Rotary Presents Award For Peace And Understanding

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“Acceptance Week” at General Amherst (Photo courtesy of General Amherst High School)

The Rotary Club of Windsor St. Clair recognized the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) at General Amherst High School with the 2014/2015 Community Award for Peace and Understanding. The annual award is conferred upon an organization that has made an outstanding contribution in the area of peace and understanding through local and international efforts.

“This group has been an active force for change in the school and the local community and is committed to being open-minded, accepting others celebrating diversity, and treating others equally,” said Mary Lou Decou, President of the Rotary Club of Windsor-St. Clair. “General Amherst’s GSA will receive a Peace Pole with the words ‘May Peace Prevail’ in four languages, and a donation of $500 will be made to support their peace initiative.”

In the last 24 months, General Amherst’s Gay-Straight Alliance has conducted numerous activities and events related to peace and understanding, including partnering in the “Run for Rocky”, an annual 5K walk/run to help raise funds and awareness in the local high school and post-secondary school systems to ensure parents, educators and youth have the knowledge and funding needed to help create Safe Schools and ensure there is a support system for youth in times of crisis. The GSA has also invited numerous guest speakers and community partners to promote understanding and build awareness, respect, and inclusiveness among all students around issues such as bullying, homophobia, and sex/gender violence.

Trevor Klundert, Guidance Counsellor at General Amherst and one of the GSA’s teacher representatives, accepted the award on the group’s behalf. “We are very proud of the work that General Amherst’s Gay-Straight Alliance is doing and thankful for this recognition,” he said. “Amherstburg, Ontario has been ranked as the “Safest Community” in Canada, and we believe the Gay-Straight Alliance is an integral piece to making this such an awesome, accepting community of peace and understanding.”