Bridget Brownlow, Conflict Resolution Advisor at Saint Mary’s University and President of Peaceful Schools International, is the 2020 recipient of the World Peace Tartan award. The award, presented by the Celtic Cultural Society of Nova Scotia, comes as recognition for Brownlow’s work with the Northern Ireland Peace Education Program.
The World Peace Tartan was created in 2011 by Victor Spence, President of the Edinburgh Interfaith Association. The unique blue-based plaid stands as a symbol of global peace and harmony. Previous recipients include Malala Yousafzai, the Dalai Lama and, more locally, Halifax Mayor Mike Savage and the Hon. Mayann Francis, BA'72, LLD'12.
“It is with great humility and gratitude that I accept this award. It would not have been possible without the support, encouragement and efforts of students, faculty and staff at Saint Mary's University and Peaceful Schools International; as well as all of our partner schools in Halifax and Belfast, Northern Ireland. Along with our donors, it is these people and children who deserve the real credit for their many contributions to peace education over the past fifteen years,” said Brownlow.
The Northern Ireland Peace Education program is a partnership between Peaceful Schools International and Saint Mary’s University. Each year, students are selected to travel to elementary schools in Northern Ireland to run conflict resolution workshops.
“In my three years as a university student, nothing else has been as transformative as taking part in this group and traveling to Belfast,” said Ryan Mackenzie, a Saint Mary’s political science and history student who took part in the program in 2019.
“The whole experience of our trip: working in the schools, speaking with Loyalists and Republicans, speaking with the Belfast locals and seeing the beautiful scenery of County Antrim was a transformative experience for me. [It] changed my perspective on Northern Ireland,” he said.
The program is one that has built and strengthened ties between Saint Mary’s University and the international community. Former president of Ireland and honourary Saint Mary’s Doctorate recipient, Dr. Mary McAleese, was a student at one of the partner schools in Belfast and is a staunch supporter of the program. Yale University has also recently partnered with Saint Mary’s, allowing students at Yale to Skype into the classrooms and meetings in Northern Ireland and in Halifax on the Saint Mary’s campus.
February, 2020 will see another group of 19 SMU students from all faculties returning to Belfast and Londonderry/Derry, Northern Ireland to represent their school, provinces and countries. For the fifteenth consecutive year, they will be working with elementary students to promote conflict resolution and peace education at schools in the respective cities.
You can stay up to date with Peaceful Schools International on Twitter and Facebook, and the Northern Ireland program on Facebook.
Read more: Halifax university professor honoured with World Peace Tartan for work in Northern Ireland