TO MARK THE VISIT OF HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA
YOUTH CHESS TOURNAMENTS FOR PEACE TO BE LAUNCHED AT
THE 2nd GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON WORLD'S RELIGIONS AFTER 9/11
For Immediate Release
Montreal, August 11, 2011 - The Canadian Centre for Ecumenism is delighted to announce the launch of Youth Chess Tournaments for Peace, in Montreal, on September 7, 2011 in collaboration with MonRoi Inc. and the Canadian Chess'n Math Association. The event will coincide with the visit of His Holiness the Dalia Lama to the 2nd Global Conference on World's Religions After 9/11, a combined initiative of McGill University and the University of Montréal.
In making the announcement, Deacon Anthony Mansour, Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Ecumenism said, "Our Centre promotes interfaith dialogue. For this exceptional event, we are bringing together youth chess players with the theme of peace through chess. Chess demonstrates that a resolution of differences can be accomplished in a spirit of mutual respect and understanding and fair play."
The conference convenor, Dr. Arvind Sharma of McGill University's Faculty of Religious Studiessays,"The 2nd Global Conference on World's Religions After 9/11's aim is to bring together the various religions of the world in an ecumenical spirit to address the many issues facing the world today". At the 2nd Global Conference on World's Religions After 9/11 His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, will be joined by Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi, world-famous author Deepak Chopra, Professors Tariq Ramadan, Robert Thurman, Steven T. Katz, Gregory Baum and Swami Dayananda Saraswati who will speak on the theme "Peace Through Religion".
The Chess'n Math Association was founded in 1985 and now has three offices, 20 full-time staff and over 100 qualified chess instructors, who teach chess as an extra-curricular activity to over 10,000 youngsters every week.
The event is endorsed by the World Chess Federation (FIDE). In a letter to organizers the President says that FIDE is proud to be associated with the 2011 Youth Chess Tournament for Peace, which promotes harmony amongst the people of the world. FIDE, which is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as an Intentional Sports Federation, with 170 member federations, has several on-going projects with the Peace and Sports organization.
"Ten years following the events of September 11th, 2001 the need for renewal of the world's commitment to a culture of peace is self-evident. The values enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, have always been part and parcel of the fundamental teachings of all of the world's great religions, and must be at the forefront of all of our actions. The further expansion and strengthening of our spiritual consciousness in the years to come will be a major driving force to the evolution of society. Technology is playing a major role in bringing people together and we are proud to contribute, through our webcast of the event. Each of the 2011 Youth Chess Tournament for Peace participants will come out as a winner," said the founder of MonRoi Inc, Brana Giancristofaro.
Rupert Bazambanza, survivor of the April 1994 genocide in Rwanda, designed the poster Chess for Peace. He emigrated to Montréal, Canada in 1997 where he received his training at the International Academy of Design. Rupert is giving lectures featuring his work with the goal of encouraging tolerance.
Click here to download the 2nd Global Conference on World's Religions After 9/11 Flyer
Click here to download the 2011 Youth Chess Tournament for Peace Poster
Media Contacts
Ms. Enza Martuccelli
Director of National Programs
Canadian Centre for Ecumenism
1819 René-Lévesque O. #003
Montréal, Québec
H3H 2P5
Tel (514) 937-9176 ext. 35
Fax (514) 937-4986
[email protected]
For more on the Canadian Centre for Ecumenism, please visit: www.oikoumene.ca
Ms. Victoria Pickering
2nd Global Conference of World's Religions After 9/11
4636, Rue Ste-Catherine Ouest
Montréal, Québec
H3Z 1S5
Tel (514) 935-5069
[email protected]
To purchase tickets for the Conference, please visit: http://gcwr2011.org/
Mr. Hugues Leclair
Chess'n Math Association
Montréal Regional Director
3423 St. Denis Street room 400
Montréal, Québec
H2X 3L2
Tel (514) 845-8352
Fax (514) 845-8810
[email protected]
For information on the Chess'n Math Association, please visit: http://chess-math.org/
Ms. Brana Giancristofaro
MonRoi Inc. Founder
100 Alexis-Nihon, Suite 120
Saint Laurent, Québec
H4M 2N6
Tel (514) 332-2462 ext. 201
Fax (514) 332-2461
[email protected]
For information on MonRoi, please visit: www.monroi.com