Ottawa coalition holds day-long peace festival

Z. V. Stoyanovich — September 1984

OTTAWA – On Saturday August 11, the Ottawa Disarmament Coalition with the Performing Artists for Nuclear Disarmament (PAND) and other local groups co-sponsored “Peace in the Park.” An estimated 8,000 people attended the day-long music event, featuring Long John Baldry and L’Etranger, to kick off the Ottawa section of the Peace Petition Caravan Campaign.

Prior to Long John Baldry’s first set, Ottawa Mayor Marion Dewar invited the audience to sign the petition, which she then signed herself on stage.

Organizers felt that the young crowd, which may have come primarily for the music, was made aware of the issues surrounding nuclear disarmament. Following the Mayor’s appeal the lines waiting to sign the petition grew dramatically.

The costs of the event, estimated at $12,000, were almost completely covered by the sale of T-shirts, buttons, food and beverages, as well by donations solicited throughout the day.

Organizers were pleased with the general success of the festival. It was felt that the main accomplishment was the bringing in of people from all walks of life, both young and old, to the park and exposing them to a great deal of disarmament and related information. During the day several festival goers expressed their willingness to become involved with the petitioning activities which are now about to begin in earnest in Ottawa.

The Peace Calendar

Canadian Disarmament Information Service, 1983-1984

Ottawa coalition holds day-long peace festival