Faced with widespread opposition, a Nelson group has backed off its plan for a monument to honour Vietnam draft dodgers.

Instead, the Our Way Home committee is now planning a different statue in honour of "peace and refuge."




Spokesperson Isaac Romano says the original idea was very divisive – with angry response from many Americans, including veterans groups.

He's optimistic the new proposal will receive more support.

Isaac Romano
Isaac Romano

"Even that early monument was just a rough, rough draft. So what we eventually come out with is maybe very very different. It may be totally different.

"And as I mentioned, we're looking at broadening it to include it being a peace and refuge monument – for all groups that have come to Canada and sought assistance," he says.

Last week, Nelson city council rejected the draft-dodger proposal because it didn't have widespread support.

Romano says communities outside Nelson, which he declines to identify, have expressed interest in providing a location for the peace monument.

His group is also planning a reunion weekend for war resisters in July 2006.

Meanwhile, a veterans group is planning its own event in Nelson for the same weekend in July 2006 – in competition with the draft-dodgers reunion.

The group, Vietnam Veterans in Canada, says it is a "warrior society" and is opposed to the event honouring draft dodgers.