The Buddha's Light International Association (BLIA) Toronto Young Adult Division (YAD) organized its first Adopt-a-Park cleanup initiative on May 30 at Lake Aquitaine Park, bringing together 13 young volunteers in a collective effort to care for the local environment and serve the community.

Equipped with gloves and garbage bags, participants spent more than an hour collecting litter throughout the park, removing five bags of waste, including beverage containers, cigarette butts, and food packaging. Their efforts were warmly received by local residents, many of whom expressed appreciation for the volunteers' commitment to keeping public spaces clean.

Monastic Advisor Venerable Zhi Guan attended the event to offer encouragement and support. She noted that caring for the environment begins with individual action and encouraged members to contribute positively to their communities through service and stewardship.

For many participants, the cleanup was both a service project and an opportunity for personal reflection. Youth member Kiana Wong shared that representing Fo Guang Shan through community service was a meaningful experience, while another volunteer observed that even seemingly clean public spaces often contain hidden litter that requires attention and care.

The activity also served as a positive example for the community. One child, noticing the volunteers at work, remarked to a parent, “They are protecting the environment.” Participant Michelle Tan reflected that the cleanup felt like a form of walking meditation, cultivating mindfulness while remaining fully present in service to others.

Throughout the morning, residents stopped to thank the volunteers and inquire about the organization. Members of the YAD introduced the mission of BLIA and Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto, inviting interested community members to visit the temple and learn more about Humanistic Buddhism and community service initiatives.