(Minghui.org) Two more cities in Canada raised the “World Falun Dafa Day” flag, to mark the 26th World Falun Dafa Day, May 13, 2025. The cities of Brighton and Amherstburg have joined with the city of Barrie in conferring this Falun Dafa Day recognition. More and more cities around the world are celebrating the 33rd anniversary of Falun Dafa’s public introduction through flag-raising ceremonies.
Flag-Raising in Brighton
Mayor Brian Ostrander (third from right) of Brighton, city councilor Bobbi Wright (second from right), and Deputy Mayor Don Anderson (third from left) take a group photo with practitioners.
World Falun Dafa Day flag raised in Brighton.
Accompanied by a waist drum performance, the World Falun Dafa Day flag was slowly raised in Brighton, Ontario. Mayor Brian Ostrander presided over the flag-raising ceremony and raised the flag with two city councilors.
Mayor Ostrander said, “It is a Canadian principle that faith is not interfered with by the government. It is also a principle we uphold every day. How to respect, how to choose faith, and how to hold gatherings are all personal decisions. We know that these are important to everyone. Therefore, in Brighton, we are happy to say that you can have belief, practice, and gather according to your own wishes. I am very happy to raise this World Falun Dafa Day flag.”
Mayor Ostrander then read out a letter from David Piccini, Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) and Minister of Labor, Immigration, Training and Skills, for Ontario, Canada.
Provincial legislator David Piccini stated in his letter, “On behalf of the Government of Ontario and as your Member of Provincial Parliament I would like extend my best wishes to the Falun Dafa Day in recognition of your 33rd Anniversary.
“I would like to extend my sincere appreciation for the dedication that your teachings have offered to the community. The commitment that your members have gifted to various communities shows that when a community comes together exceptional things happen. I thank you for being part of a healthy and harmonious society over the past 33 years and I deeply appreciate your hard work.”
Letter from David Piccini, MPP
Flag-Raising in Amherstburg
The World Falun Dafa Day flag was once again raised in Amherstburg, Ontario at 11:00 a.m. on May 6. This is the fourth consecutive year that the Town of Amherstburg held a flag-raising ceremony to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day.
Flag-raising ceremony held in Amherstburg to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day
Mayor Michael Prue (second from left) and Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb (first from right) present the proclamation to Falun Dafa practitioners.
At the beginning of the flag-raising ceremony, Mayor Michael Prue said, “I remember that this is the fourth year for Falun Dafa Day in Amherstburg. We are very proud of what you have done and how we stand with Falun Dafa practitioners to celebrate what you have done. Facing terrible adversity and terrible injustice in China, you are brave and great people. It is a world-wide and wonderful theory to be able to obtain your true freedom, freedom of speech, freedom to practice, and freedom of belief. Over the years, I have been honored to participate in this day’s activities, starting from Toronto and then coming to Amherstburg. We also want to declare to the world that we believe Falun Dafa is good, we believe Falun Dafa is correct and beautiful, and no one in the world should persecute such a group.”
Mayor Michael Prue reads the proclamation.
The proclamation reads, “WHEREAS: Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, is an ancient Chinese spiritual discipline in the Buddhist tradition. It consists of moral teachings, meditation and gentle exercises that are a unique and effective way to improve people’s health and energy levels; and,
“WHEREAS: Falun Dafa was first introduced by Master Li Hongzhi in 1992 in China. Transcending cultural and racial boundaries, today Falun Dafa is being practiced by more than 100 million people in over 114 countries from all walks of life; and,
“WHEREAS: At the core of Falun Dafa are the values of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Through consistent and dedicated practice, the student of Falun Gong comes to achieve a state of selflessness, greater insight and awareness, inner purity and balance; and,
“WHEREAS: The great compassion and forbearance demonstrated by Falun Dafa practitioners under the Chinese Communist Regime’s most severe persecution have touched every kindhearted human being; and,
“WHEREAS: Falun Dafa practitioners in the communities across Canada celebrate Falun Dafa Day on May 13 and this year marks its 33rd anniversary.
“NOW THEREFORE, I, Mayor Michael Prue, on behalf of the Town of Amherstburg Council, do hereby proclaim May 13, 2025 as “Falun Dafa Day” in the Town of Amherstburg and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.”
Proclamation from Mayor Michael Prue
Before the ceremony ended, Mayor Prue told everyone another story. “When I was a MPP,” he said, “I received a delegation from China. I pointed at where Falun Gong practitioners were practicing. I think they must have been shocked when they saw it. I told them that this is Canada, and Falun Gong practitioners can practice in the park in front of the city hall and use the entire park to do what they do. I hope they can take this message home; I also hope that one day all of you practitioners, especially those in China, will be free to do this wonderful thing.”
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Category: Dafa Day Recognition
