Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, accompanied by nine ministers and more than 40 Members of Parliament attended the Lunar New Year celebration. photo/Fo Guang Shan Temple of Ottawa

Fo Guang Shan Temple of Ottawa
March 11, 2024

On February 12th, the third day of the Lunar New Year, the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada hosted a Lunar New Year celebration. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, accompanied by nine ministers and more than 40 Members of Parliament from across Canada, attended the event. Fo Guang Shan (FGS) Temple of Ottawa was among the invited participants. Abbess Yung Ku led Venerables of FGS Ottawa, BLIA Ottawa Chapter President June Sun, and nearly 30 volunteers in joining the festivities. The Fo Guang Dharma Drum and Lion Dance team, consisting of 14 young members, delivered captivating performances that earned rounds of applause from the audience.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took a group phto with Abbess Yung Ku and others. photo/Fo Guang Shan Temple of Ottawa

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his gratitude for the splendid opening performance by the FGS Ottawa’s Dharma Drum and Lion Dance Team. He highlighted that the Year of the Dragon symbolizes hope, health, and strength for Canada's future, and expressed appreciation for the contributions of Asian Canadians to the beloved Canadian society.

The Fo Guang Dharma Drum and Lion Dance team delivered captivating performances. photo/Fo Guang Shan Temple of Ottawa

The event commenced with a performance by the young members of the FGS Dharma Drum Team, established for over two years. With rhythmic drumbeats setting the pace, the team showcased agile movements, alternating between swift and slow movements, reminiscent of seasoned warriors. The final appearance of a member holding the drumsticks high drew thunderous applause from the audience. Following this, the newly formed FGS Lion Dance Team, operating for less than 45 days, made a grand entrance. After the Prime Minister marked the lions' eyes with ceremonial dots, accompanied by the lively drum and cymbal beats, the lions performed dynamic routines, interacting with the audience, and tossing symbolic lucky candies into the crowd multiple times.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau marked the lions' eyes with ceremonial dots. photo/Fo Guang Shan Temple of Ottawa

Ven. Yung Ku praised the children of the Lion Dance and Dharma Drum teams for their dedication and hard work in shouldering the task of promoting Chinese traditional culture. She also noted that through this opportunity from Fo Guang Shan, they propagated the Dharma through culture, earning them the title of “young warriors achieving great feats”.

Joy, the mother of Richard and Ryan, expressed gratitude to FGS Ottawa for providing a platform for the children to showcase themselves and Chinese traditional culture. Winnie, Anthony's mother, noted that besides providing each other with mutual assistance and affection, the children's bonds of friendship have also strengthened. She echoed Ven. Yung Ku’s sentiment, emphasizing the importance of companionship on the journey of growing up and recognizing childhood friends as invaluable treasures.

Jackie, the mother of Edison and Evan, observed a noticeable transformation in her children. As they pick up the drumsticks and stand before the drums with a serious and concentrated demeanor, it seems as though they had embraced a new sense of responsibility and honor, both towards the Dharma Drum Team and themselves. Ryshia, a member of both the Lion Dance and Dharma Drum teams, expressed that through this event, she has developed a greater sense of courage and independence.

加拿大總理辦公室在大年初三2月12日舉辦慶祝農曆新年招待會，總理Justin Trudeau與9位部長及來自加拿大全國各地的40多位議員參加；渥太華佛光山應邀參與，住持永固法師帶領常住法師及國際佛光會渥太華協會協會長孫俊與義工近30人共襄盛舉，佛光法鼓醒獅團14位小團員表演精采節目，獲得滿堂掌聲。

Justin Trudeau表示，感謝渥太華佛光山法鼓醒獅團精采開場，龍年象徵加拿大未來的希望、健康和力量，感恩亞裔人士對大眾所熟悉且珍愛的加拿大社會所做的貢獻。

招待會由成立兩年多的佛光法鼓隊的小隊員以「法鼓迎賓」開場，隨著鼓點節奏時急時徐，隊員們時而俯身、時而雀躍，頗有大將氣勢，最後一個高擎鼓槌的亮相引得滿堂喝彩。隨後剛剛成立不到45天的佛光醒獅團隆重登場。在總理為一大兩小獅子點睛後，伴隨鑼鼓喧天，獅子們表演閃、騰、躍、撲、採青，並與觀眾互動，數次向觀眾們撒寓意吉祥如意的利是糖。

永固法師說，讚歎獅團和法鼓隊的孩子們，因為有他們的堅持和努力，把弘揚中華傳統文化的擔子扛下來，也藉著佛光山的因緣走出去，以文化弘揚佛法，堪稱是「小將立大功」。

Richard和Ryan的媽媽Joy說，感謝渥太華佛光山爲孩子們提供這麽好的舞台，讓孩子們展示自己及中國的傳統文化。Anthony的媽媽Winnie說，孩子們除了互助互愛外，友誼也漸漸加乘；如同永固法師說的，在成長的路上，是需要朋友的，而兒時玩伴更是難能可貴。

Edison和Evan的媽媽Jackie表示能明顯地感覺到孩子的變化，拿起鼓棒、站在鼓前，認真專注的神情，對法鼓隊、對他們自己，彷彿都進入了另一種責任與榮譽的狀態。同為醒獅團和法鼓隊隊員的Ryshia表示，透過這次活動，自己更勇敢和獨立。