By Joslin Jose, WE-CAN Volunteer
It is a wintry November afternoon in Vancouver. The Vancouver Pacific Central Station is not experiencing its usual traffic. A few trains pass by, and the railway clock strikes 14:00. On platform number 2, a group of enthusiastic people with backpacks has gathered. The Station is about to witness a historic moment—a moment that could potentially change the city’s peace infrastructure. The Peace Train is set to arrive at 15:00.
As part of a national effort to encourage the government to take on a peacekeeping role in global affairs, Keith Wyton and Bernadette Wyton, residents of Port Alberni, British Columbia conceptualized the Peace Train initiative—a journey from Vancouver to Ottawa aimed at reviving Canada’s history of peace efforts, which date back to 1957.
The Peace Train was flagged off on November 15, 2024, at 1500 hours from Vancouver Pacific Central Station and concluded with a multi-party reception and public event in Ottawa.
“Some of us had the idea to travel to Ottawa and urge the government to take a more active role in peacekeeping and diplomacy,” says Keith Wyton. “By strengthening our commitment to peace—both at home and internationally—we can more effectively respond to global conflicts.”
The Peace Train departed from Vancouver with 40 participants aboard the VIA Rail Canadian. Half of the group came from Vancouver Island, while several hailed from the Lower Mainland and 8 from Winnipeg. Voices united from across the country in a shared call for stronger, more impactful peace initiatives.
The week-long event, held from November 19 to 23, 2024, featured a multi-party parliamentary reception organized by Gord Johns, Member of the House of Commons. The reception was attended by 11 Members of Parliament representing all parties and Senators.
“We had a very productive evening presenting our requests to the government and engaging in dialogue about Canada’s role in international peacekeeping,” says Keith. “In addition, we drafted and submitted a parliamentary petition calling for the creation of a national peace centre.”
The delegation was joined by Elizabeth May, Green Party Member of Parliament for Saanich—Gulf Islands, further reinforcing the broad political interest in the peace initiative.
The initiative was built around a broad spectrum of issues, including the need to reduce the climate impacts of war, and ensure that resources are allocated according to urgent humanitarian and environmental priorities. Explaining the driving force behind the movement, Keith says:
“The core motivation behind this movement is human suffering. We are appealing to the United Nations and drawing on the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We are calling for the establishment of a Centre for Peace and Human Justice, as it has become increasingly clear that peace cannot exist without justice—the same holds true for addressing climate change.”
“The impact of war extends far beyond the battlefield,” Keith continues. “It not only delays meaningful climate action by governments, but the carbon emissions generated by war are incredibly high. At the same time, massive funds are diverted toward military spending—money that could otherwise be used to address the effects of climate change. It’s a matter of re-establishing our priorities. The foundation of peace is not increasing investment in weapons, but investing in diplomacy and addressing the root injustices that often lead to conflict.”
The Peace Train initiative was built on a vision: urging the government to adopt stronger, justice-centred policies—ones that prioritize human and environmental well-being over the projection of power.
Elaborating on the choice to travel by train, Keith explains, “We chose the train to honour Canada’s history. The train represents both the legacy of colonial development and a route forward. During the journey, we engaged in training sessions on conflict resolution and compassionate listening—because at the heart of this movement is a reminder of our shared humanity. That’s where peace truly begins: in choosing cooperation over division.”
Following the success of their initial meeting in Ottawa, the Peace Train team joined Elizabeth May on a second journey—this time traveling by train from Montreal to New York on March 2, 2025. From March 3 to 7, the team participated in the third meeting of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, held at the United Nations Headquarters.
Embracing every opportunity to advance the cause of peace and leaving their footprints in the sands of history, the Peace Train whistles and rolls on. It continues its journey with an even greater vision: to engage on the international stage and restore Canada’s role as a global leader in promoting peace and justice.
Resources for further reading:
https://peacetraincanada.blogspot.com/
https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-5126
