Toronto, Canada: Celebrating Falun Dafa Day (Photos)

By a practitioner from Toronto

(Clearwisdom.net) At 11:30 a.m. on May 13, 2005, World Falun Dafa Day celebrations began at Nathan Philips Square in front of the Toronto City Hall. Although the temperature was as low as 7^oC, the square was filled with crowds of people. Many people had to stand there to watch the celebration.

Releasing doves of peace

City Council member Michael Walker delivering speech

Joyful celebration

Colorful butterfly dance

Since Master Li Hongzhi introduced Falun Dafa to the public in 1992 in China, the practice quickly attracted nearly 100 million people. The main book Zhuan Falun which guides the cultivation practice also became a best seller at that time. Since 1995, Falun Gong has been spread to the entire world including Canada. Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Mr. Irwin Cotler expressed once that Falun Dafa practitioners and the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance best presented the Chinese culture.

This was the fourth time for Toronto City Council member Mr. Michael Walker to attend the World Falun Dafa Day celebration. He highly praised the outstanding contribution of Falun Dafa to the community and expressed that he will continue to support Falun Gong.

Master of Ceremony (M.C.) said, "Today marks the 13^th anniversary of the introduction of Falun Dafa to the public. It is also Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Day in Canada. Celebrations are held in more than 60 countries in the world. Today, we also celebrate Master Li Hongzhi's birthday. We'd like to use our purest hearts to express our gratitude to Master Li for his selfless giving." He continued, "Unfortunately, in this world, not every country ensures its people's freedom of belief as Canada does. It is well known that freedom of belief does not exist in China, unless you obey the Chinese communist regime's guidance of your belief. Out of the extreme jealousy towards the popularity of Falun Dafa, the Chinese communist regime started the brutal suppression against Falun Gong in 1999. Over the past six years, a great amount of persecution facts have been revealed to the public through Amnesty International and other human rights organizations. Falun Gong practitioners' uncompromising courage is also recognized by the worldly people."

Then Falun Gong practitioners released doves of peace to extend their respect towards the kind and courageous practitioners in Mainland China.

The nearly two-hour art performance was colorful and splendid. Audience gave waves upon waves of applause. Falun Gong practitioners, renowned tenor Guan Guimin, Soprano Yang Jiansheng and Soprano Bai Xue successively presented their songs. Well-known composer and instrument player Lisa Li personally performed her own works, "Heaven's Gate Opens". Young practitioners presented cheerful folk dances, Tang drums and lion dances. Three huge birthday cakes were severed to the audience. The on-spot exercise instruction also attracted quite many local citizens.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/5/16/101929.html

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