Foundations of Peace: Youth Day Camp
27-31 July, 2026
Foundations of Peace is a one-week leadership program for high school students interested in learning about peace and conflict transformation. It aims to develop high schoolers’ leadership capacity to analyze conflict and take action for peace. Core concepts and skills will be introduced with a focus on interpersonal relationships. Below is eligibility and pricing information, along with a preliminary description of what is planned for each day and a sample schedule.
This program is run through the Toronto Peace Academy, an initiative by the Toronto Chinese Mennonite Church. While the Anabaptist tradition and Mennonite church hold a long-standing commitment to peace, this program explores peace in a way that is open to everyone and not tied to any one religion. All high school students are welcome, regardless of their faith, cultural background, identity, or personal beliefs.
This 5-day camp will culminate in a Community Peace Summit on Saturday, August 1st at the Toronto Chinese Mennonite Church. Youth Day Camp participants will have the opportunity to share what they have learned during the week. The Summit is designed to bring together local peace and justice organizations for a networking and bridge-building event, creating space for connection as the community works toward a shared vision of peace in Toronto.
We believe peace is a universal right and we are committed to financial accessibility for all our programs. We offer three options so you can choose the price that best fits your situation.
Option A: $90 (subsidized)
Option B: $140 (mid-point)
Option C: $190 (full cost)
Payment options along with payment instructions are found in the registration form.
This is a peace education program for high schoolers (Grades 9-12), including those entering high school Fall 2026 and those finishing Grade 12 in 2026.
For High Schoolers
Flexible Prices
Expectations
Participants are expected to bring their own notebook and pen or pencil as well as a reusable water bottle. A survey will be sent to the participants in the weeks leading up to the camp to assist in program customization.
Lunch along with light refreshments in the mornings and afternoons will be provided. Please indicate dietary needs in the registration form.
Program*
Day 1 - Getting to know one another, who we are, and our experience with peace. Picnic lunch at Woodbine Beach.
Day 2 - Analyzing the present by understanding the past. Field trip to the WongAvery Asia Pacific Peace Museum.
Day 3 - Cultivating an awareness of personal triggers and exploring the usefulness of nonviolent communication.
Day 4 - Practicing dialogue design and facilitation techniques for difficult conversations.
Day 5 - Learning strategies for working together to transform interpersonal conflict. Preparing for the Community Peace Summit.
*Activities and content are subject to change.
Registration open until: May 15, 2026
Sample Schedule
8:30-9:00
Arrive
9:00-9:30
Opening
9:30-11:00
11:00-11:15
11:15-12:00
12:00-12:30
12:30-13:00
13:00-15:30
15:30-16:00
16:00-16:30
Morning session
Break
Group work
Lunch
Clean up/Break
Afternoon Session
Closing
Dismissal
Meet the Facilitators
Joshua is a peace educator from Macau, China. He holds degrees in conflict resolution from George Mason University and has a range of international peacebuilding experience. He currently works as youth pastor at the Toronto Chinese Mennonite Church. His background includes youth development, community dialogue facilitation, and workplace mediation with faith-based, higher education, and governmental organizations.
Joshua Lash-Ballew, MSc
Lead Facilitator & Program Coordinator
Elaine Law, MEd
Guest Facilitator
Peace Intern
Accepting applications!
Ofir Sivan, MSW
Guest Facilitator
Christina Reimer, PhD
Guest Facilitator
Elaine is Senior Education Museum Associate at ALPHA Education's Asia Pacific Peace Museum. She specializes in history, peace education, and interdisciplinary learning. Elaine holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Toronto and a Master of Arts in Teaching Social Studies from Columbia University and has worked extensively in secondary and post-secondary education. Through research, mentorship, and community-building initiatives, Elaine is committed to integrating experiential learning into social sciences and humanities education.
Ofir is a second-year PhD student at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and a registered social worker. Ofir holds a B.A. in Philosophy and the Multidisciplinary Program in the Humanities and an MSW from Tel Aviv University. Ofir’s research focuses on political and technological aspects of community-level interventions in social work and beyond. Ofir is particularly interested in exploring how computing and information technology, along with the rise of nationalist populism, shape our perceptions of communities, their ability to challenge unequal socioeconomic systems, and their capacity to promote transformative political change. Ofir has over a decade of practice experience in grassroots organizing, dialogue group facilitation, and leadership building with various communities in Palestine/Israel.
Christina is one of the pastors at Toronto United Mennonite Church and a trainer for workshops in conflict resolution with Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute. She holds a PhD in Religion from the University of Toronto. She has done voluntary service in different parts of the world including Northern Ireland and India, taught university courses in world religions, and facilitated interfaith dialogue sessions in a variety of contexts. She loves camping, swimming, cooking, watching murder mysteries, and spending time with her two teenage sons.
Annie Chau, MEd, PhD (ABD)
Lead Facilitator
Annie Chau is a PhD Candidate in Social Justice Education at the University of Toronto whose doctoral research is Vietnamese Canadian Refugee Women and the Work of Identity-Making: Politics, Freedom, and Memory. She has published on the topics of gender, race, class, work, politics, migration, citizenship, community, and decolonization. Annie worked for a decade in community-based sexual violence response and prevention in Canada, participating in national initiatives on gender (in)justice, through Women And Gender Equality Canada (formerly Status of Women Canada) and the Canadian Women’s Foundation. As part of this work, she was the 2014 keynote speaker for the PeacemakeHers Young Women’s Camp, coordinated by Nova Scotia Voice of Women for Peace. She is a member of the Pedagogies of Community-Engagement Collective.
Toronto Peace Academy is an initiative of Toronto Chinese Mennonite Church.
Toronto Peace Academy is an initiative of