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Robert (Bob) Stewart was a chartered accountant and Certified Management Consultant by profession. He held many senior management positions in business and government over the past four decades.

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Bob's passion for peace was ignited at the Rotary International convention in Calgary in 1996. The message he heard was simple: “Peace is the most worthwhile cause and you should do something”.

 

Since then, Bob founded the Canadian Centres for Teaching Peace and led the Canadian Culture of Peace Program. His peace website at www.peace.ca was been ranked Number 1 by Google with over 50,000 visitors per month, and he has been referred to as “the foremost peace educator in Canada ".

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In 2000, Bob was the recipient of the YMCA Peace Award at the annual presentation in Calgary.

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Bob recognized, as do others, that the Culture of Peace Program is on the threshold of making a major impact nationally and internationally, but is currently lacking direction and capacity. He devoted himself to using his professional skills as a (general) manager and information manager to help advance this 'direction and capacity' by founding the Canadian Centres for Teaching Peace.

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Bob was a member of Rotary International, an organization with 1.2 million members worldwide, with a mission of helping to advance peace and world understanding, since 1986, first in Yellowknife and then in Okotoks, Alberta.

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As past Chair of the Rotary District 5360 Urban Hope/Peace Plus Committee he developed Member and Club interest in Building Peace in Our Communities and World. In February 1999, Bob was appointed a Special Ambassador of the Rotary Peace Cities Project and he received special acknowledgment for his peace efforts by his Rotary Club of Okotoks.

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Bob was a Member of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO's National Working Group to promote the United Nations International Year for a Culture of Peace in 2000 and developed one of the most comprehensive, plain language Peace and Non-violence websites in the world as a resource for people who wish to become more active in building peace. The website had over 1,500,000 visitors since inception.

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Bob hosted 9 annual National Peace Education Conferences in Canada at McMaster University, and several provincial conferences.  His major initiative was the creation of Community Centres for Teaching Peace and Peace Cafés across the country and around the world – you may read more and see the Peace Café video at www.peacecafe.ca.

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Bob’s family was a key influence on his decision to 'make a difference with his life' during the International Decade for Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World.

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Peace Accomplishments Chronology:

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June 1996 - attended the Rotary International Conference in Calgary, Alberta, where over 25,000 participants listened to Nobel Peace Prize recipients, and others, urge more individual and collective action to build peace in our communities and in the world (the Rotary mission, among other things, is to help advance peace in the world)

 

July 1997 - appointed (and remains) Chair of Rotary International District 5360 Urban Hope/Peace Plus Committee

 

September 1997 - Formation of Canadian Centres for Teaching Peace ("CCTP")

 

May 1998 - CCTP website online at www.peace.ca (as of March 31, 2005 the website has had over 1,400,000 visitors, and 9,200,000 'hits').  The CCTP information website has been described as the best Peace website in Canada and one of the best in the World.

 

November 1998 - sponsored the founding of the Peacebuilders email listserver to promote communication and networking among a fellowship of Rotarians throughout the World who have a specific interest in building peace

 

November 1998 - sponsored the founding of the RotaryCanada email listserver to promote communication and networking among Rotarians in Canada

 

November 1998 - appointed (and remains) Chair of Healthy Okotoks Coalition Safe and Caring Community Committee

 

January 1999 - participated at the Canadian Peacebuilding Coordinating Committee annual consultation, and Canadian Commission for UNESCO consultation, promoting the UNESCO Culture of Peace Program and a National Culture of Peace Program for Canada

 

February 1999 - appointed Special Ambassador of the Rotary Peace Cities Project

 

March 1999 - participated at the Canadian Commission for UNESCO ("CCU") Annual General Meeting urging a transformation of CCU to more actively promote the UNESCO Culture of Peace Program and a National Culture of Peace Program

 

October 1999 - appointed Member of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO's National Working Group to promote the United Nations International Year for a Culture of Peace in 2000, and the U.N. Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World 2001 - 2010

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November 1999 - led founding workshop for a Southern Alberta Culture of Peace Coalition in Calgary

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December 1999 - developed Framework for a Canadian National Culture of Peace Program (ref. http://www.peace.ca/formula.htm )

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January 2000 - sponsored the founding of the Paxafricana email listserver to promote communication and networking among over 150 peace workers throughout Africa

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June 2000 - facilitated the foundation of the Angolan Center for Teaching Peace

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June 2000 - elected to the Executive of the Canadian Peace Researchers and Educators Association

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July 2000 - development of a workshop for Peace Leaders (ref. http://www.peace.ca/peaceleader.htm )

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August 2000 - development of concept of Macropeace (ref. http://www.peace.ca/macropeace.htm 

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September 2000 - African Centres for Peace Education and Training website online at http://www.peace.ca/africa.htm (as of November 2001 the website has had over 1,600 visitors)

