On 20 January 2011, the Canadian government announced grants totaling $850,000 grant toward Phase Two restoration of philanthropist Cyrus Eaton’s Thinkers’ Lodge, where the historic first Pugwash Conference took place in 1957 in Pugwash, Nova Scotia.
Pugwashites around the world welcome this exciting initiative, and express their appreciation to all those who have supported this project financially and otherwise.
In addition to the recently announced contribution from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Innovative Communities Fund and Parks Canada, other supporters include: Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture and Heritage; the Municipality of the County of Cumberland; the Cumberland Regional Economic Development Association; and the Pugwash Park Commission.
We are pleased that Thinkers’ Lodge is envisioned to be a living, working monument to those who dared at the height of the Cold War to envision a world without nuclear weapons and war. Thinkers’ Lodge is a symbol not only for the “Pugwash movement” that was born there, but to all those who seek to promote dialogue across political divides on key issues that threaten humanity.
We congratulate John Eaton and all those who have made this restoration possible, and on behalf of Pugwashites worldwide, we wish them well in this important endeavor.
Amb. Jayantha Dhanapala Prof. Paolo Cotta-Ramusino
President Secretary General
Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs 