By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
The Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) Sherbrooke & District is leading a unique and peaceful demonstration on Parliament Hill on Sept. 21, in honour of the International Day of Peace. The event, named “Pieces for Peace,” invites women from across the country to display handmade fabric panels with messages and symbols of peace, aiming to shift conversations away from war and politics. Former CFUW Sherbrooke & District President Deborah Dimitruk explained the motivation behind it in a recent interview: “A lot of us, everyone I talk to, just feels a lot of anxiety and sorrow about what’s going on in the world.”
The inspiration for the event came from the ongoing global conflicts, particularly in Ukraine and Gaza. “What can I do as an individual?” Dimitruk reflected. “I can talk to people and I can gather people. And then when we’re a little bit of a larger group… we start to be able to talk to more people.” This ripple effect, she hopes, will foster deeper conversations around peace, especially as the demonstration takes place in front of the Peace Tower.
The visual centrepiece of the demonstration will be nearly 1,000 fabric panels—each about 18 inches square—created by women from across Canada. These panels feature peace messages, hearts, doves, and even tributes to John Lennon. “We stay away from any of the conflicts and wars that are going on in the world,” Dimitruk noted, stressing that the event is solely about promoting peace without engaging in contentious debates. “We just want to talk about peace,” she insisted.
The CFUW Sherbrooke & District club has been instrumental in organizing this event, collaborating with CFUW clubs in Ottawa, Nepean, and beyond. Dimitruk credits the club’s support and dedication: “It’s a dynamic group of women who really try to do community work.”
While the turnout is uncertain, Dimitruk remains hopeful that participants from Montreal, Sherbrooke, Ontario, and other nearby regions will attend. “Regardless of whether we have 200 bodies or 50 bodies, the panels speak for the issue,” she said.