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September 2000 - facilitated a Safe and Caring Schools and Communities workshop in Calgary in conjunction with U.N. International Peace Day festivities

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September 2000 - on behalf of the Southern Alberta Culture of Peace Coalition, facilitated the signing of a Manifesto 2000 Book (over 700 signatures) and Petition urging the support of Governments, NGOs, School Boards, Business, Media and other organizations and individuals for the National Culture of Peace Program

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September 2000 - led a founding workshop for a Canadian Peace Institute (to contribute to the creation of a just and peaceful world by using action, education, training, dissemination and research to handle conflicts non-violently and creatively) and a Canadian Peace Foundation (to raise funds for peace generally, and for the Canadian Peace Institute particularly)

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October 2000 - participated in a two-day workshop by Dr. Johan Galtung in Conflict Transformation, and initiated development of video by Dr. Galtung

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November 2000 - founded the First Annual Canadian Peace Awards and Canadian Peace Hall of Fame, presenting Peace Awards to prominent leaders in peace in Canada in 12 categories

(reference http://www.peace.ca/1stannualcanadian.htm )

 

November 2000 - recipient of the 2000 YMCA Canada Peace Medal by YMCA Calgary http://www.peace.ca/10minutesolution.htm

 

December 2000 - recipient of the Rotary Club of Okotoks Award in recognition of outstanding leadership and dedication to peace 

 

December 2000 - facilitated online posting of manual 'How to Achieve World Peace' ( http://www.peace.ca/worldpeace.htm )

November 2001 - hosted the Second Annual Canadian Peace Awards and Canadian Peace Hall of Fame, presenting Peace Awards to prominent leaders in peace in Canada in 10 categories (reference http://www.peace.ca/secondpeaceawards.htm )

November 2001 - speech to the Calgary YMCA Peace Awards Luncheon

December 2001 - presentation to the Youth Summit sponsored by the YMCA on 'Bringing Peace To The World

 
December 2001 - created a website for the Angolan Centers for Teaching Peace

at http://www.peace.ca/angola.htm ; and created a PeaceAngola email listserver

 
June 2002 - sponsor virtual peace education workstation in Lagos, Nigeria offices of the Pan-African Reconciliation Council
September 2002 - elected to the Board of Directors of the Rotary Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Association

November 2002 - hosted the Third Annual Canadian Peace Awards and Canadian Peace Hall of Fame, presenting Peace Awards to prominent leaders in peace in Canada in 10 categories

(reference http://www.peace.ca/thirdpeaceawards.htm )

November 2002 - hosted the First Annual Peace Education Conference in Canada, at McMaster University, which led to the development of a Vision and Action Plan for Peace Education in Canada (reference http://www.peace.ca/detailedagenda.htm)

November 2002 - represented Canada at the Hague Appeal for Peace Global Campaign for Peace Education strategic meetings in New York

(reference http://www.peace.ca/globalcampaignforpeaceeducation.htm)

October 2003 - hosted the First Annual Alberta Conference on Education for Peace and the Future, at University of Calgary, which led to the development of a Vision and Action Plan for Education for Peace and the Future in Alberta (reference http://www.peace.ca/AlbertaAgenda2003.htm )

October 2003 - presentation to the First Alberta Social Forum (topic: Vision and Action Plan for Education for Peace and the Future in Alberta)

November 2003 - hosted the Second Annual Peace Education Conference in Canada, at McMaster University (reference http://www.peace.ca/CanadianAgenda2003.htm )

December 2003 - incorporation of the Canadian Peace Education Foundation: for a World Fit For Children
March 2004 - republished the Rotary International publication "The Seven Paths to Peace", available online at http://www.peace.ca/rotarysevenpathstopeace.htm and Microsoft Word version

May 2004 - republished Peace in the Family of Man by Canadian Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, available on the Internet in html at http://www.peace.ca/peaceinthefamilyofman.htm , and in Microsoft Word at http://www.peace.ca/Peace_in_the_Family_of_Man.doc 

November 2004 – hosted the first annual Peace and Leadership Workshop at McMaster University in conjunction with the Third Annual Peace Education Conference in Canada 

November 2004 – hosted the first annual Canadian National Culture of Peace Symposium which gave birth to the Canadian Culture of Peace Program (“CCOPP”)  reference http://www.peace.ca/canadiancultureofpeaceprogram.htm ).  Robert is currently the Interim Executive Director of CCOPP. 

January 2005 – Developed CCOPP Network/Stakeholder Web (reference http://www.peace.ca/CCOPPorganization2004.htm ) 

February 2005 – Guest Speaker at the Rotary District Peace Education Conference in Recife, Brazil   Click here for the English version or the Portuguese Version of the trip report in Microsoft Word format. 

April 2005 – nominated for the 2005 John Humphrey Freedom Award - Nomination letter 

 

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