Victoria – May 3, 2023 – A grand Buddhist cultural and art exchange event was held at the Parliament Building in Victoria to celebrate the first Buddhist Culture Day in BC. At this historic moment, the BC government announced that the first Sunday of May each year will be designated as BC’s Buddhist Culture Day. The establishment of this holiday aims to promote Buddhism and showcase the spirit of Canadian multiculturalism.
Master Diana and Provincial Government Witness the Establishment of the First Buddhist Culture Day in BC
Provincial Member of Parliament Teresa Wat announced the establishment of “BC Buddhist Culture Day”
Master Diana represented the “Bai Gong International Buddhist Society” received a medal issued by Kevin Falcon, leader of the BC United Party
BC Premier David Eby issued a certificate designating the first Sunday in May as “BC Buddhist Culture Day”
The successful organization of this celebration was due to an online and offline signature campaign initiated by Provincial Member of Parliament Teresa Wat in November last year, with the theme of establishing “BC Buddhist Culture Day”. At today’s (May 3) celebration, Teresa Wat expressed her gratitude for the support her initiative received from the Buddhist community.
Provincial Member of Parliament Teresa Wat said, first and foremost, special thanks to Master Diana, the founding president of the Bai Gong International Buddhist Society, and all the volunteers of the association for their help and strong support.
Volunteers applauded the establishment of “BC Buddhist Culture Day”
Master Diana took a group photo with some of the volunteers from the association
Teresa Wat introduced that after she converted to Buddhism, she gradually understood many Buddhist principles through learning and communicating with Master Diana, and decided to promote Buddhism in BC. This idea received support and assistance from Master Diana. Especially at the beginning of the initiative and signature collection, Master Diana and the volunteers took time out of their busy schedules to participate in numerous community activities and collect signatures. Because the campaign had just started and there were many things to sort out, this period was the most challenging. Despite many difficulties and problems, with the strong support and encouragement of Master Diana and the volunteers, they made steady progress. She also submitted a private member’s bill to the provincial parliament on February 27, asking the provincial government to declare the first Sunday in May as Buddhist Culture Day. It was through joint efforts that we are here today, gathering together for this grand event.
The association’s volunteers collected signatures in-depth within the community
Master Diana represented the “Bai Gong International Buddhist Society” and gave a speech on stage
Master Diana represented the “Bai Gong International Buddhist Society” and gave a speech on stage, and received a medal issued by Kevin Falcon, leader of the BC United Party.
Master Diana said: “Today is a very special day for BC and the Buddhist community, and a historic milestone in Canada’s multicultural history.
Thank you to the provincial government and the United Party for their support in establishing BC Buddhist Culture Day.
Thank you to Provincial Member of Parliament Teresa Wat for her efforts and contributions to the initiative to establish BC Buddhist Culture Day.
Thank you to all the volunteers of the “Bai Gong International Buddhist Society” for their hard work in establishing BC Buddhist Culture Day.
Thank you to Rinpoche Canzhi for uniting various monastic communities and temples in response to BC Buddhist Culture Day, and for further promoting and spreading the Dharma.
Thank you to the venerable monks and all the Buddhist temples for their support.
Thank you to the support from people from all walks of life and various associations.
Thank you to all the guests who came today to witness the birth of BC Buddhist Culture Day!
Thank you all for your participation!”
Teresa Wat also expressed special thanks to Rinpoche from Canzhi Temple. She thanked Rinpoche for organizing a delegation of more than 300 Buddhist representatives to visit the provincial parliament today and for planning and arranging a variety of activities. This made the celebration lively, solemn, and colorful.
Teresa Wat also extended her sincerest gratitude to the masters and representatives from different Buddhist groups and temples. She thanked everyone for their presence.
More than 300 monks and believers who came to participate in the “BC Buddhist Culture Day” celebration
Provincial Member of Parliament Teresa Wat greeted Rinpoche and the monks
Today’s event saw more than 50 Buddhist organizations and temples from all over BC, with over 300 monks and Buddhist believers gathering at the provincial parliament to jointly celebrate this sacred holiday “BC Buddhist Culture Day”. These groups and monks come from different cultural backgrounds, including Chinese from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Tibetans, and Burmese, Vietnamese, Sri Lankans, Thais, Nepalese, Japanese, etc. This not only reflects Canadian multicultural values but also embodies the borderless nature of Buddhism, attracting the joint participation and efforts of Buddhist institutions and organizations from different ethnicities and traditions, working together to promote Buddhist culture. In addition, groups from Christianity, Hinduism, and Judaism also came to observe and jointly celebrate this historically significant religious holiday.
Master Diana and disciples took a group photo with the provincial members of parliament in front of the parliament hall
Master Diana had a cordial conversation with the high monks from Thailand
Master Diana and disciples took a group photo with the Sri Lankan monks
Master Diana and disciples took a group photo with the Thai monks
Master Diana and disciples took a group photo with the Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis
300 monks and Buddhist believers gathered at the provincial parliament
The day’s celebration was rich and colorful, lasting from noon until the afternoon. It included a procession of 50 monks to the Hall of Honour of the Provincial Parliament Building for a Buddha bathing and blessing ceremony. Buddhist organizations from different cultural backgrounds, dressed in traditional costumes from China, Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal, Sri Lanka, etc., brought programs representing their cultural characteristics, including performances of the guqin (a Chinese musical instrument), tea ceremonies, dances, and other forms of performance. These helped everyone understand Buddhist beliefs, Buddhist culture, and Buddhist history.
The monks held a Buddha bathing ceremony
Master Diana led the disciples in bathing the Buddha
Provincial Member of Parliament Teresa Wat held a Buddha bathing ceremony
Disciples held a Buddha bathing ceremony
Disciples circled the Buddha three times in reverence
In the afternoon, a Dharma exchange forum was held in the Ned Debeck Lounge of the Parliament Building. They jointly discussed the relationship between Buddhism and contemporary society, as well as issues related to Buddhism, environmental protection, and social justice. At the same time, on the lawn square outside the Parliament Building, a series of activities and exhibitions promoting Buddhist culture, vegetarianism, and marine protection were held, attracting many locals and tourists. These activities allowed people to understand Buddhism in a more familiar way.
Master Diana personally designed the “BC Buddhist Culture Day” billboard, which attracted many people to take photos for memory
The successful organization of the first Buddhist Culture Day celebration fully embodies the multicultural spirit of Canada and the borderless nature of Buddhism. This is the first time that BC has established a Buddhist Culture Day, and it is also one of the few activities celebrating Buddhist culture in all of Canada. It demonstrates BC’s respect and support for Buddhist culture. The government’s declaration of the first Sunday in May each year as BC’s Buddhist Culture Day will help to promote Buddhist culture more widely and promote the exchange and integration of diverse cultures.
The statue of Shakyamuni Buddha in front of the provincial government square provided participants with a grand Buddha bathing ceremony
Dance performance from Vietnam
Dance performance from Laos
Dance performance from Thailand
