Saturday, May 30, 2026
The Red Pashmina Walk has taken place annually in Peterborough, Ontario since 2011 under the banner of the Peterborough chapter of Right to Learn Afghanistan (formerly known as Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan) and the Red Pashmina Campaign, and celebrates connections among Canadian women and women in Afghanistan.
This year, the Red Pashmina Walk is being held across the country with walks taking place in Ottawa, Toronto, Saskatoon, Victoria and Vancouver, as well as in Peterborough!
In Peterborough, the walk will take place at Emmanuel United Church, at the corner of McDonnell and George Street with doors opening at 1:45 p.m. Saturday, May 30. The day’s program begins at 2 p.m. with the performance of a play written by Afghan newcomer, Gen. Nafisa Saba Sahar Zaki, who was one of the first female film directors in her country. She also was a member of Afghanistan’s military security forces. She now lives in Peterborough with her family.
This will be followed by a presentation by Peterborough resident Heather Hedges, curriculum and assessment specialist for Right to Learn Afghanistan. She will speak about the Afghan students and teachers who will benefit from the money raised during the walk. Canada’s Governor General, Mary Simon, recently presented Hedges with the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers for all her work helping refugees come to safety.
There will also be a marketplace of red pashminas, Afghan goods and hand-made jewellery for sale. Light refreshments will be served. The walk begins at 3 p.m. and there will be short and long versions on downtown streets.
Registration at the door. All are welcome. For more information, email: peterborough@righttolearn.ca. Donations may be done through e-transfer to: peterborough@righttolearn.ca.
Through the generosity and enthusiasm of the Peterborough community, along with hundreds of participants of all ages and genders, this event has raised closet to $40,000 for women’s & girls’ education in Afghanistan throughout the years, and has inspired other walks as far as Victoria, BC.
Red Pashmina Inc. 