Flag Raised in Barrie, Canada Celebrates 2025 World Falun Dafa Day

(Minghui.org) With the music “Falun Dafa is Good” playing in the background, Mayor Alex Nuttall announced on May 1 that May 13, 2025 is declared Falun Dafa Day in Barrie. In front of the city hall, Mayor Nuttall and city councilors, along with Falun Dafa practitioners, raised a flag to celebrate the special day, and exclaimed “Falun Dafa is good” in unison.

Mayor Alex Nuttall, city councilors, councilors’ representatives, and Falun Dafa practitioners raised a flag to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day.

Barrie in Ontario is the first city in the world to have held a flag-raising ceremony to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day. The city sits at the west bank of beautiful Lake Simcoe, and is the home of Hydro One, the Bank of Montreal Computing Center, and Coca Cola Canada Bottling.

May 13, 2025, marks the 33rd anniversary of Falun Dafa’s introduction to the public. Mr. Li Hongzhi started teaching the universal principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance in 1992. The teachings have helped many people improve their mental and physical health, and pointed a way for them to return to their original nature.

Falun Dafa practitioners at the flag-raising ceremony to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day in front of Barrie City Hall.

The Waist Drum Team from Toronto performed to the music “Falun Dafa is Good” in front of Barrie City Hall.

Mayor Hopes Practitioners Can Freely Practice Their Belief

Mayor Alex Nuttall of Barrie spoke at the flag-raising ceremony.

Congratulatory Letter from Mayor Nuttall for the Falun Dafa Day celebration.

Mayor Alex Nuttall joined the practitioners at the flag-raising ceremony, and thanked them for celebrating with him the freedom to live and practice their faith in Canada. He stressed that in Barrie, practitioners can always celebrate what they believe in.

The mayor read his proclamation for the special day.

Whereas; Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, is an ancient Chinese spiritual and meditation discipline of the Buddhist tradition, following the principles of “truthfulness, compassion and tolerance” which followers indicate improves physical and mental health; and

Whereas; Falun Dafa, brings traditional Chinese cultural values to many Canadians, as well as to more than 100 million people in over 100 countries from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds; and

Whereas; 2025 marks the 33^rd year of Falun Dafa and its teachings; and

Whereas; The great compassion and forbearance demonstrated by Falun Dafa practitioners have touched the hearts of kind-hearted people all over the world; and

Therefore; I, Alex Nuttall, Mayor of the city of Barrie, do hereby proclaim May 13, 2025 to be (our city’s) “Falun Dafa Day.”

MP Praises Falun Dafa Teachings: Universal Values

John Brassard, Member of Parliament, spoke at the flag-raising ceremony on May 1, 2025, in front of the Barrie city hall.

Congratulatory letter from MP John Brassard

John Brassard, Barrie South-Innisfil’s Member of Parliament, joined the ceremony. In his speech, he said that he heard the sound of thunder, like drumming from the sky to celebrate the event. He said that it might rain but, still, “Falun Dafa is good!”

Brassard said that this was the third time he’s come to the flag-raising ceremony in Barrie to celebrate Falun Dafa Day. “Falun Dafa’s principles are universal values. As Canadians, we cherish these principles, and will continue to fight for them, and defend them from transnational threats. Safeguarding our rights is the foundation of any successful democratic system.”

He said that there are groups that do not believe in the positive values of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. “I know that many Falun Dafa practitioners in the world suffer transnational persecution. We must expose all of them and the foreign interference happening in our country, especially when they come from the Chinese communist regime.

“Whenever there is a foreign interference, no matter what our politics are, all leaders have the responsibility to stand up and expose it, instead of hiding or putting it off. We must respond immediately to such threats. This is not just about protecting the Falun Gong group but also our national sovereignty and safety.

“I am so happy to be able to celebrate such a wonderful day with friends from the Falun Dafa community, including everyone here today.”

MPP: Zhen, Shan, Ren Creates a More Compassionate World

Andrea Khanjin, Member of Provincial Parliament and Ontario minister of the environment, sent a congratulatory letter to the ceremony.

Ms. Deb Schulte read the congratulatory letter from MPP Andrea Khanjin at the ceremony.

Andrea Khanjin, Member of Provincial Parliament and Ontario minister of the environment, expressed her appreciation to Falun Dafa practitioners “who practice, teach, and prioritize spiritual growth.”

She also thanked the practitioners for “sharing this renaissance of traditional Chinese wisdom and values, which helps to achieve a strong sense of meaning and purpose.

“By adopting truth, compassion, and forbearance (zhen, shan, and ren), we can build strong relationships, navigate difficult situations, and create a more compassionate world,” she wrote.

MPP: Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance are Fundamental Values That Resonate Deeply With Society

Doug Downey, MPP and Attorney General of Ontario, sent a congratulatory letter to celebrate the event.

Mr. Hale Mahon (left) read the letter from MPP Doug Downey at the ceremony.

Doug Downey, MPP and Attorney General of Ontario, said in his letter that Falun Dafa Day is “a meaningful celebration of spiritual discipline, inner peace, and personal growth.

“The principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance are foundational values that resonate deeply within our diverse society. Your commitment to promoting these virtues through meditation and self-cultivation is both admirable and impactful.

“Thank you to the Falun Dafa Association of Canada for your continued dedication to fostering well-being, mindfulness, and moral integrity in communities across the country.”