facebook · twitter

On this page we present images of our posters for the current and previous editions of the annual Hiroshima-Nagasaki commemorations in Toronto. Where there is additional material -- press packs, ancillary events, or other documentation -- we may also provide links.

2021 Events

Photo by Florence Nobuko Smith, flickr.com/flogently

On the evening of August 6, the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, we invite you to attend Hope for the Earth: Canada, Sign the Ban Treaty.

Peace activists and dynamic artists will highlight the importance of Canada's joining the growing number of nations signing the Ban Treaty, and how we can contribute to the elimination of nuclear weapons.This event will include esteemed speakers, musical performances, Mayoral Proclamations and a lantern ceremony.

Speakers and performers include:

Setsuko Thurlow, a Hiroshima survivor and co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, ICAN, for its work in achieving the 2017 UN nuclear ban treaty.

Kehkashan Basu, a UN Human Rights Champion; iconic youth leader; global influencer; and peace and sustainability campaigner for nuclear disarmament, the environment, and human rights.

Ron Korb, a Grammy nominated and multi-award-winning flautist. Playing a wide variety of indigenous woodwinds from around the world, his compositions evoke imagery of diverse cultural traditions.

Erin Hunt, the Program Manager at Mines Action Canada, an expert in humanitarian disarmament, victim assistance, and Canadian disarmament policy, and a contributor to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.

Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, the Member of Parliament for Beaches-East York and a vocal advocate for the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and why Canada should sign the Treaty.

To register to attend the Hope for the Earth event online on August 6th, please visit the Action Network's webpage https://actionnetwork.org/events/hopefortheearth and follow the directions.

This event is being hosted by the Hiroshima Nagasaki Day Coalition and World BEYOND War. (Registration info will be shared with both hosts.)

2020 Events

 75 Years: Canada, Nuclear Weapons & the UN BAN Treaty


For highlights of the August 2020 Hiroshima Nagasaki Day Commemoration, see https://vimeo.com/482457518.


Setsuko Thurlow's Appeal to Justin Trudeau

Support Setsuko's letter to Prime Minister Trudeau (below); send an email directly to Justin Trudeau using the Action Network online letter writing platform courtesy of the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace: actionnetwork.org/letters/75th-anniversary-of-hiroshima-nagasaki-canada-must-sign-the-treaty-on-the-prohibition-of-nuclear-weapons-2

Click on the links to download PDFs or view webpages from the list below:


Hiroshima Seen: Survivors Picture the Nuclear Age

See a sample of the exhibit on our website, and the full presentation at http://imagearts.ryerson.ca/hiroshima/.


“How have the Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki affected you personally?”

Visit the photographic documentary at:
https://michaelbarker.ca/the-peace-builders-hiroshima-nagasaki-day-coalition/

2019 Events

Anti-nuclear activist Ray Acheson is keynote speaker at Hiroshima/Nagasaki Day commemorations on 6 August 2019

Please watch this video of the 2019 Hiroshima/ Nagasaki commemoration produced by Kyoko Yokoma of Connected Earth.

2018 Events

August 6, 2018, 6:30pm
Toronto City Hall Peace Garden

Setsuko Thurlow and Beatrice Fihn of ICAN accept the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on December 10, 2017

Setsuko Thurlow and Beatrice Fihn of ICAN
accept the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on December 10, 2017.

2 Minutes to Midnight: Time to Ban the Bomb

Speakers:Dr. Ira Helfand, co-President, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War • Setsuko Thurlow

Featured Performers:
Grammy-Nominated Flautist Ron KorbNagata Shachu Japanese Taiko & Music GroupPax Christi ChoraleRaging Grannies

4:30-6:30 pm: Community & Craft Tables
6:30 pm: Commemoration Ceremony with speakers and performers
8:40 pm: Lantern Ceremony, City Hall Reflecting Pool

Hiroshima-Nagasaki Poster Display:
Toronto City Hall Rotunda, August 6-11, 10 am-5 pm

The Hiroshima Nagasaki Day Coalition:
Physicians for Global Survival • Science for Peace • Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre • Pax Christi Toronto • Canadian Voice of Women for Peace • Toronto Article 9 • Tao Sangha Global Community • Hiroshima Kenjin Kai (Ontario) • Toronto Area Interfaith Council

2017 events

Humanity First: Ban the Bomb!

