Falun Gong practitioners across Canada and around the world celebrated Falun Dafa Day on Wednesday, marking 17 years since Li Hongzhi introduced the meditation practice to the public on May 13, 1992.
Cities including Vancouver, Ottawa, and Toronto held festivities in honour of the practice that swept China in the 1990s and brought spiritual fulfillment and good health to millions.
A large pictorial display, dancing, singing, and exercise demonstrations took place in Vancouver’s Chinatown, while at Queen’s Park in Toronto there were speeches, a lion dance, and the sharing of cake. The Toronto Tian Guo marching band performed as well.
In Ottawa, that city’s Tian Guo band performed on Sparks Street, while testimonials on the benefits of the practice, singing in Chinese and English, a traditional Chinese Fan Dance, and exercise demonstrations were held on Parliament Hill.
In honour of the occasion, Prime Minister Stephen Harper sent a greeting that said in part: “As you celebrate the 17th anniversary of the introduction of Falun Dafa to the public, I commend the Falun Dafa Association of Canada for sharing your practices and traditions with the public. On behalf of the Government of Canada, I extend my best wishes for a joyous and memorable celebration.”
At the Ottawa event, former foreign diplomat and China expert Brian McAdam spoke of the guiding principles of Falun Gong.
“With Falun Gong, the words truth, forbearance, and compassion, of course, are the essence of all human values in the world, so a great deal is summed up in those three words,” he said.
“Ultimately, great ideas that have kept the world going have been very simple words.”
