To nurture compassion and deepen children’s understanding of Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva, the Fo Guang Shan Toronto Children’s English Dharma Class held the “I Want to Be Avalokiteśvara! Children’s Day of Compassion” on November 2, in commemoration of Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva’s Renunciation Day. Over forty students and teachers gathered at the temple, their laughter and curiosity filling the meditation hall as they learned how compassion and wisdom can be lived in everyday life

On November 1, Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto hosted the Buddhism in Every Step – Half-Day English Retreat, themed The Heart Sutra and Daily Life. Designed to help participants discover peace and wisdom in the present moment, the retreat integrated meditation, chanting, and calligraphy, offering a warm and insightful encounter with Humanistic Buddhism. Twenty-six English-speaking participants joined this meaningful day of calm reflection and spiritual nourishment.

On October 26, the 6th Meadowvale Scouts (Buddha’s Light Scouts of Toronto) held their annual “Apple Day” at Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto. More than forty Scouts and leaders gathered to express gratitude and practice the Three Acts of Goodness — to do good deeds, speak good words, and think good thoughts — through meaningful service and joyful teamwork.

On October 26, Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto hosted a public seminar on “How to Prevent Fraud”, organized by the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) Toronto North York First and Second Subchapters. The keynote speaker, Detective Constable Barry Zhang from the Toronto Police Service, introduced the concept of online fraud and outlined common scam types such as online shopping, romance, and parcel delivery scams. He emphasized the importance of recognizing warning signs, seeking help promptly, and reporting incidents to the police.

On October 23, Credit Valley Hospital held its annual Spiritual Care Open House, welcoming community faith groups and hospital staff to explore the role of spiritual care in modern healthcare. Representing Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto, Spiritual Care Team leader Stephanie Hong, member Debbie Choi, and Buddha’s Light Young Adult Jinger Chueh attended the event and exchanged ideas with Jennifer Santos, department manager, and chaplains Mohammed Bemat and John Kim.

On October 18, forty Master’s and Doctoral students from the Department for the Study of Religion at the University of Toronto visited Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto to gain deeper insight into Humanistic Buddhism and Buddhist temple culture. The group was warmly welcomed by Venerable Ru An and senior volunteer Martyn Knowles, who led a guided tour introducing the founding history of Fo Guang Shan, its development in Toronto, and the lifelong vow and vision of Venerable Master Hsing Yun.