Canada: Toronto City Council Member Speaks at Mid-Autumn Festival Organised by "Friends of Falun Gong"

On the 12th of September 2004, "Friends of Falun Gong" organised the annual Moon Festival (Mid-Autumn Festival) Celebration in Milliken Park. Over one thousand residents attended the celebration. City Council member Mr. Bas Balkissoon gave a speech praising how Falun Gong's potential benefits for the next generation.

Milliken Park is a beautiful place with lots of trees, birds, and a lake. It is a place where people like to do their morning exercises, and where the children like to play. The activities of the celebration were rich and colourful, attracting many people from different segments of society. The participants could get a tasty meal, and enjoy performances by the Toronto Lotus Art Ensemble as well as demonstrations of traditional Chinese arts and crafts and free Falun Gong exercise lessons.

Toronto City Council member Mr. Balkissoon attended the celebration in person and gave a speech. He thanked the "Friends of Falun Gong" organisation for inviting him to the party. He said to the Falun Gong practitioners that their beliefs are very good and that they are blessed.

Mr. Balkissoon stated that he was very supportive of Falun Gong practitioners and their ideals and efforts. He believes that Falun Gong practitioners' efforts should be recognised world-wide, and that he personally recognised their efforts. He also said that everyone is entitled to basic human rights, and he encouraged Falun Gong practitioners to continue their efforts in seeking these basic human rights. He said that you might not see dramatic changes now but the next generation would benefit from what practitioners were doing. In the end, he wished every participant a happy day.

Canada's "Friends of Falun Gong" was established in 2000. It is composed of enthusiastic supporters for freedom of belief and human rights. One member said that Falun Gong practitioners promoted the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance, that they displayed peacefulness and rationality in the face of violence, and that this represented the most noble aspects of humanity. This has touched many Canadians' hearts. He said that their organisation is very aware of the persecution of Falun Gong in China, and they hope to raise more attention among the public to end the hatred and violence against Falun Gong. In order to let more people know the truth about Falun Gong, they organise an activity here every year.

The Chairman of Canada's "Friends of Falun Gong" Association Mr. Hong Shizhong said that over the past two years, over one thousand people have participated in the event. He was very happy that all the participants were having a good time and he also said that more and more people are now bravely expressing their support towards Falun Gong, and no longer been deceived by the propaganda issued by former Chinese President Jiang Zemin. He wished everyone to work together to end the persecution of Falun Gong.

Mr. Liu, who was learning the exercises, said that the activities were very beneficial. His family had their meals first and then watched the performance. Later, he saw that many people were learning the Falun Gong exercises, so his family came to learn the exercises as well.

"Dotting the eyes of the lion" opening ceremony	Lion dance

Lotus Art Ensemble performs Fan Dance	The food is delicious	Children's "handkerchief" dance