(Minghui.org) The Falun Dafa group's Tian Guo Marching Band was invited to perform at the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest, Canada’s Largest Bavarian Festival, during its Thanksgiving Day Parade on October 10, 2022. Many spectators praised the band’s spirited performances.
The annual Thanksgiving Day Parade was canceled the past two years because of the pandemic. CTV News and several local television stations broadcast the return of the event live as it is one of Canada’s largest Thanksgiving parades.
The Tian Guo Marching Band performs at the Thanksgiving Day Parade during the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest on October 10, 2022.
People Join the Parade
Spectators take a photo with members of Tianguo Marching Band
The music of Tian Guo Band drew the attention of a local resident, Ayseunr, and her family and friends. They followed along behind the band the entire parade route, and asked to have their photograph taken with members of the band.
Ayseunr (fourth from right) and her family and friends had their photographs taken with band members.
“I like the music very much, and so we walked behind the band the entire time,” Ayseunr said, “I lived in China for three years and I heard about the persecution of Falun Dafa, but I had no idea why it happened. Today is my first time seeing a Falun Dafa group, so I really wanted to find out why.” After a practitioner told her why the Chinese Communist Party launched the persecution 23 years ago, she said, “It was very wrong for them to do this.”
She took a flier from a practitioner and read about the persecution as well as the information about the free classes to learn the exercises. “I will sign up for the classes,” she said, “I am interested in Falun Dafa. I will check out this website, and learn more about it.”
Enjoyed the Band’s Performances for Years
Mark Sichewski organizes the annual parade.
Mark Sichewski who helps organize the parade, watched the band rehearse. “There are over a hundred groups participating in the parade, and it will attract about 1.5 million viewers. The weather is nice today and I expect everyone to have fun. We’ve invited the Tian Guo Band for many years as we really like their performances. We always look forward to it,” he said.
Enjoys the Band’s Performance
Andrew enjoys the Tian Guo Band’s music.
Andrew who was part of another group said he enjoyed the band’s music. “I live near here. I’ve participated in the parade before, and so I’ve heard the band play. They’re really good,” he said. Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance resonated with him. He accepted the flier with a smile and said he was interested in learning more about Falun Dafa.
Happy Practitioners Have Freedom to Practice in Canada
Michael clapped along with the rhythm of Tian Guo Band’s music.
When the band passed him, Michael clapped to the beat “I have been to the parade before and this isn’t the first time I heard the Tian Guo Band play. I really like the music, it’s great. I felt the energy from the music,” he said.
He said that society nowadays needs Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. When a practitioner told him how the CCP persecutes practitioners in China because they will not renounce their faith, he said, “Canada is a free country, and I am glad these practitioners are here.”
Society Should Value Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance
Ravi and his wife
Ravi and his wife recently moved to Canada from India. This was the first time they saw the Tian Guo Band perform. As they videotaped the performance, a practitioner told them about Falun Dafa. “I agree with the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, and believe that they are of importance to our society,” Ravi said.
Freedom of Belief Is a Basic Human Right
Lorraine used to live in Ottawa. “This is the first time I’ve seen this parade. The Tian Guo Band is terrific. I felt quite amazed as I watched them perform. Their music gave me a pleasant feeling,” she said. She told a practitioner that she knew what Falun Dafa was and about the persecution. “When I lived in Ottawa I saw practitioners’ activities. I know that practitioners in China are persecuted. The persecution is definitely wrong. Everyone should enjoy freedom of belief because it is the most basic human right,” she said.
All content published on this website are copyrighted by Minghui.org. Minghui will produce compilations of its online content regularly and on special occasions.
