Ottawa, May 13, 2014 — The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister for Multiculturalism, issued the following statement marking the celebration of the Buddhist Festival of Vesak:
“The festival of Vesak, on the first full moon of May, represents the most sacred day of the year for Buddhists across Canada and around the world.
“Vesak celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha, and is an opportunity for Buddhists to contemplate his teachings, as symbolized by the Dharma wheel.
“The exact date of Vesak varies according to different national traditions, as do the many joyful ways of celebrating the festival. Many celebrations are focused on visiting temples, donating money and food to the needy, and trying to put into practice Buddha's teachings about compassion for others, and about the interdependence of humanity.
“This annual festival also represents an opportunity to reflect on the many important contributions that Buddhist-Canadians have made to our country's history and to our diverse society.
“As Minister for Multiculturalism, I offer my sincere good wishes to everyone celebrating Vesak, and my hope that the festival's universal message continues to resonate with all Canadians, Buddhist and non-Buddhist alike.”
For further information (media only), please contact:
Alexandra Fortier
Minister’s Office
819-994-2482
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca
Building a stronger Canada: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) strengthens Canada’s economic, social and cultural prosperity, helping ensure Canadian safety and security while managing one of the largest and most generous immigration programs in the world.
