Winnipeg students join international peace run on North American tour

An international peace run meant to inspire peace and harmony made a stop in Winnipeg on Monday.

The Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run made it's way to the city after visiting Riding Mountain and Russell Manitoba over the weekend.

"The message is that peace begins with the individual. And so if we are going to have peace in the world it should start with the individual," said volunteer Pavaka Ritchot.

The runners meet up with students, community groups and politicians along its 16,000-kilometre trek through the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

"It's like planting seeds to make a better future and when you see the children and how they react it really gives hope that we can have a better world," said Ritchot.

The volunteer peace runners met up with about two dozen students from Victoria-Albert School's summer program in the city's Centennial neighbourhood. They walked to Central Park and took part in a singalong, and presented a humanitarian award to Fred Penner for his musical contributions to harmony.

Then at noon, the group ran along William Avenue carrying the peace torch to city hall, where Mayor Brian Bowman was waiting.

Bowman accepted the torch and offered words of encouragement to the students.

"I hope I'm looking at a future mayor in this crowd here. Because you obviously have the right interests in your heart. I know you're running now, but I hope one day you run for office, whether its for mayor, or premier, or for prime minister of Canada," said Bowman.

The peace run began in 1987 and has visited 150 countries on seven continents. The relay style run visits North America every two years and began its latest run in April in New York. 

The run will continue on to Minneapolis and several other Canadian cities before finishing back in New York in August.