The Niagara Peace Conference of 1914 was the first occasion when an event of major political importance to both the United States and Latin America took place in Canada. Michael Small’s book refers to it as “The forgotten peace: mediation at Niagara Falls, 1914”.
Seedling for Change in Society and Environment, with Associate Professor Maria del Carmen Suescun Pozas, Brock University History Department, as its founding director has partnered with Niagara Military Museum in a project called “Share Peace, Discover Niagara River”. Since January 2016 Seedling for Change has played a significant role in promoting local history, culture, and heritage across the Niagara Region.
With its focus on peace in relation to people and the environment the project weaves into the social and cultural fabric of the City of Niagara Falls, Canada. The opportunity to work with the Niagara Military Museum brings to light the history of the area’s people in relation to the environment that is given very little attention.
The project comprises a series of lectures, a walking photographic street circuit displaying photographs submitted by residents of Niagara Falls and/or visitors, and street art and a large-scale mural painted by children. The project was launched on the 150 Canada Day Celebration and will wrap up in October. It will involve Brock students, partner organizations, and local residents.
The lectures will be held on Thursday, Sept. 14, 21, 28 and Oct. 5, 2017 from 7 to 9:30 pm with opening and closing ceremonies on the first and final dates. Niagara Military Museum is the main venue.
The project revolves around the Niagara Falls (Canada) Peace Conference which convened May 20, 1914. Representatives from the ABC powers, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile mediated diplomatically with representatives from Mexico and the U.S. in order to avoid further conflict between the two nations.
Speaker Series
Thursday, September 14th
Major Alan Woolley
Peacekeeping in conflicts around the world
Major Woolley, a resident of Fort Erie, speaks on his peacekeeping experiences. He is currently serving as a civilian cease-fire monitor in the conflict region of the Ukraine
Thursday, September 21th
Albert Garofalo
Environmental Perspective
Historical and Current Wetlands in the Niagara River Watershed
Albert Garofalo, an environmentalist, is recognized as one of Niagara’s top botanists and will address the environmental perspective of the Niagara River. Garofalo completed a three year study of the botany of the North coast of Lake Erie, he is considered an expert with this habitat.
Thursday, September 28th
Laura-Lee Karen Burey
One from Many Worlds
Burey is a Seedlings for Change researcher. Her topic is Racial Intermixture in Canada and Latin America: the Métis and the Mestizo in History, and the objective was to reveal the true story of the Métis people in the Niagara Region and the Mestizo people of Latin America by connecting their histories of colonial transculturation and racial intermixtures.
Thursday, October 5th
Adalbert Lallier
The Other Side of War
Hungarian -born Lallier, retired Concordia University professor, was forcibly inducted into the SS at 17. In 1945 at 19 he witnessed Julius Viel raise his rifle and randomly shoot seven Jews suddenly and without provocation. Responding to his decades long agony of conscience, after fifty five years Lallier went to Stuttgart, Germany, to testify against Viel who was successfully charged.
Ron Dale
Break in the Covenant Chain
Ron Dale had a 38-year long career with Parks Canada. Ron managed Niagara National Historic Sites including Fort George, Butlers Barracks, Fort Mississauga, Navy Island, Navy Hall, the Commons and Brock’s Monument. He is the author of books on the history of Niagara-on-the-Lake, the War of 1812 and the French and Indian War
Venue:Niagara Military Museum,
5049 Victoria Avenue , Niagara Falls ON L2E 4E2
Free admission and parking
All events are followed by social
