We recently received this notice that the GTA Vesak 2017 is gearing up…
Dear Venerable Abbots, Venerable Abbesses and Temple Lay Representatives,
We, the four organizing temples (West End, Fo Guang Shan, Ching Kwok & Cham Shan Buddhist temples in Mississauga & Toronto) have the privilege of organizing Vesak: Buddha’s Birthday Celebration – 2017 at the Mississauga Celebration Square on May 28, 2017. The event this year takes significant meaning as we commemorate three milestones; Vesak, (Buddha’s birthday, enlightenment and his achievement of Nirvana), United Nations Day of Vesak & Canada’s 150th birthday. The venue and the date is confirmed so this event has been confirmed.
We are inviting all Buddhist temples in the Greater Toronto Area, Peel, Halton, York and other regions to join us in this public event. In the past four years this celebration has been a resounding success with participation of over 7000 people together with about 100 Buddhist monks and nuns of all Buddhist traditions in the presence of Senators, federal and provincial Ministers, MPs, MPPs and members of the diplomatic corp. Here is a link to video clips and pictures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIReeYzkP5w&feature=youtu.be and http://www. vesakcelebration.com/
The organizing committee has called a meeting on Tuesday February 28, 2017 at 7PM (sharp) at the Cham Shan Temple of Toronto located at 7254 Bayview Avenue, Markham, ON L3T 2R6. We would like to respectfully invite all of you to attend this meeting. If you are attending the meeting, please let us know your names and organizations so a current contact list may be compiled. Please confirm your attendance by Thursday February 21st, 2017 with our coordinator Dushyan Jayasundera or myself by writing to vesakcelebration@gmail.com.
Our objectives for the meeting are to determine the level of your interest and discuss how we might cooperate within our objectives.
In the name of the Buddha, let’s come together to celebrate His birthday as one community.
With many blessings,
Reverend Dr. Bhante Saranapala
Chair, Organizing Committee
Dushyan Jayasundera
Coordinator, Organizing Committee
On behalf of …
Ven. Dhammawasa
Abbot
West End Buddhist Temple
Ven. Yungku
Abbess
Fo Guang Shan Temple
Ven. Jian Zong
Abbott
Ching Kwok Temple
Ven. Dayi Shi
Abbot
Cham Shan Temple