(Minghui.org) Practitioners in Quebec, Canada, participated in Carnaval de Sherbrooke, a major local winter festival, on February 25 and 26, 2023, giving festival attendees an opportunity to learn about Falun Dafa. 

The annual winter festival was held in Sherbrooke’s most popular park, and visitors had the opportunity to ski, zipline, and more. Practitioners were invited to participate in the event to introduce Falun Dafa to the public .

Practitioners demonstrate the Falun Dafa exercises

Despite the cold weather, people visited the practitioners’ booth and asked to learn the exercises. Many people commented that finding ways to relieve stress is very important these days. While chatting with practitioners, some visitors asked about the local group exercise site.

After hearing how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) persecutes Falun Dafa, people expressed great sympathy for the practitioners being persecuted.

Passersby learn about Falun Dafa and how the CCP brutally persecutes the peaceful practitioners in China. 

During the event, practitioners gave out paper lotus flowers bearing the words “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance” and “Falun Dafa is good.”

Homeroom Teacher: Everyone Felt Refreshed After Doing the Exercises

Falun Dafa practitioner Catherine Mongeau went to a school in the Sherbrooke area of Québec, in February, and introduced the practice to fourth grade students. They learned the exercises attentively.

Before learning the exercises, the students briefly talked about their daily lives. Most said that their sleep was poor, and the conflicts between classmates was upsetting.

After learning the exercises, one student named Maëlle said that she felt very good and that she could calm down. Others also said that they felt relaxed and thought the exercises were pleasant and soothing.

Teacher Anne and fourth grade student Maëlle 

Anne, the homeroom teacher, shared her experience, “I really enjoyed the meditation with my students. We were finally able to calm ourselves down slowly, thinking and doing nothing quietly.” She said that they experienced a unique moment and were refreshed. There was a sense of calm and contentment. 

Anne also said, “Several students said they hope to take this kind of course again in the future.”

During the activity, Catherine told the students the core principles of Falun Dafa: Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. A boy said, “I want to say thank you for coming here today and bringing us this exercise. I’m really glad you’re here.”

Background: What Is Falun Dafa and Why Is the CCP Persecuting It?

Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China, in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Millions of people who have embraced the teachings, which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, and have learned the five exercises, have experienced improved health and well-being.

Jiang Zemin, former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), perceived the spiritual discipline’s growing popularity as a threat to the CCP’s atheistic ideology and on July 20, 1999, he issued an order to eradicate the practice.

Under Jiang’s personal direction, the CCP established the 610 Office, an extralegal security organization with the power to override the police and judicial systems and whose sole function is to carry out the persecution of Falun Dafa.

Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of thousands of practitioners as a result of the persecution over the past 24 years. The actual number is believed to be much higher. Countless practitioners have been imprisoned and tortured for their faith.

There is concrete evidence that the CCP sanctions the harvesting of organs from detained practitioners, who are murdered to supply China’s organ transplant industry.