Sunday, 6 August 2017
Toronto Peace Garden
& Nathan Phillips Square

Keynote speaker: The Hon. Douglas Roche, O.C.
Author, former Senator, MP, and Canadian Ambassador for Disarmament

Featured Performers:
Grammy-Nominated Flautist Ron Korb
Isshin Daiko of Toronto Musical Ensemble
Toronto Pax Christi Chorale
Toronto’s Raging Grannies

4:30-6:30 pm: Community & Craft Tables
6:30 pm: Commemoration Ceremony
8:30 pm: Lantern Ceremony

 

Hiroshima/Nagasaki Day Coalition
Member Groups:

  • Canadian Voice of Women for Peace
  • Pax Christi
  • Toronto Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre
  • Toronto Area Interfaith Council
  • Toronto Article 9
  • Tao Sangha Global Community
  • Science for Peace
  • Physicians for Global Survival
  • Toronto Buddhist Church
  • Hiroshima Kenjin Kai

 

Hiroshima/Nagasaki Remembrance

Image: mural by Tatsuya Tomizawa, made with thousands of hand-folded paper cranes. Photo by Tim Wright

Download poster | Download programme booklet

2016 events

We CAN Abolish Nuclear Weapons!

Saturday 6 August 2016
Nathan Phillips Square & Peace Garden, Toronto

International Peace Activist Setsuko Thurlow
Hiroshima Survivor & 2015 Arms Control Person of the Year

2016 Grammy-Nominated Flutist Ron KorbRaging Asian Women Taiko Drummers • Pax Christi Chorale • Toronto’s Raging Grannies

Free, open to the public and family-friendly

4:30pm
Community Tables
6:00pm
Commemoration
8:30pm
Closing

…and join us for the
Hiroshima & Nagasaki
Poster and Survivors’
Artwork Display
City Hall Rotunda
August 9-15, 2016
10am–5pm

The Hiroshima/Nagasaki Day Coalition:

Canadian Voice of Women for Peace
Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre
Toronto Area Interfaith Council
Tao Sangha Global Community
Physicians for Global Survival
Toronto Buddhist Church
Hiroshima Kenjin Kai
Pax Christi Toronto
Science for Peace
Toronto Article 9

Hiroshima/Nagasaki Remembrance

Logo from Nayarit conference, 2014

Saturday 6 August 2016
Nathan Phillips Square and Peace Garden, Toronto

4:30pm
Community Tables
6:00pm
Commemoration
8:30pm
Closing

International Peace Activist Setsuko Thurlow
Hiroshima Survivor & 2015 Arms Control Person of the Year

2016 Grammy-Nominated Flutist Ron Korb
Raging Asian Women Taiko Drummers
Pax Christi Chorale
Toronto’s Raging Grannies

This event is free, open to the public and family-friendly

Sponsors: Canadian Physicians for Research & Education in Peace • Conscience Canada • Canadian Pugwash Group • Greater Toronto NAJC

Hiroshima/Nagasaki Remembrance

Download poster

Rededication of the Peace Garden

Date: Wednesday May 18, 2016
Time: 11:30 am
Location: Peace Garden Area (north-west side of Nathan Phillips Square, near Osgoode Law Society)

Program of the Day

11:30 am Invited guests arrive at the Peace Garden
11:35 am Choir Singing: Jarvis Collegiate Institute students
11:38 am Emcee (TBD) Introduction of dignitaries and background of the Peace Garden provided
by City staff
11:42 am Smudging Ceremony: Traditional Aboriginal Elder: Cat Crieger
11:48 am Mayor John Tory –Speech – 3 mins.
11:52 am Consul General of Japan Mr. Yasunori Nakayama–Speech
11:56 am Toronto's Poet Laureate: Anne Michaels
11:59 am Setsuko Thurlow, Hiroshima Peace Ambassador
12.04 pm Zul Kassamali, Chair Toronto Area Interfaith Council
12:07 pm Parliamentary Poet Laureate: George Elliot Clarke
12:08 pm Father Lombardi speaks and then goes to light the Eternal flame hands the mic to Phyllis Creighton. Phyllis speaks about the significance of the water while Setsuko Thurlow is pouring the water
12:15 pm Choir Singing: Jarvis Collegiate Institute students

2015 events

2015 HNDC poster

 

Press Releases and Statements

2014 events

2014 HDC poster

 

Across Canada events

See summary of events in other communities here.

Press Releases and Statements

2013 events

2013 HDC poster

 

Trudeau Centre panel, 14 March 2013

See event report here.

Across Canada events

See summary of events in other communities here.

2012 events

2012 HDC poster

 

Across Canada events

See summary of events in other communities here.

Chernobyl, Fukushima, Darlington and Beyond

The HDC was a sponsor of the April 24, 2012 event "Chernobyl, Fukushima, Darlington and Beyond", organized by Veterans Against Nuclear Arms. Other sponsors included Voice of Women and Science for Peace. See this link for text and audio of Angela Bischoff's keynote speech.

2011 events

2011 HDC poster

 

2010 events

2010 HDC poster

 

More material on the 2010 archive page

2009 events

2009 HDC poster

 

2008 events

2008 HDC carte d'invitation

More information on the 2008 event page

 

This year's events

See main page for events during Hiroshima/Nagasaki week, August 2019.