(Minghui.org) Practitioners participated in the 2024 Kitchener–Waterloo Oktoberfest on October 14, 2024, to showcase Falun Dafa. Many people applauded their performances, waved to practitioners, and took pictures or videos. CTV Kitchener live-streamed the event and included footage of the Tian Guo Marching Band’s performance in follow-up reports.
Located in southern Ontario, the Kitchener–Waterloo Oktoberfest, first held in 1969, was inspired by Oktoberfest in Germany. It’s considered Canada’s greatest Bavarian festival and the second-largest Oktoberfest in the world. The Thanksgiving Day Parade is also a highlight of this annual nine-day festival and attracts people from across Ontario and nearby provinces.
Falun Dafa practitioners participated in the 2024 Kitchener–Waterloo Oktoberfest on October 14. CTV Kitchener reported on their entry.
People applauded the practitioners’ procession, and some took pictures and videos.
Event Organizer: The Message of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Is Important
Grayson Zeilstra, who organized the marching band section of the parade, said he was pleased that Falun Dafa practitioners have participated in the annual event for the past 18 years.
Grayson Zeilstra praised the Tian Guo Marching Band’s performances.
Zeilstra said the Tian Guo Marching Band’s performances are outstanding because of their bright color, excellent music, and large presence. He knows the band members are Falun Dafa practitioners who follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and said he hopes the message gets passed on to everyone at the event.
Favorite Performances
Alison and her family from Cambridge, Ontario, came to Kitchener for the parade. As soon as she saw the Tian Guo Marching Band, she began taking pictures and videos.
Alison (right) is excited to hear and see the Tian Guo Marching Band.
Having seen the Tian Guo Marching Band in the past, Alison said it is one of her favorite bands. She was glad to see and hear them again as the last entry in the parade. Hearing that the band members are Falun Dafa practitioners, she said the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance were great.
Falun Dafa’s Principles Benefit Society
Neel had good things to say about the Tian Guo Marching Band.
Neel, a nurse in Kitchener, said this was the first time he’d ever seen the Tian Guo Marching Band. He admired their costumes but singled out the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, commenting on how beneficial they are.
Eager to Know More
Bayan and her friend Anjat are students and live in the area. They applauded the Tian Guo Marching Band’s performances and said the melodies were wonderful.
Bayan (second from right) and her friend Anjat (third from right) applauded the Tian Guo Marching Band.
Bayan said the Tian Guo Marching Band was special because of the energy and synchronization. Anjat felt the same way, saying the band was “awesome.” After learning that the band members are Falun Dafa practitioners, Bayan was eager to know more. She asked if the teachings could be found in the library and said she would visit the Falun Dafa website to learn more.
Falun Dafa Is the Best
Vina took many photos of the Tian Guo Marching Band. She said she grew up in Vietnam but now lives in Calgary. She was in Kitchener visiting a friend, who is a member of the Tian Guo Marching Band.
Vina said she had heard of Falun Dafa and in May she listened to recordings of Master’s lectures. She thinks Falun Dafa is very good and beneficial both physically and spiritually. When others complain about their health issues, she suggests they go to the Falun Dafa website and listen to the lectures.
She said the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of Falun Dafa is wrong, because Falun Dafa encourages people to be good citizens. The meditation and the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance help people to live better, healthier lives.
Vina was pleased that more people could find out about Dafa through the parade. She though the Tian Guo Marching Band was great and looks forward to meeting practitioners again.
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