PQ Regina Mourns Loss of Peter Gehl
Peter Gehl in 2008
by Ed Lehman
On October 18/16 one of Regina’s leading peace activists died.
Peter Gehl was a life-long activist for peace and social justice. He joined the Regina Peace Council as a youth and supported that group throughout his life. He also was active nationally and assisted with the re-formation of the Canadian Peace Congress in 2006 and was a member of its Executive. In 2014 Peter was one of a group of peace activists who founded PeaceQuest Regina. He was highly regarded by Saskatchewan peace activists and known nationally and internationally for his writings in Saskatchewan Peace News, the bulletin of the Regina Peace Council. Peter was an authority on many hot spots throughout the world including the Middle East.
Peter Gehl was very concerned about the grave and increasing threat of nuclear war and in particular the present danger of a war between Russia and the United States. On October 8th at a Keep Space for Peace panel at the University of Regina Peter spoke against Canada joining the Ballistic Missile “Defence” program of the United States seeing it (BMD) as an escalation of the threat of nuclear war. Throughout his life Peter argued for treaties to prevent wars and for Canada to have an independent Canadian foreign policy.
Peter’s friends and family have vowed to continue Peter’s efforts for peace, disarmament, international cooperation, and solidarity. Peter is survived by his three brothers and their families and many cousins and friends throughout Canada. Peter was a graduate of Regina’s Martin Collegiate and received his engineering degree from the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. Peter’s life’s work was preserving Saskatchewan’s natural environment and assisting the province’s agricultural producers and First Nations.
For more information please contact Ed Lehman, Vice-President, Regina Peace Council at 306-718-8010 or edrae1133@gmail.com.
Jack G. Fulton
January 10, 2020 @ 8:08 pm
I was thinking of my childhood friend, Peter Gehl today; January 10, 2020. So, naturally I googled his name and to my sad surprise I was taken aback by his untimely demise.
Peter was my childhood hero. One day in Mr. Kabatoffs science 9 class, Peter got up as a hesitant speaker for the annual in class Science presentation. He fu bled to the front, his hands scattered with shaky anticipation, the lull in the class was underlined by Mr. Kabatoff’s cheery encouragement. He said go on Peter, we would all love to hear what you have to say. Peter, referred to his notes, took a deeper than normal breath and delivered the most modern inciteful treastise on the new notion of the light born lazer. He documented the current research on the light lazer, bounced the facts and figures off the walls until the silence of the class turned into an awe-inspiring lecture on the future of the world and hope for mankind. It was the first applause I had ever heard in a Science class. I looked over to Mr. Kabatoff and realized Peter was the man. He could not kick a soccer ball straight, an overhand throw would be a mystery, but he was solid gold smart, talented and the most influential man in my life. Thank you Peter, thank you so much.
Peace-out, Jack?