{"id":1911,"date":"2026-02-18T17:27:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T22:27:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huawenca.com\/?p=1911"},"modified":"2026-02-18T17:27:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T22:27:09","slug":"wanzhongtongxinyingmanianjianadafujiaohuizhanshanjingshejuxing2026bingwuchuxiqiaozhongqifushengdian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/huawenca.com\/en\/wanzhongtongxinyingmanianjianadafujiaohuizhanshanjingshejuxing2026bingwuchuxiqiaozhongqifushengdian\/","title":{"rendered":"United in Heart to Welcome the Year of the Horse | Canadian Buddhist Association Shaolin Temple Holds 2026 Bingwu Lunar New Year's Eve Bell-Ringing Ceremony"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over 10,000 people gathered at Zhan Shan to celebrate the Chinese New Year.<\/span><\/p>\n

[Huawen.com News, Toronto, Zhan Shan] On the eve of Chinese New Year's Eve, February 16, 2026, under the Year of the Horse, the Zhan Shan Buddhist Temple in Toronto, Canada, was brightly lit. The Horse Year Eve Bell Ringing and Prayer Ceremony, hosted by the Buddhist Association of Canada, was grandly held at the Zhan Shan Buddhist Temple in Toronto. Over ten thousand people from the Chinese communities in the Greater Toronto Area and surrounding cities, guests from various ethnic groups, Canadian federal, provincial, and municipal officials, and representatives from the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto and the University of Toronto gathered together at Zhan Shan to keep vigil and welcome the new year, commencing the Chinese Lunar New Year with a thousand-year-old traditional ceremony.<\/p>\n

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\"Staying up on New Year's Eve to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new is a Spring Festival custom of the Chinese nation that has persisted for thousands of years. For Overseas Chinese who have settled in Canada, this is not only a change of time but also an inheritance of culture and a gathering of emotions. On that evening, many families, three generations together, came to Chan Shan Monastery to experience the rich New Year's flavor amidst the sound of bells and blessings, jointly continuing the memory and identity of Chinese culture overseas.\"<\/p>\n

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As the oldest and most influential Chan Buddhism monastery in Canada, the Buddhist Association of Canada's Tal Shiam Temple has been rooted in the community for fifty-three years, witnessing the journey of generations of Chinese people taking root and developing overseas. The New Year's Eve bell ringing ceremony each year serves as both a ritual for blessings and a moment of reunion for the spiritual home of overseas Chinese.<\/p>\n

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The evening's activities commenced with solemn bell and drum sounds. The Most Venerable Master Dao Yi, President of the Buddhist Association of Canada, delivered a New Year's address, extending his blessings for the Year of the Horse to the public. He pointed out that the ringing of the bell on New Year's Eve is a tradition that has endured for thousands of years in Chinese temples. The bell tolls symbolize bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, as well as reminding people to reflect inwardly and purify afflictions. \u201cHearing the bell, afflictions lighten, wisdom grows, and enlightenment is born.\u201d The sound of the bell is not only a cultural ritual but also a spiritual awakening. In an era filled with changes and challenges, people increasingly need inner peace and guidance for direction.<\/p>\n

In his speech, Master Ji highlighted the development journey of the Buddhist Association of Canada. He expressed gratitude for the long-term support from all three levels of Canadian government, as well as the care and assistance from the Consulate General of China in Toronto. This support has enabled Buddhist culture to engage in dialogue and harmonious coexistence with different ethnic groups within a multicultural society. He also conveyed his sincere thanks to the many dharma protectors, lay practitioners, and volunteers, for their dedication of time and love in supporting the temple and serving the community.<\/p>\n

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On behalf of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Federal Member of Parliament Patrick Brown read the Prime Minister's Lunar New Year greeting. The message stated: \u201cIt is with immense pleasure that Prime Minister Carney extends his warmest greetings to all those attending and supporting the Lunar New Year Bell Ringing Ceremony at the International Buddhist Association of Canada's (IBAC) Nan Shan Temple.\"<\/p>\n

