Report by Ms. Lucie Lavoie, the City of Montreal
On Friday, August 5th at 19:15, which corresponds in real time to August 6th, 8:15 am in Hiroshima, the president of Montreal’s City Council, Mrs. Martine Musau Muele, accompanied by the Consul General of Japan in Montreal, Mr. Jun Saito, marked the 77th year of Hiroshima bombing in solidarity with our sister city’s citizens. As a city proud to be an executive and lead member city of Mayors for Peace, the two dignitaries rang the Hiroshima peace bell.
President Musau Muele said, “By perpetuating the memory of Hiroshima, we underline the importance of a lasting peace and the hope that such a tragedy will never be perpetrated again.” Consul General Saito added that this year’s ceremony takes on particular significance in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Russia’s repeated threats to use nuclear weapons. He added that next year will mark the 25th anniversary of the twinning between Montreal and Hiroshima, and hoped that this would be an opportunity to renew the friendship exchanges between the two cities.
Mrs. Muele, President of the Montreal City Council and Mr. Jun Saito, Consul General of Japan in Montreal, ringing the Hiroshima peace bell
Photos: courtesy of the City of Montreal