A major milestone in the international academic development of Humanistic Buddhism was marked on May 6 with the official opening and unveiling ceremony of the Institute for Humanistic Buddhist Thought and Practice at Trinity College. Jointly established by Trinity College and Fo Guang Shan, the institute welcomed more than 200 scholars, religious leaders, faculty members, students, and distinguished guests to witness the historic occasion.

Upholding Fo Guang Shan’s objective of benefiting society through charitable service, the BLIA Toronto English Subchapter and the English Children’s Dharma Class once again joined hands this year to support The Shoebox Project for Women. Ahead of Mother’s Day, a heartwarming parent-child box decorating activity was held on May 3, where families transformed simple shoeboxes into colorful gifts filled with warmth, care, and heartfelt blessings.

Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto hosted a public Buddhist forum on May 3 titled “Humanistic Buddhism — Let the Dharma Walk with You Every Day,” bringing together nearly 100 participants to explore how Buddhist wisdom can help individuals navigate uncertainty, anxiety, and the rapid changes of contemporary life.

As part of Canada’s Asian Heritage Month celebrations, the Canadian Multicultural Council (CMC) held its Asian Heritage Month Recognition Gala on May 2 at Casa Deluz Banquet Hall in Scarborough. More than 500 guests from diverse cultural communities attended the event, where Venerable Chueh Fan, Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto, received the “2026 Outstanding Asian Canadian Community Contribution Award,” becoming the first Buddhist nun to receive the honour.

To support the upcoming “Fo Guang Shan 60 Years of Passing the Lamp Honoring a 100-Year Legacy” commemorative exhibition and prepare volunteers for Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto’s 30th anniversary programs, Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto held its first Buddhist Cultural Museum Volunteer Guide Training on May 2. Conducted in English, the program welcomed nearly 20 volunteers from diverse backgrounds and age groups, many fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin, reflecting the temple’s commitment to engaging the wider local community through Humanistic Buddhism.

To commemorate the 60th anniversary of Fo Guang Shan and the centennial birth anniversary of Venerable Master Hsing Yun, while offering prayers amid today’s social uncertainty, Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto held an Eight Precepts Retreat and Heart Sutra cultivation program on April 25. Despite heavy rain, 103 participants gathered for a day of spiritual practice and cultivation.