On To Ottawa’ Voice of Women Peace Caravan 2024

Why a Peace Caravan?

From a sense of helplessness and overwhelm with the horror of wars tearing the world apart Ellen Woodsworth, Co-Chair of WILPF came up with the idea of another cross-country caravan – a Peace Caravan – to build awareness and demand government action to stop the disastrous impacts military and wars have on economies, Reconciliation with indigenous peoples and, the climate emergency.

This is not the first such Caravan in Canada. We take our inspiration from previous peaceful cross-country caravans:

- In 1919, the unemployed men who rode the rails to Ottawa demanding bread and jobs;
- The Vancouver women who drove to Ottawa in the 1970 Abortion Caravan, demanding women’s rights to safe abortions; and
- Gladys Radek and Bernie Skundal, indigenous women who walked from BC to Ottawa four times in the Walk 4 Justice campaign, successfully forcing the government to set up the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Even in the face of the current wars and genocide, we refuse to accept the false promise that spending billions on military will bring security to people and Earth. We do believe that peace and justice are possible. Imagination, effort and action are required.

“The problem is that the people 
who have the power to change 
things are not using their 
imaginations.” 
Muriel Duckworth, venerable 
Canadian peace activist and
Voice of Women co-founder.

As the VOW Peace Caravan 2024 crosses the country from both coasts to converge in Ottawa, it will bring Canadians together to explore how the issues are connected and require integrated action. So far, governments have failed to address them, especially in the context of growing social justice issues.

What are the goals of the Peace Caravan?

DEMILITARIZE. DECOLONIZE. DECARBONIZE.

These three ideas are our rallying cries that can bring together movements that often work in silos. Together we can strengthen a country-wide, broad-based movement for collaboration and combine our voices for government action.

This year the CANSEC Military Arms Trade Fair is being held in Ottawa May 29th – 30th. The Voice of Women Caravan 2024 will be there to protest CANSEC!

What are your demands of Government?

- SUPPORT and INITIATE International efforts to resolve world conflicts peacefully.
- Make Canada a Peacekeeper again.
- STOP hosting CANSEC, Canada’s “leading defence, security & emerging technology event” showcasing new weapons and weapons systems.
- STOP spending $billions on military and “security” industries and STOP subsidizing the fossil fuel industry.
- SOLVE urgent social security and climate action instead.
- END military and financial support for wars and genocide.
- ACT FASTER to implement the TRC 94 Calls to Action and MMIGW 231 Calls for Justice.
- USE taxpayer dollars to solve urgent social needs: housing, healthcare, child and elder care.

What is the time-frame for the Caravan?

May 12 (Mother’s Day) the West Coast Peace Caravan departs from Vancouver

May 25 the East Coast Peace Caravan departs from Halifax

May 27-28 the On to Ottawa Peace Caravaners will converge in Ottawa for sharing learnings, food, stories and song. There will be a Peace Rally on Parliament Hill and some lobbying of Members of Parliamnt. the huge CANSEC military weapons trade show.

May 29-30 a broad movement of activists, will protest and focus attention on CANSEC, Canada’s largest weapons trade show, and the need to demilitarize domestic and global economies.

As the Caravan travels to Ottawa from West Coast and East Coast, travellers will stop to meet with other activists, offering teach-ins and workshops and adding more voices and encouragement to the Caravan’s messages. NS Voice of Women will share their activist art projects Peace Protector Uniform and Knot Bombs – Piecing Peace Together.

Schedule: East Coast Caravan Stops and Activities

Stop 1: Saturday, May 25, 10-11am. Amherst, NS. Christ Church Parish Hall, 5 Lawrence Street – Workshop

Stop 2: Saturday, May 25, 7-8pm Fredericton, NB. Conservation Council of NB, 180 John St – Workshop in partnership with CRED NB (Coalition for Responsible Energy Development)

Stop 3: Sunday, May 26. Quebec City, Croix du Sacrifice, Plaines d’Abraham, Grande Allee E – Laying of a White Poppy Wreath.

Stop 4: Monday, May 27, 11:00-1:00pm, Montreal, QC. Bibliotheque Benny. Workshop in Partnership with World Beyond War.

Schedule: West Coast Caravan

Sunday, May 12, 11 am – Vancouver, BC. Grandview Park. Send-off gathering. Supporters will gather to send-off the Caravan with best wishes and symbols of support.

Between May 14-27 – Enroute to Ottawa, they will meet with supporters and others in Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Peterborough and the list keeps growing. Check for West Coast details and updates at wilpfcanada.ca

What will happen in Ottawa on May 27-30?

Monday May 27 4-10:00 PM Caravaners will converge in Ottawa, share food, stories an songs. Speakers from WILPF, VOW, World Beyond War and WPSN Urooj will speak, There will also be workshops on Demilitarize, Decarbonize, DeColonize and peace art making.

Tuesday, May 28 Noon rally on Parliament Hill with Raging Grannies, other special guests, speakers and meetings with selected MP’s. In the evening, a local church will host a gathering with an art and peace making workshop, music, and speakers.

May 29-30 All day. Various protests about CANSEC will take place. These are organize by various Canadian peace and justice organizations. Some Caravaners will participate.

Who can go?

Join the Caravan! Send your contact info to the organizers >

All are welcome to join this women-led Caravan in Halifax or Vancouver or at stops along the way. The events listed above are free and open to all.

Those travelling by car with the Caravans are responsible for their own expenses, i.e. food, fuel, and accommodations, etc. Some contributions toward fuel maybe available, depending on success of fundraising. Car-pooling is encouraged. If you travel by air, train or bus, you will be welcomed as Caravaner when you arrive in Ottawa.

Solidarity Vigil

May 12th-28th, 12PM – 1 PM daily, Halifax
All are welcome to attend us in a solidarity vigil for the Peace Caravan. Supporters will be present every day the Caravan is on the road. We will be a persistent reminder to DEMILITARIZE. DECOLONIZE. DECARBONIZE.

- Email peace@nsvow.org to make a donation, (or use our donation page).
- Have your group publicly endorse or join the caravan.
- Sign up for our newsletter to receive information about attending the vigils or events at the Caravan stops. (Location TBA)

How can I support the Caravan?

- Make a donation >
- If you can’t go, moral support is always welcome. Follow the caravan on social media and share our posts. Read this site (NSVOW) and for West Coast info read WILPF Canada.
- The Caravan relies on volunteers to spread the word about Caravan activities. Please share the ideas and goals with your family, friends and coworkers.
- Contact your MP and tell them about the Caravan demands and why you support them.
- Ask your organization, faith congregation, or other group to endorse the Caravan.