On Saturday, March 7, 2026, Canadian Voice of Women for Peace (VOW) invites you to Friends House, Toronto, or online via Zoom, for our annual Peace Awards Ceremony in honour of International Women’s Day.
REGISTER NOW: https://forms.gle/Uoqek14VUATC4WbS7
This year, we proudly introduce our 2026 Peace Award recipients — leaders whose courage, creativity, and commitment are shaping a more just and peaceful world. In challenging times, gathering to honour them is itself an act of hope.
✨ Why you’ll want to be there:
- Keynote Speaker Michele Landsberg, iconic Canadian journalist, feminist & activist
- Celebrate extraordinary women transforming our world through peace and justice
- Share in an inspiring evening of food, music, storytelling, and solidarity
✨ Event Details
Pre-Ceremony Reception: 4:30–6:00 PM, Dining Room
- Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and connect with fellow attendees
- Bid on exceptional items in our silent auction in support of VOW and our ongoing initiatives to create a culture of peace
Awards Ceremony & Dinner: 6:00–9:00 PM, Meeting Room
- Celebrate our 2026 Peace Award recipients
- Hear inspiring speeches and enjoy live music
- Share a delicious meal with vegan and gluten-free options available
Attire: Business casual — wear what is comfortable for you. We don’t want clothing to be a barrier to joining us!
Hybrid Option: Attend in person at Friends House, Toronto, or join us online via Zoom.
Tickets for in-person attendance include a vegan dinner. For full pricing details, please see below:
Member CA$65.00
Non-Member CA$75.00
Tickets for virtual attendance (via Zoom):
Member CA$15.00
Non-Member CA$25.00
Invite others & book a table to join in honouring exceptional Canadian women peacebuilders!
Small Group Rate (4 tickets) CA$280.00
Medium Group Rate (5 tickets) CA$340.00
Large Group Rate (8 tickets) CA$540.00
2026 Peace Award Recipients
The Anne Goodman Award for the Promotion of a Culture of Peace / Peace Education
Reva Joshee
Reva comes from a family dedicated to peace, justice, and nonviolence; her parents helped found the Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace. As an educator and activist, she brings Gandhian principles into classrooms and communities. Reva is an Associate Professor Emerita at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, a founding board member of the International Gandhian Institute for Nonviolence and Peace Canada, and co-chair of the Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace.
The Shirley Farlinger Award for Peace Writings
Susan Hartley
Susan Hartley is a clinical psychologist and Global Peace Scholar, advocating locally and globally for the promotion of peace and well-being by addressing social, structural, and cultural barriers to inclusion and access to human rights. In 2016, she was awarded a fellowship at the Rotary Peace Centre at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok for the Peace and Conflict Studies professional development program, and in 2017 she was invited back to teach Gender and Peace.
Since 2009, Susan has supported Right to Learn Afghanistan, a Canadian NGO addressing human rights violations against women and girls through access to education. In 2016, she coordinated the Women’s Peace Tables Worldwide, collaborating with PeaceWomen Across the Globe to engage 120 groups in dialogue on inclusive decision-making and peacebuilding. Her most recent project is the anthology Global Voices for Peace: An Introduction to Peacebuilders and the Hope They Bring, reflecting insights from peacebuilders around the world.
The Muriel Duckworth Award for Peace Activism
Muzna Dureid
Muzna Dureid is a Syrian-Canadian policy analyst, human rights advocate, mother, and former refugee with over 14 years of experience in conflict and post-conflict contexts. Her work is deeply rooted in lived experience and an unwavering commitment to justice, shaped by her family’s participation in the Syrian Revolution from its first day on March 15, 2011.
She co-founded the Syrian Women’s Political Movement and launched two initiatives: Lajiaat la Sabaya, protecting refugee women and girls from forced marriage, and the Indigenous–Refugees Movement, fostering dialogue between refugees and Indigenous communities in Canada. Muzna has advanced feminist and peace agendas globally as Advocacy and Partnerships Manager at the Nobel Women’s Initiative and led humanitarian programs with the Syria Civil Defence (White Helmets). She holds a Master’s in Public Policy and Public Administration from Concordia University, and her work has been recognized internationally, including the Canadian Excellence in Global Women’s and Children’s Health Award, the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers’ Award, and Canada’s inaugural research award on Women, Peace, and Security.
The Kim Phúc Award for Youth Peace Leadership (age 18–30)
Areessa Afzal
Areessa Menaal Afzal is a Winnipeg-based youth leader, peace advocate, and student focused on positive peace, youth voice, and social justice. She has participated in national and international initiatives, including the NCCM Leadership Student Summit and Youth Nuclear Peace Summit. Areessa is the 2025 CMCCF Youth Social Justice Award Champion, a published youth writer, and serves as Grad Co-Chair at the University of Winnipeg Collegiate, where she has been recognized with multiple leadership awards and scholarships.
The Ursula Franklin Award of Excellence
Florence Stratton
Florence Stratton grew up in Regina and began her transformative education in 1968 with CUSO in Sierra Leone, where she confronted the realities of colonialism. Since returning to Regina in 1994, she has been active in peace and justice movements, focusing on advocating for social justice in Canada, particularly addressing inequities created by government spending priorities.
The Ursula Franklin Award of Excellence & Keynote Speaker
Michele Landsberg
Michele Landsberg is an award-winning Canadian writer, feminist, and social activist who wrote an influential column for the Toronto Star for 25 years. She is the author of four best-selling books, including Women and Children First and Writing the Revolution, and has served as Chair of the Board of Directors at Women’s College Hospital. Her many honours include two National Newspaper Awards, the Governor General’s Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case, six honorary degrees, and she was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2006.
I am so happy that Florence Stratton received the Ursula Franklin Award of Excellence. She so deserves this recognition for the the ongoing efforts she makes to bring justice and dignity to all who have been denied it. She has sacrificed and advocated for years. Congratulations Florence! I’m glad you are getting your well deserved flowers.