On July 10, Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto hosted the "Circular Economy in Everyday Life" workshop at the Markham Buddha's Light Center in collaboration with Fo Guang University. Led by Assistant Professor Chiu-Lien Huang of the University's Department of Communication, the workshop introduced 15 participants to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through hands-on learning that combined environmental sustainability with the principles of Humanistic Buddhism.

Under the theme "Giving Everything a Second Life," Professor Huang shared practical approaches to the circular economy using tea branches from Yilan, Taiwan—an agricultural by-product that is typically discarded. Participants used the fragrant tea branches as filling for naturally scented tea pillows and created eco-friendly screen-printed pillowcases featuring the Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto logo, along with the Humanistic Buddhist messages Do Good Deeds, Speak Good Words, Think Good Thoughts and May All Be Auspicious. Four Fo Guang University students accompanied her, assisting with demonstrations and workshop activities while gaining valuable hands-on experience in international community engagement.

Venerable Chueh Fan, Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto, praised Professor Huang for bringing the principles of the circular economy to the Canadian community. She noted that while modern society enjoys material abundance, people increasingly seek inner well-being and meaningful human connection. By transforming discarded materials into useful everyday items, the workshop demonstrated how creativity and mindfulness can give new life to resources while encouraging care for both the environment and inner well-being.

Because tea is not commercially grown in Canada, the fragrant Yilan tea branches offered participants a unique cultural and sensory experience. Many shared that the workshop inspired them to explore sustainable ways of repurposing locally available Canadian materials in their own communities.

Professor Huang explained that the workshop grew out of an opportunity to lead Fo Guang University students on an overseas practicum in Toronto. She hopes it will inspire more people to incorporate sustainable practices into everyday life and demonstrate that even simple agricultural by-products can be transformed into meaningful and valuable resources through creativity and care.

The workshop concluded with appreciation gifts presented by Venerable Yung Kang and Rachel Fan, Vice President of BLIA Toronto, marking a meaningful exchange of sustainability education, cultural understanding, and friendship between Taiwan and Canada.