(Minghui.org) As the year's end draws near, once again it is time for holiday festivities. The Falun Gong group in Toronto was invited to participate in four recent parades in the region, as they are known for the lively performances of their Divine Land Marching Band and waist drum team.

“We are very happy to have you here. Your presence has provided a beautiful sight and great music. We love it!” said Carlos Guerreiro, organizer of the 25th Lake Shore Santa Claus Parade at Etobicoke in western Toronto.

The Divine Land Marching Band in Etobicoke on December 5, 2015.

Four Parades in Two Weekends

Toronto Falun Gong practitioners are active members of the community. After joining the parades at Markham in the north on November 28 and Mississauga in the west on November 29, they participated in two more on December 5: Etobicoke in the west and Scugog in the northeast.

Waist drum performance in the parade in Mississauga on November 29.

The group's performance was highly praised throughout the four events. “The Divine Land Marching Band came to our parade before, but they had schedule conflicts in recent years because of other parades,” Guerreiro explained. “I am thrilled that we could celebrate the holiday season together today.”

Carlos Guerreiro, organizer of the 25th Lake Shore Santa Claus Parade at Etobicoke

With an estimated viewership of 60,000, the Etobicoke Lakeshore Santa Claus Parade held this year on the morning of Dec. 5 is ranked 4th best in Ontario.

The band performed again later that day in the parade sponsored by the Scugog Chamber of Commerce. “It is a really outstanding band,” said event organizer Jillian Adomeit.“We hope they come again next year.”

Parade in Scugog in the evening of December 5.

Encouraging Feedback

Kim, who lives at Burks Falls three hours away, came to the event with her sister and children. “We really love the band. Excellent music and gorgeous costumes. I almost wanted to dance with them!” she exclaimed. She was interested in learning more about Falun Gong.

Charlie, a resident in Barrie, drove about an hour to the parade. “Your performance is awesome,” he said to a practitioner.

Charlie said he felt bad for the suppression of Falun Gong in China, especially when the persecution targets the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. “I am against the suppression, that is for sure,” he said. “Everyone should have the freedom to practice his or her belief.”

Leslie Greene, a store manager in Toronto, called the Falun Gong group's performance “fantastic!” She supports Falun Gong and said it is important to raise awareness of the human rights abuses in China.

Leslie Greene, a store manager in Toronto.

Positive Response from Chinese

Many Chinese attended these parades. One Chinese woman watched the performance at Etobicoke with her husband and their children. She said she liked the band, but was confused about why Falun Gong was banned in China. A practitioner explained to her how the CCP had been harming innocent people for decades and how brutally they the persecute Falun Gong simply because of its popularity. The woman then decided to take as stance against the atrocities by withdrawing her membership in the CCP's Young Pioneer organization.

A Chinese restaurant owner at Etobicoke chatted with practitioners. He said he had joined the Young Pioneer organization many years ago and asked a practitioner to help him quit the organization, as he believed the CCP was corrupt and doomed to collapse.

A Chinese man who caught the Divine Land Marching Band's performance in Scugog said he came from Guangdong Province in Southern China. He was a member of the CCP's Youth League when he was young. He took many pictures of the band and said he would also like to sever ties with the CCP by withdrawing his membership, stating, “Nobody wants to sink with the Party.”