(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners participated in the Canada Day parade in downtown Vancouver, Canada on July 1, 2016. They also participated in the Steveston Salmon Festival that celebrates Canada's birthday and local heritage in Richmond, Canada on the same day. The Falun Gong procession was welcomed and commended as the biggest in the parade.
The Divine Land Marching Band performs in the Canada Day parade in Vancouver, Canada on July 1, 2016.
The band performs in the parade.
Falun Gong practitioners' float.
Falun Gong practitioners demonstrate the exercises on the float.
Falun Gong practitioners demonstrate the exercises in the parade.
Waist drum team performs in the parade.
The waist drum team greets the crowd.
The two parades in Richmond and Vancouver are among the biggest in Canada. Tens of thousands people stood along parade route. Many waved Canadian flags in a jubilant atmosphere.
Happy to See Falun Gong
There are many Chinese people living in Richmond. Antony emigrated from Hong Kong with his family in 1997. He said, “I have been in Canada for 20 years. I frequently fly between Canada and Hong Kong. I know about the persecution of Falun Gong in China.”
He said he was happy to see the Falun Gong procession, calling it “traditional and graceful.” Antony said it was impressive that such a large procession in the Canada Day parade presented traditional Chinese culture.
A spectator reads a Falun Gong flyer.
Local Resident: Divine Land Marching Band Adds Flare
Eric, a local resident who attends the parade every year, said he liked the performance of the band and its music added unique flare to the parade. He commented that Falun Gong brought traditional Chinese culture and peaceful energy to Canada.
Having performed in parade before, Eric said he knew it took a lot of effort to perform while walking, which made him better appreciate the band's stellar performance.
