Empowering children and youth to share their passion to create
peace and celebrate diversity through the arts, literacy and fusion!
Empowering children and youth to share their passion to create peace and celebrate diversity through the arts, literacy and fusion!
Appi Khanna is the Chair of Peace Tree International. She is a retired principal and educator who has worked in the Toronto District School Board since 1969. As a principal, Appi's main focus was to create an inclusive and equitable school environment where every child felt respected, celebrated and inspired to reach their full potential. She has written curriculum and held In Services in the areas of literacy, science, diversity, mentorship and conflict resolution. Appi has played an integral role in the Peace Tree Spirit initiative and the organization of Peace Tree Workshops across Ontario. Appi is passionate about celebrating diversity and inspiring young people to take pride in their heritage while discovering the world around them.
Tova Fisch is the Co-Chair of Peace Tree International. Tova is a retired principal and educator who worked in the Toronto District School Board for 37 years. Tova organized the filming of The Peace Tree film by Mitra Sen at Inglewood Heights Sr. P.S. and has been actively involved in the Peace Tree Spirit since 2005. Tova has been passionate about creating equitable inclusive schools throughout her career in education and continues to do so through her involvement in Peace Tree International.
Sanjukta Roy has been a teacher with the Toronto District School Board(TDSB) since 1994. She has been actively involved in writing curriculum, organizing diversity initiatives and presenting workshops focusing on equity, diversity and literacy for the TDSB and beyond. She spearheaded the Tagore Curriculum School Project endorsed by UNESCO in 2010/11 to commemorate Nobel Laureate Tagore's 150th Birth Anniversary. Sanjukta has been passionate about integrating the principles Peace Tree Spirit initiative into her school and has been on the Toronto Peace Tree Day organizing committee since 2006.
Larry Smet is a chemical engineer who works with the Ontario Ministry of Environment as the Air Pollution Control Engineering Specialist. Larry has been involved in the production of the Peace Tree film and has worked in the planning and organizing of Peace Tree Day since 2006.
Dr. Julia Sen received her PhD from the University of Toronto and is a Registered Clinical Psychologist. Julia has been involved in the planning and organization of Peace Tree Day since 2006 engaging children, youth and families across Toronto to participate in Peace Tree Day. Julia has also promoted the message of the Peace Tree through the health and educational system.
Sanjay Mohanta has been very active in the National Capital Region for the past ten years. He has worked with the Embassy of the United States of America, High Commission of Trinidad and Tobago and the South African High Commission co-organizing cultural events in Ottawa, Canada. He sits on the Board of Directors for the AB Reading Series, ARS Universalis and Blueprint for Life. He is also a Canadian Film Ambassador and brought Sook Yin Lee to Ottawa in conjunction with the Canadian Film Institute as well as Oscar nominated director Ariel Nasr. He is currently planning events for Institute’s 80th anniversary. Sanjay is a CPA and works for the Federal Government.