(Clearwisdom.net) May 13, 2004 is the fifth World Falun Dafa Day. It also marks the 12th anniversary of Falun Dafa's introduction to the world. On this special day, heaven and earth celebrate together. Practitioners in Toronto held grand celebrations on Nathan Philips Square. Several Canadian federal government officials, Provincial and City Council Members came in person or sent letters to extend their congratulations.
 
Ontario Health Minister Mr. Smitherman receiving an artwork made by a practitioner |
  Toronto City Council member Mr. Walker announcing the proclamation in honor of Falun Dafa |
  People joining in the practice of Falun Gong |
  People ask for the artworks made by practitioners |
  People looking at the "Journey of Falun Dafa" |
  Many Chinese people happily sign petition to support Falun Dafa |
  Practitioners' Choir |
  Tourists enjoying the varied and colorful performances |
  Tourists enjoying the varied and colorful performances |
  Dance performed by "Lotus Flower Dance Troupe" |
  Minghui School students singing together |
  Western practitioners sing the song, "Coming for you" in Chinese |
  Western practitioners writing Chinese characters using brushes |
  Set free dove of peace |
  Reporters interviewing Ontario Health Minister Mr. Smitherman |
Toronto City Council Member: I believe Falun Dafa will be powerful in Canada and in the entire world
This is the sixth annual event held by Falun Gong practitioners on the City Hall Plaza since 1999 to celebrate the worldwide spread of Falun Dafa. On the morning of May 13, the weather was exceptionally good and there was no sign at all of the originally forecast thunderstorm. The plaza was bustling with lots of people coming and going. Many Chinese people also came after hearing of today's event. Some even drove 24 hours from Manitoba to attend the celebration. Numerous people requested for truth-clarifying materials. Several thousand English materials were distributed in a few hours. Many people asked where they could learn the exercises and where to buy Falun Gong books. Practitioners in charge of instructing the exercises were quite busy all the time. A constant stream of people came to learn the exercises.
Dr. Dale, an educator, had attended events hosted by practitioners before. Seeing the freshly decorated plaza and practitioners' varied and colorful performances, she was quite impressed by practitioners' selfless and persistence. A practitioner who studies at the graduate school of the University of Toronto related her experiences of practicing Falun Gong and the changes the practice has brought to her: The neurasthenia that she previously suffered from disappeared. Falun Dafa inspired her to understand the meaning of life and how to really become a good person, to always consider others first and try to find her own problems instead of blaming others when encountering conflicts. Dr. Dale said, "This is very helpful to solve family or social problems." The practitioner expressed her agreement and also told her the cultivation story of Canadian practitioner Zenon. Zenon, a previously problematic young man quit smoking, drinking and doing dugs after he started practicing Falun Gong. He started treating life seriously. He went back to college to continue his study and began running his own company. Over recent years, Zenon and hundreds of thousands of fellow practitioners have been unyieldingly walking on their journey of opposing the persecution. At this point, Dale was very moved and said that this story should be heard by all people in this city. She said, "Don't they all wish more such kind of unselfish people in this city and the entire world'"
Toronto City Council member, Mr. Michael Walker, attended the celebration and read out the proclamation he and other council members issued to honor Falun Dafa. He said that the principles of Falun Dafa are believed by the entire city and also acknowledged by Canada and the United Nations. Falun Dafa should not be subjected to suppression. On the contrary, we should celebrate for the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance.
Mr. Walker directly quoted founder of Falun Dafa, Mr. Li Hongzhi's words to express his support and praise. He expressed that those who are persecuted would receive support from persons like him. He said that we should respect them and stand up for them. He believed that Falun Dafa would be more and more powerful in Canada and in the entire world, because, the principles of Falun Dafa touched people's hearts and the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance are what we should follow.
Ontario Health Minister: I applaud for your belief and your powerful resistance
A special program of this year's celebration was to release the doves of peace to commemorate the Falun Gong practitioners who have lost their lives in the persecution.
In China, at least 961 Falun Gong practitioners have died from the persecution. Several hundred thousand practitioners are illegally imprisoned in labor camps, psychiatric hospitals and other places. They are subject to various kinds of physical and mental tortures. Canadian Falun Gong practitioners and they family members also encounter persecution in China. Jiang's group also extended their persecution to the soil of Canada. During the celebrations, Ms. Zhang Li, a Toronto practitioner recounted the persecution her husband suffered. Her husband was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in jail simply because he practices Falun Gong and sent a few emails with articles clarifying the real stories about Falun Gong to his friends. Through the rescue effort by Canadian government and people, he was recently released.
The Canadian Parliament unanimously passed a motion to condemn the persecution and urge the Jiang's government to immediately release the persecuted Canadian people's family members. Many labor unions and student associations also passed resolutions to support Falun Gong. During the process, artist Ms. Wang Yanying represented all persecuted practitioners to express thanks to Canadian government officials for their continuous support. Ms. Wang's husband and son were imprisoned in labor camps because they would not give up their practice of Falun Gong. Later through rescue effort, they were released ahead of their so-called terms. Ms. Wang presented two of her paintings to Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman and Toronto City Council member Mr. Walker.
Mr. Smitherman expressed: Many times, I stand with you and fulfill my promise. I'll always stand with you to oppose the persecution of freedom of belief. I applaud for your belief and your powerful resistance.
Buddha's light shines everywhere, heaven and earth are celebrating together
The celebration of Falun Dafa Day has become a tradition in the Toronto Chinese community. This year, practitioners carefully prepared varied programs including Chinese traditional dances, full-length singing and dancing drama, chorus by men, waist drum performance, traditional lion dance, chorus and Minghui School students' performances.
More than 40 practitioners used their leisure time to practice two songs, "Be saved" and "Seeking". Few of them had any basic trainings in singing. Through a short period of practice, they cooperated very successfully.
After the chorus, Minghui School students sang the songs, "Falun Dafa is great", "Greetings, Master!" and "Happy Birthday, Master!"
Western practitioners sang songs including "Coming for you" in Chinese. They also addressed Chinese friends on the spot to thank them for joining the celebration event and wished them to learn more about Falun Gong.
The full-length song and dance, "Ancient Gate of Heaven Is Opening" was full of power and grandeur, touching everyone in the audience.
In addition to art and performances, the event also included an essay contest and an awards ceremony. The theme of the essay contest was to extol "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance". The Toronto Chapter of the United Nations Association cosponsored this essay contest and participated in the judging. President of the Toronto Chapter of the United Nations Association Wojciech Gryc represented the judging committee delivered speech.
The event started at 11:00 am and lasted for more than 4 hours. Many office workers came on their lunch breaks to watch the performances and requested more information. Many people stood by the entrance of the City Hall and watched. On the afternoon of Sunday, May 16, Falun Gong practitioners also held a parade entitled, "Journey of Fa-rectification".
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