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“A warm blessing is speaking kind words; a heart willing to understand others is thinking kind thoughts; a pair of hands willing to help is doing good deeds…” Amidst the innocent, sparkling eyes of the children, the Tzu Chi Academy, Montreal held its heartwarming closing ceremony on May 30.
Tzu Chi has been deeply cultivating education in Canada for 29 years. Since establishing its first academies in Toronto (Eastern Canada) and Richmond (Western Canada) in 1997, it now has ten schools across the country. As the newest addition, founded in 2024, the Montreal campus has now successfully completed its second academic year. In a warm environment of intimate, small classes, the nine founding students, under the careful guidance of teachers and volunteers, have not only learned Mandarin but also internalized strong humanistic values.
Putting Jing Si Aphorisms into Practice, Grateful for Parents’ Trust
During the ceremony, Principal Yi-Ling Lu delivered a heartfelt speech, first offering her blessings to the students who completed the school year and then expressing deep gratitude to the parents, teachers, and Tzu Chi volunteers. She noted that it was thanks to everyone’s “attentive companionship” and “selfless dedication” that the children were able to grow happily in such a nurturing environment.
Principal Lu encouraged the children with the Jing Si Aphorism, “Speak kind words, think good thoughts, and do good deeds,” urging them to turn these words into concrete actions. She expressed her hope that the children would carry the Tzu Chi spirit and spread these “small acts of power that make the world a better place” to every corner of the globe.
The principal also extended special thanks to the parents: “Thank you, moms and dads, for your trust in our school, for confidently entrusting your children to the Tzu Chi Academy. Together, we accompany them as they grow, planting seeds of love and kindness in their hearts.” She expressed hope that through everyone’s unity and effort, they will bring even more positive influence to the community.
Planting Seeds That Grow into Forests, Inspiring Words from Distinguished Guests
That day, Director General Shu-Jong Chen and Director Hui-Fen Chiang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Montreal also took the time to attend and offer their blessings to the children.
In her remarks, Director General Chen shared the classic story “The Man Who Planted Trees” (L’homme qui plantait des arbres) by French author Jean Giono. She recounted how the tree planter in the story started with a single tree and, through tireless and persistent effort, continued planting more until a lush forest emerged.
This story of wisdom and perseverance deeply moved everyone present. The spirit of the tree planter perfectly aligns with Tzu Chi’s long-standing efforts to promote humanistic education overseas through diligent nurturing. The journey from a tiny seed to a flourishing forest symbolizes that as long as one holds onto the belief in doing good, the power of love will eventually take root and thrive in the community.
Traces of Time Leave Their Mark in a Moving Retrospective Video
Following the speeches, the school presented a “Year in Review” video, allowing all students, parents, teachers, and volunteers to look back on the moments of the past year. Watching scenes of the children learning earnestly and laughing together, many parents were deeply moved, exclaiming how much their children had grown. They also expressed heartfelt gratitude to the school volunteers for their thoughtful work in creating the video, preserving beautiful memories of the children’s development.
As the ceremony drew to a close, it was time for one of the most beautiful and meaningful traditions in Tzu Chi’s humanistic education: the “Tea Offering Ceremony.” Encouraged by the loving applause of their parents, the children entered in an orderly and solemn procession, holding tea trays with both hands. They walked slowly to their parents and elders and, with gentle guidance from their teachers, presented cups of tea with utmost respect and gratitude.
Seeing the focused and thoughtful demeanor of their children, the parents’ faces beamed with immense pride and emotion as they accepted the tea. This simple cup of tea not only conveyed the spirit of filial piety from Chinese culture but also perfectly demonstrated Tzu Chi’s humanistic values of “Gratitude, Respect, and Love” through this warm interaction between parents and children.
Parents’ Appreciation, Sharing Warmth with Sweet Dumplings
The heartfelt emotions from the tea offering ceremony and the love accumulated over the year inspired a flood of positive feedback from parents. One parent warmly shared, “Thank you for your dedicated efforts in watering these seeds of love in our children’s hearts and for allowing them to learn Mandarin through play. My child has had so much fun and absolutely loves this Tzu Chi family!”
This sentiment resonated strongly, with other parents happily echoing that their own children were also very excited to come to school.
To express their gratitude, parents from six families presented the school with a vibrant potted plant. A parent representative said appreciatively, “This plant is a small token of appreciation from our six families. We are truly grateful for your companionship over the past year, and we look forward to continuing to learn together next semester!”
The ceremony concluded with everyone gathering to enjoy “sweet longan glutinous rice balls” handmade by volunteers. Amid laughter and expressions of gratitude, the academic year came to a perfect end.
This small yet beautiful closing ceremony was filled with the children’s innocent smiles and the parents’ sincere appreciation. This genuine interaction between teachers and families not only created warm memories for all but also continues to foster countless beautiful and kind connections in the Montreal community.