The Prime Minister stated, \u201cLunar New Year is a time for renewal, reflection, and hope. On this special occasion, families and friends in Canada and around the world come together to welcome the new year \u2013 honouring traditions, uniting with a common mission, and looking with confidence to the future.\u201d \u201cChinese Canadians inject vital strength into the nation's development through leadership, a spirit of service, and a sense of shared responsibility. Your contributions solidify and strengthen the foundations of Canadian society and economy. Canada's multicultural nature is inherently a strength \u2013 it gives us resilience, builds trust, and enhances confidence in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Cheng Hongbo, Deputy Consul General of the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto, attended the event and delivered a speech. He stated that the Spring Festival, as the most important traditional festival of the Chinese nation, carries the cultural spirit of reunion, harmony, and blessings. For many years, Zhan Shan Monastery has actively promoted excellent traditional Chinese culture and fostered people-to-people exchanges and understanding between China and Canada, becoming an important spiritual bond for the local Chinese community. He expressed his hope that overseas Chinese, while integrating into local society and actively contributing, will continue to inherit the roots of Chinese culture and play a bridging role in promoting friendly exchanges between China and Canada.<\/p>\n

Federal Members of Parliament Tim Hodgson, Melissa Lantsman, Maggie Chi, and Vincent Ho also gave speeches. Tim Hodgson stated that the bell-ringing ceremony for blessings centers its prayers on peace and prosperity, uniting the community in a spirit of reflection, solidarity, and hope. He added that the International Buddhist Temple and the Buddhist Association of Canada have played a vital role in promoting compassion, fostering cultural understanding, and enriching the spiritual lives of the community in the Greater Toronto Area. Melissa Lantsman, representing the Conservative Party of Canada, extended warm wishes for a prosperous Year of the Horse to the International Buddhist Temple and friends across Canada, wishing them a year filled with vitality and drive. Maggie Chi, representing the Liberal Party, wished everyone a prosperous Year of the Horse and success. Vincent Ho emphasized that since the establishment of the federal government, Lunar New Year has been a part of Canadian history. He expressed comfort in living in a country where people can freely pass on these traditions and affirmed that these rights should continue to be defended.<\/p>\n

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When speaking, Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti highly praised Chan Shan Temple for its dedication to preserving and promoting Chinese culture and spiritual traditions. He stated that the Bell Ringing for Blessings ceremony unites the community through reflection and prayer, promoting peace, prosperity, and harmony. He also expressed gratitude to Chan Shan Temple for actively fostering cultural diversity, encouraging community involvement, and supporting spiritual growth. Doug Elmslie, Mayor of Cavan Monaghan, the city where the Canada Thousand Buddha Temple is located, sent a congratulatory letter stating that the establishment of the Canada Thousand Buddha Temple and the Buddhist community several years ago brought about profound and positive changes to the city. He wished the entire Buddhist community progress, peace, and prosperity in the new year.<\/p>\n

President HyeRan Kim-Cragg of Emmanuel College at Victoria University, University of Toronto, attended and delivered remarks. She introduced the college as a multi-faith graduate institution that brings together students from Buddhist, Christian, Islamic, and other religious and spiritual traditions to pursue academic excellence and cultivate spiritual depth in service and care. She expressed deep gratitude to the Chieng Shan Temple for its generous donation to support the establishment of the first \"Master Wu Tai Shan Dayi Chair in Buddhist Chaplaincy\" in Canada. In an era of increasing global demand for mental health and spiritual care, Emmanuel College and the Buddhist Association of Canada are working together to bring profound impact to society. The continuing education courses in Buddhism, jointly promoted with the Buddhist College of Canada, closely integrate Buddhist wisdom with daily life.<\/p>\n

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The event site was crowded and orderly. Devotees took turns striking the first bell chime of the new year, praying and wishing for family happiness, social harmony, and world peace. The bell's distant echo reverberated through the night sky, symbolizing hope and new beginnings, and also showcasing the profound influence and vibrant vitality of Chinese New Year culture in Canadian society. To promote traditional Chinese culture, the Buddhist Association of Canada is continuously developing the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Garden in Canada. This cultural project is not only a mission spanning generations but also aims to leave a cultural landmark in Canadian society that integrates Eastern wisdom with Western spirit, becoming a spiritual home for different ethnic groups to communicate, exchange, and deepen their understanding.<\/p>\n

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With the Year of the Horse upon us, Most Venerable Master Dayi stated that in the future, both the Buddhist Association of Canada and Canada's Five Peaks Mountain will continue to shoulder the dual mission of cultural preservation and social service, allowing the Spring Festival, the most important traditional festival of the Chinese nation, to continue to shine brightly on Canadian soil. May the ringing of bells bring peace to the world; may compassion's light shine universally, bringing good fortune to all. The Buddhist Association of Canada wishes everyone good fortune with the arrival of the Year of the Horse, good health, and all the best in everything.\"\"<\/p>\n

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