A text from Sr. Mary-Ellen Francoeur of Pax Christi Toronto on the group’s honouring of Canadian Ambassador of Peace, Lyn Adamson.

Each year, it is the tradition of Pax Christi Toronto, and of other branches of Pax Christi International around the world, to honour an outstanding peacebuilder with a Teacher or Ambassador of Peace Award. The Award ceremony this year took place on May 3, 2026, and the highly deserving recipient was Lyn Adamson. 

Pax Christi Toronto works closely and collaboratively with other peace organizations and individuals whose values are in synchrony with our own. Lyn has been an active member of the Society of Friends, or Quakers since the age of 10, and has led a life rooted in her faith and committed to social-ecological justice, and peace. 

Guided by the “still, small voice within”, she has given herself tirelessly to this work throughout the world. As she shared her journey of becoming a Teacher of Peace, even her friends and colleagues in the work of peace and justice were not aware of the full breadth and length of her activities.

This Teacher of Peace Award highlights the importance of peacebuilding, an act of courage, love, and perseverance. In giving this Award, we wish to lift up prophetic voices who challenge injustice and violence. And we wish to amplify the knowledge of, and respect for, inspirational peace builders in our midst. 

Pax Christi Toronto honours the witness of a peace builder whose vision and strategies of nonviolence respond to the perilous circumstances of our time, whose determination and leadership exemplify the search for nonviolent solutions to conflict situations, and whose rootedness in, and impact on, their community continue to move others to perform acts of peacebuilding. Their work reminds us that the quest for justice and peace never ends, and that it is the responsibility of each one of us.

As Lyn accepted her Award, she shared all her lessons learned through her years as an activist. These examples of wisdom are important for all of us to hear. 

To be a teacher is to be a learner first.

The importance of belonging to a loving, supportive community where the values of peace and justice are woven into daily life, and into the fibre of our beings.

The importance of stillness and listening with an “inner ear” to the still small voice within, which guides us to stand up for truth even in contradiction to mainstream values and behavior

The importance of learning from, and being inspired by, other activists, to live with courage to risk going to jail, and other consequences of acting for justice and truth (engagement in civil disobedience against nuclear weapons; engagement in Indigenous solidarity; nonviolent action to resist the tar sands, and support transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy)

The importance of building our nonviolent social organization, empowering others through training  (Conflict Resolution Training in conflict zones around the world; development of a training series in Canada in nonviolent communication, methods in nonviolent action and activist skills)

The importance of overcoming fear for purpose and meaning (risking courageous actions to stand in Palestinian Solidarity)

There is power in showing others what matters so much to us that we will accept personal hardship in our witness (fasting over many days to call for climate action; fasting in solidarity with the people of Gaza facing starvation, and calling on the Canadian Government to end sale of weapons to Israel)

The importance of being creative in our witness:  walking, art, culture, song (long walks for peace with a committed group through city streets, and rural communities)

Pax Christi Toronto appreciates Lyn’s modelling of a life of integrity, humility, solidarity, and dedication to teaching nonviolent win/win conflict resolution. In our present world, so filled with violence, domination, and suffering of the most vulnerable, we stand with her in the belief that, together, holding to our vision with persistence and loving care (as Catholics following Jesus’ life of love and active transforming nonviolence), we can change the world.