Canada: Falun Gong Practitioners Perform at the Hamilton Festival

The annual Hamilton Festival is one of the biggest events in Hamilton, Ontario. On August 11th, 2007, the Divine Land Marching Band and Lotus Arts Group, both consisting of Falun Gong practitioners, performed at the festival.

Spectators watch practitioners perform

Spectators watch practitioners perform

Traditional Chinese dance

David Christopherson, the Member of Parliament for Hamilton Centre, said that more and more Chinese people have moved to Hamilton and it is great that the Divine Land Marching Band performed at the festival. He said that the multiculturalism in Canada shows that people of different cultures and beliefs can live harmoniously together.

Ken Leendertse, the deputy chief of the local police department, said that he heard a lot of positive comments about the band last year, and he was impressed by its performance this year. He said the band made the festival more colourful.

City Councillor Tom Jackson said that he was glad to see Falun Gong practitioners at the festival. Mayrenis and Kathy Miller, two local citizens, said they like the band very much and hope the band will come again next year. Anne Welbourne of Hamilton said that the band did a great job, and especially liked the drum performances. Dan Ward, a businessman in Hamilton, told the reporter that his Chinese friends were very happy to see practitioners performing and hoped they would come again next year.

Demonstrating the Falun Gong exercises

The Lotus Arts Group performed a lotus dance and a fan dance. They also demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises.

Jai Ojah Maharaj, the stage director of the festival, said that he sensed peaceful energy from the practitioners' dances. Dennis De Souza, a musician, said the dances made people relax and enjoy the peacefulness. He hopes practitioners will come again.

Joe Brown, the host of the festival, said that Falun Gong practitioners attend the festival every year and he was glad to see them again this year. Mr. Brown said that their performances are always peaceful and beautiful and they are unique every year.