Fonds Outils de Paix pour l'innovation en prévention de la violence

Promoting Peace Through Citizen Action and Cooperation

The story of the Fonds Outils de Paix pour l’innovation en prévention de la violence is one of collaboration, and of audacity. The Fund was created at the Foundation of Greater Montréal in 2013, through the initiative of the Brian Bronfman Family Foundation (BBFF) and the Centre de ressources sur la non-violence (CRNV), two of the founding members of the Tools of Peace Network. Managed by an advisory committee, its goal was to support the activities of the Network, which at the time were coordinated by the CRNV. Two years later, Brian Bronfman, true to the spirit of collaboration that characterizes the Fund, stepped down from the advisory committee to allow other members to get involved. Then, in 2019, the BBFF and the CNRV withdrew from the Fund agreement and designated the Tools of Peace Network as the Fund’s new signatory, with the advisory committee being retained. The Fund’s objective was now to support multiple organizations and initiatives working to foster social harmony and acting to prevent violence in all its manifestations.

The Tools of Peace Network is a registered charitable organization that was created in 2009, propelled by Mr. Bronfman, president of the BBFF, and Normand Beaudet, founder and director of the CRNV. That year, a visit to Montreal by the Dalai Lama was a catalyst for several organizations to come together to create a “Tools of Peace” event.  This initial joint effort, aiming to pool the organizations’ knowledge and competencies, became the basis of the Tools of Peace Network.

Bringing together 12 community organizations that promote and support peace and non-violence in the Greater Montreal community, the Tools of Peace Network stimulates interaction and the sharing of capacity and know-how among its members. It supports sustainable social change and promotes initiatives that will give citizens effective tools for becoming peacebuilders in their own milieux.

Thank you to the members of the Tools of Peace Fund for their commitment to promoting peace and to preventing violence in all its manifestations.