Ottawa, May 25, 2015 – The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister for Multiculturalism, issued the following statement celebrating the Buddhist festival of Vesak:
“Marking the birth and life of the Buddha, Vesak is the holiest of days in the Buddhist calendar.
“While the date of Vesak and the form of celebrations vary from country to country, Buddhists across the globe are united by its message of compassion, kindness, joy and equanimity. In all traditions it is a time when families and communities come together in the spirit of prayer, celebration, and helping those in need.
“Vesak’s emphasis on compassionate practice is particularly evident this year as we see people from Canada and around the world joining forces to provide food, shelter, and assistance to those affected by the recent earthquake in Nepal, Which also severely damaged many Buddhist holy sites.
“Canadians have responded generously to the call for help and Canada will continue to stand with the people of Nepal as they begin to recover and rebuild.
“As Minister of Multiculturalism, I send my best wishes to all those celebrating Vesak today and over the next few weeks.”
Lauren Armstrong
Minister’s Office
613-996-3100
lauren.armstrong2@forces.gc.ca
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca
