(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners from Ottawa gathered in front of Parliament Hill in Ottawa on May 11, 2025, to celebrate the 33rd anniversary of the public introduction of Falun Dafa.
Falun Dafa practitioners from Ottawa gather in front of Parliament Hill in Ottawa on May 11, 2025.
Ottawa City Council Declares May “Falun Dafa Month”
On the 33rd anniversary of Falun Dafa’s introduction to the public, May 13, 2025, Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe declared May “Ottawa Falun Dafa Month” on behalf of the City Council.
In his commendation order, the mayor stated that Falun Dafa practitioners follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and apply these principles to their daily lives, striving to become better people. Falun Dafa transcends ethnic and cultural boundaries and embraces people of all ages, social classes, and religious backgrounds.
Ms. Su, a Falun Dafa practitioner who has been practicing for two years, said that the celebration was very meaningful, conveying blessings to good people, helping people understand and appreciate the beauty of Falun Dafa, and also acting as a platform for people to understand the truth.
She said that not only did many Western tourists express their gratitude and best wishes to practitioners, but many Chinese people also came over to ask questions and give practitioners a thumbs up. Many people learned the Falun Dafa exercises on the spot.
Aircraft engine engineer Oğuz Ekinci learns to practice the exercises.
Aircraft engine engineer Oğuz Ekinci learned to practice the exercises during the activities. “I really felt the energy in my body, and I asked [Falun Dafa practitioners] a few questions,” he said, “This is my first time learning the exercises, and I feel that I can get energy from the exercises. It’s an exploration, and it’s really fascinating. I got the flyer and saw that there was a website, and I thought I’d keep doing it.”
Mr. Ekinci spoke about the Falun Dafa principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. “For me, being a good person is good for people, because when people do bad things, they will close themselves off and cannot obtain any positive energy from the outside world, and they must be friendly to the public, the world, and nature. We live to experience the world, to be open to the world, to the [positive] energy,” he said.
Sherri Kozubal, a hypnotherapist from British Columbia, was very interested in the Falun Dafa exercises
Sherri Kozubal is a clinical hypnotherapist who had seen Falun Dafa practitioners practice in British Columbia, but didn’t know it was Falun Dafa at the time. After learning more about Falun Dafa at Parliament Hill, she said, “I like Falun Dafa because it has some movement underlying, from a hypnotherapy point of view, of bringing the mind and body into the present moment. That’s why I think Falun Dafa must have a Buddhist foundation, because this practice brings consciousness into the present state.”
She said that the practice will make people calm, peaceful, allow the body and mind to communicate, and communicate with the energies of the universe and the earth, to achieve a state of unity between body and spirit. “This will bring higher frequency vibrations,” she said.
She is very much in favor of the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, especially forbearance.“I like forbearance because forbearance is not judgmental about others. Judging others creates karma,” Ms. Kozubal said.
Respiratory therapist Jacqueline Turvey says she loves Falun Dafa.
Jacqueline Turvey, also from British Columbia, is a respiratory therapist. She said that it was an unexpected surprise to see the scene of Falun Dafa practitioners doing their exercises. “I am very grateful to see such a beautiful display of exercises in lovely Ottawa, which exceeded my expectations. It is so beautiful,” she said. “It’s really inspiring, and the scene of the practice attracts me. It’s such a beautiful energy, very peaceful.”
She said that the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are of great significance in today’s society. “I think in this day and age, we need that information, and we should all embrace that philosophy. I think we can learn a lot if we can all get together and try to be tolerant and understanding with each other,” she said.
At the same time, she believes that the efforts of Falun Dafa practitioners to tell the truth and stop the persecution in a peaceful way are extraordinary. “We should all know the truth of the matter, so that people can express themselves and make choices,” she said.
Josée Cadorette, a Quebec teacher, said that Falun Dafa brings peace and beautiful energy.
Josée Cadorette, a secondary school teacher from Quebec, said she was seeing Falun Dafa for the first time. “I feel that Falun Dafa exudes a beautiful, tranquil, and peaceful energy.”
She believes that Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are “basic values” that are indispensable in life. “I think these values are very important for our society, and everyone should respect each other and show tolerance,” she said.
Reid Lhous, an international student from Morocco, said that Falun Dafa’s exercises bring beauty.
Reid Lhous is an international student from Morocco who is currently a student in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Algonquin College. He was very happy when he saw the scene of Falun Dafa practitioners celebrating the 33rd anniversary of the public introduction of Falun Dafa. “It looks beautiful. The gentleman introducing the history of Falun Dafa was fascinating. I’ve never heard of Falun Dafa, but I really want to know about the celebration and the culture,” he said.
He said that the Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is “a pillar principle of values, which is very important to bring people together as a community and strengthen our bonds. I believe that Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is very important.”
He said Falun Dafa is a peaceful group. “It is very beautiful to spread these ideas and celebrate their important days and events, it is all beautiful. That’s what it’s all about, being human in life, and to see what other people are doing, so we can be connected. That’s really the reason to live,” he said.
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