(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners and many others in Toronto gathered on May 11, 2014, at Toronto City Hall Square to celebrate the 22nd Anniversary of the Introduction of Falun Dafa, to wish Master Li Hongzhi a happy birthday, and to express their deep gratitude for the immense benefits Falun Dafa has brought them.
Activities included an exercise demonstration, dance, and music. A number of federal and Ontario state MPs joined the celebration and spoke highly of the principles Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
A grand parade started at 3:00 p.m. from City Hall Square, and proceeded to Chinatown.
Falun Gong practitioners celebrate the 22nd Anniversary of the Introduction of Falun Dafa and wish their Master a very happy birthday on May 11, 2014.
Group exercise at Toronto City Hall Square
Celebrating the 22nd Anniversary of the Introduction of Falun Dafa
Parade from City Hall Square to Chinatown
“Truth, Compassion, and Tolerance” Is the Key to Success for Countries.”
Mr. Glen Murray, Ontario Minister of Transportation and Minister of Infrastructure, said, “Falun Dafa is good, and it's a healthy lifestyle.”
Mr. Glen Murray, the Ontario Minister of Transportation and Minister of Infrastructure, said that Falun Gong practitioners are his neighbors and friends and that he has always supported them. “Your family is my family, and I look forward to working with you towards your safety and towards your freedom, until all of us enjoy the liberation of the freedom of speech and practice of faith and our beliefs.”
Federal MP Mr. Brad Butt speaks at the World Falun Dafa Day celebration.
“It's a great privilege and pleasure for me to be here on behalf of not only myself but Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the Governor of Canada, to wish each one of you a very happy Falun Dafa world celebration day. I'm so delighted that we can celebrate this wonderful day in freedom right here in the City of Toronto," said Federal MP Mr. Brad Butt.
“The great thing about Canada in being a multi-faith country is that, just like your slogan says 'Truth, Compassion and Tolerance,' that is the key to success for countries.”
Mr. John Parker, Toronto city councilor, praised the courage and determination demonstrated by Falun Gong practitioners over the years in their promotion of the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
Toronto City Councilor Mr. John Parker said, “I'm here to confirm my admiration and support for Falun Dafa and for those of you who practice it and those of you who keep it alive.
“I have profound respect for the principles of Falun Dafa, even more so with the knowledge that those principles are under attack in their homeland.”
Praise for Falun Dafa, Condemnation for the Persecution
Mr. Glen Murray spoke highly of the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion- Forbearance, “For a politician, I've always believed that truthfulness is very important, because I'm elected and I have to present myself to the people to get elected every year, and the moment that I'm not being completely honest with them is the moment they will lose faith in our relationship and my ability to represent them, so that's very important.
“Tolerance may be even more a celebration of diversity, not just tolerance. Anyone in politics knows how important forbearance is, because you have to take a lot of criticism.”
He also thinks compassion is very important, “We have to live in the middle of each others' lives. We can't be selfish and just live in the middle of our own. We have in Canada the ability to look at the world through the eyes of other people.” He said he had learned a lot from his Falun Gong friends.
Mr. Parker also spoke highly of Falun Gong's principles, and the courage and determination of Falun Gong practitioners, “So the fact that we have such a large following of committed adherents who understand the challenges they take on by openly demonstrating their commitment to principles that should be universal is inspiring.”
The politicians also condemned the persecution of Falun Gong in China.
Mr. Parker said, “So when we come here today, we not only remind ourselves of those important principles, but we also remind ourselves of the importance of preserving those principles and standing in solidarity with those who share those principles but are denied the right to hold them and to demonstrate them. We are here for more than one reason. The principles themselves are core to that reason, but the recognition that those principles are under attack in some parts for the world, particularly in their homeland gives us another reason to come together and to declare those principles openly and proudly.”
Mr. Murray also said, “We have to stand with each other not just for our own freedoms, and we have to stand with each around the world, and until people can freely practice Dafa Dafa in China and the persecution ends, we must stand up and speak out against that persecution and stand for the freedom and dignity, safety, and health wellbeing of Falun Dafa practitioners around the world.”
A Grateful Couple
Mr. He Ning and his wife, Ms. Li Fei, became practitioners in Belgium in 1999, then moved to Toronto in 2003. They feel extremely grateful every year on this special day.
Mr. He Ning and his wife, Li Fei, say their entire family is grateful to Master Li.
Mr. He Ning, who has a PhD degree in Biology, said, “I've changed inside out in cultivating in Dafa. My mum said I have changed from being a very cranky person to someone who is kind and peaceful, from a self-centered person to a forgiving and tolerant person. My wife said I've changed from being very selfish to someone who is caring and understanding. Because I have become much more broad-minded, and have fewer selfish notions, I can focus more on my work, and our family life has also changed for the better. Thanks to the changes in us, many of our relatives and friends in China also became Falun Gong practitioners. We are all very grateful to our Master for his compassionate salvation.”
Ms. Li Fei said, “While we were in Belgium, my husband was in poor health due to stress. His classmate gave him a copy of Zhuan Falun . He cherished the book and started reading it. At the beginning, he was worried that I might reject the practice and hid the book from me. After I found the book, I read it through in three days and said to him, 'Let's start practicing and look for a practice site.'
“It's been over ten years now, and I feel we are truly happy and fortunate. I used to be emotional and narrow-minded, but now I'm considerate of others. I was a spoiled girl since childhood, and after we got married, I argued with my husband every day. After I started cultivating in Dafa, I became more tolerant and understanding. When my mum came for a visit, she said I had become more mature. I have two older sisters, one 12 years older than I and the other 14 years older. Now they always come to me for advice when they come across any issues. Many of my relatives started practicing Falun Gong after they saw the changes in me and my husband.
Regret for Not Starting Dafa Cultivation Earlier
Canadian citizen Mr. Li Zhe is 30 years old this year. When he was young, he witnessed the persecution his father suffered at the hands of the CCP in China. His father was illegally sentenced to eight years in prison. He went back to work in China in 2009 and learned more about the brutal persecution. However, he didn't make up his mind to practice Falun Gong until June last year.
Mr. Li Zhe said that his father is always an upright and honest. “I believe my father's choice is right.”
Mr. Li Zhe read Zhuan Falun after his father started practicing Falun Gong in 1996. “I was 12 years old at that time. It's a pity I didn't begin practicing then,” he said.
“During the few years when I went back to work in China, I felt very confused and miserable inside. When I felt really low, I read Zhuan Falun again. This time I understood the meaning of life.
“One day I said to my father that I also wanted to practice cultivation. Afterwards, I clearly felt that my body was being cleansed. It was such a wonderful feeling. Sometimes I stayed up very late and I still got up early to do the exercises. I didn't feel sleepy at all during the day.”
Mr. Li said that he wished he had started to practice earlier. “I felt really regretful when I first started practicing Falun Gong that I had missed out on nearly 20 years.”
Western Spectators: “It's Very Sad That These People Are Being Persecuted”
Rachal Kubacki (right) and her family watch the parade.
Rachal Kubacki and her family watched the parade with great interest. She said, “This group of people can celebrate their 22nd anniversary freely in Canada, but I know from the media they are being persecuted in China. I feel very sad. My whole family is here to support them. I hope more and more people will come out to support them and to end this inhumane persecution together.”
