PRESS RELEASE / www.buddhistcouncil.ca
‘Wesak Day’ – May 24, 2013 – Proclaimed by the Mayor of Toronto
We are pleased to announce that
His Worship Rob Ford, the Mayor of Toronto, has declared May 24th, 2013 as ‘Wesak Day’.
May Full Moon is celebrated around the world, and this is the first time that Wesak has been formally recognized at any level of government anywhere in Canada.
The Proclamation, made at the request of the Buddhist Council of Canada, notes, “Recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in 1999, Wesak Day provides an opportunity for Buddhists to promote the message of compassion, peace, goodwill and devotion to humanity.”
In his note to the Mayor, Prof. Suwanda H J Sugunasiri, President, of the Buddhist Council of Canada, has thanked him “for formally recognizing Buddhism as a living religion in the City of Toronto”.
The proclamation will be posted on the City’s web page, most likely by the beginning of May: http://www.toronto.ca/proclamations/2013index.htm
It was in May 1981 that Wesak was held in the City of Toronto, the first time anywhere in Canada, and possibly in North America. Despite the inclement weather, an estimated 1000 people thronged to the Nathan Philips Square, Toronto City Hall, to celebrate the event, the pouring rain considered a good omen as in the Buddhist tradition.
It is now time again for the Buddhists of the Greater Toronto Area to join hands to celebrate this formal recognition received 32 years later. The Buddhist Council of Canada respectfully invites the Sangha leaders, Lay leaders and other individuals to contact us to see how we could pool our resources to promote “compassion, peace, goodwill and devotion to humanity”, as noted in the Proclamation.
We would also like to take this opportunity to invite the Community for our Annual event
WESAK 2013
at Queen’s Park
Saturday, May 11, 2013
4:30 to 6:30 pm
Objectives of the Council
• To promote the Buddhadhamma according to the traditions of all the Schools of Buddhism.
• To promote co-operation among Buddhist Communities in Canada and elsewhere.
• To promote social harmony, economic prosperity, political stability and cultural vibrancy of Canada.
• To promote the personal and social well-being & happiness of all Canadians.
• To contribute towards a multicultural Canada through the application of Buddhist Principles.
For more information, please visit our website, www.buddhistcouncil.ca.
Contact: Prof. Sugunasiri 416-487-2777 suwanda.sugunasiri@utoronto.ca; Bryan Levman (Secretary) 416-923-9409.
May all beings be well and happy!
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