The Ninth Ukrainian Festival on Bloor Street of Toronto entered its second day on Aug. 27th, 2005, with more than twenty groups participating in the 11 a.m. festival parade. It was the first time the Falun Dafa Association was invited to take part in this largest Ukrainian festival in North America as the only Chinese Canadian group. About 300,000 people were attracted to this activity according to sponsor's estimate.
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| Falun Dafa procession | Falun Gong practitioners' dance performance |
Twelve motorcycles led the parade from High Park to Jane Street. Among the participants were the Ukrainian Youth Band, and organisations, music and dance schools and day care centers in the Ukrainian community.
The Falun Dafa parade, composed of a drum troupe, fan dance, Taiwanese mountain dance and exercise demonstration, was in the middle of the procession. Falun Gong practitioners' bright banner that read, "Falun Dafa Is Good," their resonant drums and beautiful dances were refreshing and energising.
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| A Falun Gong practitioner introduces Falun Dafa to a parade spectator | Parade spectators give Falun Gong practitioners waves of applauses |
There are very few Chinese Canadians in Ukrainian Town, so it was the first time that most people had heard about Falun Dafa. A Ukrainian mother asked the reporter, "What is Fa?" Falun Gong practitioners also received similar questions from parade spectators. The warm Ukrainian Canadians rewarded the Falun Gong parade with applause and cheers. Many took pictures with Falun Gong practitioners.
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| People sign their names in support of Falun Gong |
A couple told the reporter that such a beautiful performance should be included in the stage performances in the afternoon and evening. They were very happy to know that Falun Dafa Association would be there.
An elderly lady put down her crutch and started dancing with some young women Falun Gong practitioners.
Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Li, who was the contact person for this activity, told the reporter that she heard about the festival on the internet. She sent an email to the sponsor but didn't hear anything back until two weeks before the festival. Ms. Li said that many people in this community hadn't had the chance to hear about Falun Gong. But today, many of them signed to support Falun Gong and to call for the end of the persecution.
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