message. “We wanted to truly reflect the world and our community,” he said, noting that peace-building is one of Rotary’s seven areas of focus and that the project received full support from local officials when the club approached the town last spring.
“Written in several languages, the message ‘May Peace Prevail on Earth’ is a simple but powerful call to action,” said Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster.
Local context and what it means for Bowmanville
The new park sits where the Bowmanville Zoo once operated. The zoo’s closure left a large parcel of land in an area of the municipality that balances suburban neighbourhoods with stretches of rural and natural space — a landscape that often shapes how Clarington approaches public projects and community amenities. Installing a Peace Pole at this site positions the new park as a civic gathering point that carries both symbolic and practical meaning.
Organisers emphasised the message of unity amid Clarington’s diverse population. The inclusion of Indigenous language Ojibway and American Sign Language on the pole signals attention to local cultural communities and accessibility, while French and other world languages acknowledge the wider heritage of residents.
The unveiling took place on a Monday that coincided with the International Day of Peace, underscoring the timing and intent of the installation as part of a broader observance. Municipal and Rotary representatives highlighted the pole as a reminder of the town’s values of respect, kindness and compassion, and as an invitation to continue building a peaceful community.
Data snapshot
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of Peace Poles worldwide | 250,000 (Bowmanville Rotary Club figure) |
| Languages on Clarington pole | English, French, Ojibway, Mandarin, Hindi, Hebrew, Arabic, American Sign Language |
| Site | New park on former Bowmanville Zoo lands |
For residents, the Peace Pole is both a public artwork and a civic statement. It can serve as a focal point for future events — commemorations, school visits, and cultural gatherings — as the park continues to be developed. The Rotary Club’s involvement reflects a pattern of local service groups partnering with municipalities to add public amenities, particularly in areas transitioning from former industrial or recreational uses to parkland and community spaces.
As the park progresses, neighbours and regular visitors will watch how the site is integrated into daily life in Bowmanville and Clarington — whether as a quiet place for reflection or as the backdrop to community programming that leans into the pole’s message of unity.
The installation was photographed and shared by the Municipality of Clarington and the Bowmanville Rotary Club. Organisers say the pole is intended to inspire people of all cultures, ethnicities and backgrounds to reflect on peace and mutual respect.
