More than 150 Buddhist monastics representing Theravada and Mahayana traditions from Canada and the United States gathered at Parliament Hill on May 25 for the “Canadian Buddhist Heritage Month National Gathering,” a large-scale public event advocating for the formal recognition of Canadian Buddhist Heritage Month at the federal level.

The gathering, attended by more than 1,000 participants, brought together Buddhist leaders, scholars, community members, and interfaith supporters through a series of public events including a National Press Conference, Buddha Bathing Ceremonies, a Peace Walk, and a cultural reception. Organized by the Canadian Buddhist Heritage Month National Gathering Committee and the BC Buddhist Festival Committee, the event reflected the growing visibility of Buddhism within Canada’s multicultural and religious landscape.

The initiative was led by Tsengdok Rinpoche of Tsengdok Monastery in collaboration with Buddhist organizations across Canada, including Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto, West End Buddhist Temple and Meditation Centre, and Phap Hoa Monastery. The event is regarded as the most significant public assembly to date supporting the establishment of a nationally recognized Buddhist Heritage Month in Canada.

Earlier in the day, Buddhist monastics attended proceedings at Canada’s House of Commons before participating in a press conference at West Block. Addressing the media, Tsengdok Rinpoche emphasized that Buddhist communities from six Canadian provinces and the United States had gathered in Ottawa to affirm the universal values of compassion, mindfulness, and peace, values he described as already deeply embedded within Canadian civic culture.

Venerable Chueh Fan, Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto, spoke on the relevance of Buddhist thought in an era marked by social polarization and global conflict. Referencing the “Harmony and Coexistence” philosophy advocated by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, she noted that genuine harmony arises not through uniformity, but through mutual understanding across differences in language, culture, and religious identity. She further observed that Canada’s multicultural framework offers an important example of coexistence grounded in respect and dialogue.

A central feature of the gathering was the public Buddha Bathing Ceremony held before the Centennial Flame, where sacred Buddha relics were displayed publicly at Parliament Hill for the first time. The ceremony drew strong public participation, with many attendees expressing deep emotional and spiritual resonance.

The day concluded with the “Peace Walk,” led by nearly 200 monastics in a solemn procession through Parliament Hill. Bhikkhu Pannakara, organizer of the 2,300-mile “Walk for Peace” pilgrimage across nine U.S. states, described the initiative as a contemplative response to contemporary social unrest. He noted that the walk seeks to encourage reflection, inner stillness, and compassionate engagement in public life.

A parliamentary petition supporting the designation of May as “Canadian Buddhist Heritage Month,” endorsed by Liberal Member of Parliament Jenna Sudds, was formally submitted to Parliament earlier this month.

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