Doug Vincent, right, and Syed Khusro, President of the UN Association in Canada Toronto Branch.

By Doug Vincent, Rotary Club of Woodstock-Oxford, Ontario, Canada

We celebrated a great United Nations Day at Toronto City Hall on 23 October, hosted by the United Nations Association in Canada Toronto Branch. President Syed Khusro did an excellent job of coordinating the event and including Rotary.

A highlight for me was the outdoor ceremony, where the flag of the United Nations was raised over Toronto accompanied by the Canadian national anthem. Yes, the UN flag now flies over the city of Toronto. The release of several white doves symbolized our hope for world peace.

The UN Association had a great idea for engaging participants. Each Sustainable Development Goal was mounted on a card for display. Attendees were invited to select their favorite and have a selfie taken with Syed and I.  An enjoyable time of fellowship and visitation ended the event, with refreshments and cake cutting.

It was great to be part of this event and continue to build a relationship between Rotary and the United Nations Association in Canada. We will be introducing them to Rotary clubs in the greater Toronto area with a view of sharing program resources and possible membership development for both organizations. View videos and photos of the event on my Facebook page.

Learn more about Rotary at the UN Day 12 November, which highlights the role of business in building a better world