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As a Tzu Chi volunteer in North Toronto, Canada, participating in this year’s Year-End Blessing Ceremony brought not only a heart full of gratitude but also a profound sense of mission to honor the past and inspire the future.
The year 2026 marks a pivotal milestone as Tzu Chi approaches its 60th anniversary. Those heart lamps not only illuminated North Toronto’s winter night; they also symbolize the “Great Love” spirit that has endured for six decades—continuing to bloom and take deep root in a foreign land.
Infusing Society with More Warmth
On the day of the ceremony, January 24, the gathering of distinguished guests served as a heartfelt reminder that “love” is a universal language capable of transcending linguistic and cultural barriers. Representatives from the political sphere, the expatriate community, and local neighborhoods gathered to witness Tzu Chi’s long-term dedication and influence in humanistic care and social welfare.
In his address, Andersen Chu, Executive Director of Tzu Chi Eastern Canada, expressed special thanks to all members, partners, and volunteers for their years of selfless dedication. He stated:
It is precisely because everyone has worked hand in hand for so long that our community can continue to unite and grow steadily, allowing the power of goodness to spread unceasingly.
The event featured a special display symbolizing Tzu Chi’s origins: the “Bamboo Bank Era.” Years ago, Master Cheng Yen introduced the concept of “saving fifty cents a day,” inspiring thirty housewives to place small daily donations into bamboo coin banks. This pooled love became the force for helping others and the starting point of Tzu Chi’s missions, symbolizing the spirit that everyone can do good and contribute anywhere, anytime.
Looking ahead, Tzu Chi will continue to uphold the Master’s teachings, joining hands with partners from all sectors and centering on gratitude, respect, and love to bring more warmth and positive change to society.
True Testament to Shared Community Prosperity
Distinguished guests in attendance included Member of Parliament for Richmond Hill Vincent Ho, Member of Provincial Parliament Bill Pang, Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti, and Richmond Hill Mayor David West, along with several city councilors and York Region school board trustees. They delivered speeches and presented congratulatory certificates, expressing affirmation and gratitude for Tzu Chi’s long-standing commitment in York Region.
Also attending in support were Director General Yi-Peng Liang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Toronto, Director Po-Ching Lan and Deputy Director Tsai-Feng Hsu of the Culture Center, as well as representatives from the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce in Canada and the International Mandarin Teachers Association of Canada. In his remarks, Director General Liang noted in particular that Taiwan takes pride in the humanitarian spirit Tzu Chi has practiced for years, and he was pleased to see the high regard that all levels of Canadian government and community leaders have for Tzu Chi.
Director General Liang also thanked the Tzu Chi Academy, North Toronto for establishing Canada’s first Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning (TCML). He stated that the Taiwanese government would continue to provide resources and deepen cultural exchange between Taiwan and Canada through cooperation with the Tzu Chi Foundation. The event also promoted TCML adult Mandarin classes, expressing hope for the future development of “TCML Municipal Classes” to foster multicultural integration.
Tzu Chi’s perseverance and practice over sixty years have not only earned the trust of mainstream society but have also become a stable and warm force within the community.
Witnessing Great Love Together; The Enduring Power of Education
During the Year-End Blessing Ceremony, the Tzu Chi North Toronto Office officially donated CAD 10,000 (approximately TWD 230,000) to Markham Stouffville Hospital as a gesture of support for local healthcare and community well-being.
Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti attended in person, joining Tzu Chi volunteers and hospital representative Rosanna Petricca to witness this warm commitment to giving back and deepening community ties.
Looking back on Tzu Chi’s six-decade journey, education has always been a core pillar of its mission. The establishment of the TCML at the Tzu Chi Academy, North Toronto is a concrete example of the deep integration of humanistic education with language and culture. The school is dedicated to promoting Traditional Chinese characters. Through practical dialogue, cultural understanding, and interactive teaching, it guides students to experience “Gratitude, Respect, and Love” while learning the language.
To carry this cultural torch forward, registration is now open for the Spring 2026 adult Mandarin classes. The community and friends are warmly invited to participate. As Tzu Chi moves toward its next sixty years, we hope to connect with the world through language learning and walk together in doing good.
Walking Together in Mutual Support: Building a Network of Good
On the day of the event, representatives from Markham Stouffville Hospital, Richmond Hill Community Food Bank, Yellow Brick House, Inn From the Cold, LOFT, and Milk Bag Unlimited, and other social service organizations gathered together. This display of benevolent connection across ethnicities and backgrounds was a perfect reflection of Tzu Chi’s sixty-year practice of “Great Love Without Boundaries.”
During the year-end blessings, students from the kindergarten and second-grade classes of the Tzu Chi Academy, North Toronto performed sign language renditions of “Children of the Earth” and “Universal Love.” Tzu Chi volunteers also solemnly presented “Gratitude, Respect, and Love.” These sincere and moving scenes deeply touched the hearts of everyone present.
As the event drew to a close, Shao-Ling Chu, person in charge of the Tzu Chi North Toronto Office, delivered remarks thanking every volunteer and donor who has stepped into the community. She expressed hope that new members would join in the coming year to bring more hope to the community. The attendees reverently received Master Cheng Yen’s “Red Envelopes of Wisdom and Blessings,” filling the venue with gentle prayers for peace and harmony.
As the heart-lamps were lit, the attendees looked back on Tzu Chi’s arduous beginnings and six decades of dedication, becoming even more steadfast in our hopes for the future. Volunteers expressed gratitude to the members for their long-term support and companionship. Because of you, this lamp of hope can continue to shine in Canada and warm the next sixty years.
In the new year, volunteers will continue to use Great Love as a bridge to gather good will, sincerely praying for social harmony and world peace.
