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This year, winter in Canada has been exceptionally cold. Several consecutive heavy snowstorms left roads slippery and parking lots piled high with snow, with temperatures plunging to minus 20°C. Yet, in such a harsh winter, the hearts of Tzu Chi volunteers remained as warm as spring.
On February 7, 2026, the Tzu Chi Foundation Canada, West Toronto Office and the Tzu Chi Academy, Mississauga jointly held a Year-End Blessing ceremony at the Burnhamthorpe Community Centre in Mississauga. Volunteers arrived as early as 8:00 a.m. to set up the venue, raising the curtain on this heartwarming event.
Never Forget the Original Aspiration of the Bamboo Bank Era
At 9:00 AM, Tzu Chi members, Academy students, and parents began to arrive. Dressed in festive attire, they filled the venue with a rich holiday atmosphere. Director-General Yi-Peng Liang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Toronto, who took office last year, along with Director Po-Ching Lan and the newly appointed Deputy Director Tsai-Feng Hsu of the Culture Center, specially attended to offer encouragement to the overseas community and Tzu Chi volunteers.
Before the event began, attendees watched a video explaining the origin of the “Red Envelope of Blessings and Wisdom” and Dharma Master Cheng Yen’s expectations, as well as a news clip on how these red envelopes are made, allowing everyone to better understand the blessings and goodwill contained within.
After paying respects to the image of the Buddha, and marking the 60th anniversary of Tzu Chi this year, a video was played featuring Master Cheng Yen’s teaching on “The Meaning of the Bamboo Bank Era.” It reminded everyone of Tzu Chi’s origins and the spirit of “small coins performing great good,” echoing this year’s theme: “May we never forget the initial spirit of the Bamboo Bank Era; May we always remember the great vow of the Tzu Chi path.”
Sharing Tzu Chi’s Story at Year-End
Next, four Grade 8 students—Hsin-Yu Li, Yi-Ching Teng, Tse-Hsiang Wen, and Yun-Hsi Hsieh—performed a double lion dance. Alumna Li-Han Su, now a member of a Toronto lion dance troupe, provided special guidance on the steps and rhythm. Although not a professional team, the children’s dedication and effort were particularly moving. It allowed them to personally experience traditional Chinese culture, and the lively sound of gongs and drums instantly lit up the festive New Year spirit.
Following the introduction of distinguished guests, the Junior Kindergarten and Senior Kindergarten classes performed the song “Gong Xi Gong Xi” (Congratulations). Due to the height of the stage, teachers and volunteers attentively stood guard nearby. The children’s innocent and lively demeanor brought the atmosphere to its first peak. Subsequently, a 2025 year-in-review video of the West Toronto volunteers was shown, letting the audience see how their donations were put into action through various charitable initiatives.
First-grade students followed with a performance of “Gong Xi Fa Cai” (Wishing You Prosperity), further intensifying the festive mood. Andersen Chu, the new Executive Director of Tzu Chi Canada’s Eastern Region, delivered a speech stating that the end of the year is a time for gratitude. He thanked the honorable guests for their guidance, the public for their support, the parents for their trust, and the volunteers for their dedication. He encouraged everyone to uphold the spirit of the “Bamboo Bank Era” and work together to do good as Tzu Chi celebrates its 60th anniversary and marks the United Nations International Year of Volunteers in 2026.
Director-General Yi-Peng Liang affirmed Tzu Chi’s efforts in passing down beautiful culture, praising Tzu Chi for representing Taiwan’s noble humanistic spirit and a source of pride for Taiwan. He wished Tzu Chi continued growth and success.
Director Po-Ching Lan shared that every visit to the West Toronto Office feels like coming home. “Today’s event feels even more like a temple fair scene full of traditional cultural atmosphere. And by co-hosting it with the Academy, it carries even greater meaning for community integration.”
He specifically mentioned that the West Toronto Office’s outreach into the Arab community is a charitable action that crosses cultures, races, and communities, representing a vital direction for the organization. He also praised the volunteers for their willingness to serve on weekends despite their busy schedules during the week, calling their spirit admirable.
A Dharma Master’s Blessings of Peace
Finally, volunteers and teachers performed a sign language performance of “One Family.” Moving gracefully with the music, their gestures conveyed deep care for one another and a shared commitment to walk the path together. Attendees also followed along with the sign language, creating an exceptionally strong atmosphere of gratitude, reunion, and blessings for the season. Gathering together today was truly a beautiful moment of good affinities coming together.
Before singing “Prayer,” the Canadian Dharma Master Nu Jing Guang (phonetic) was invited to give a teaching. The master explained that this year is the Year of the Fire Horse, which occurs once every sixty years. In Buddhism, fire symbolizes purification. The flaming sword held by Manjusri Bodhisattva is the sword of wisdom—the “sword that dispels ignorance.”
Tzu Chi was founded sixty years ago in a Year of the Fire Horse. Encountering the Fire Horse again symbolizes the continuation and growth of energy, channeling this power into humanitarian care.
The Dharma Master reminded everyone that Tzu Chi has endured not only because it provides humanitarian relief, but more importantly because it arises from “compassion.” “When we see others suffering, we feel empathy; compassion, however, is the further step of ‘action’—the practice of being willing to reach out and help. When we give with a compassionate heart, we accumulate merits that stabilizes the mind, and we ourselves become someone capable of helping others.”
The master expressed hope that Tzu Chi would continue until the next Year of the Fire Horse, and offered blessings for Master Cheng Yen’s health and well-being, for the continuation of Tzu Chi’s charitable missions, and for everyone’s peace and happiness.
Tangible Outcomes of Compassion in Action
Next, everyone took out their “heart lamps” and, led by the Dharma master, chanted “Prayer” in unison, sending blessings to those suffering from disasters and hardship. On behalf of Master Cheng Yen, Executive Director Andersen Chu presented the Red Envelopes of Blessings and Wisdom, wishing everyone peace and auspiciousness.
Afterward, attendees visited the temple-fair-style stalls. Teachers managed booths featuring traditional toys, spring couplets, a Jing Si Aphorism spinning wheel, dough figurines, New Year dishes, pulled ramen noodles, and diabolo (Chinese yo-yo). This year, a “New Year Passport” stamp-collection rally was introduced; collecting all stamps allowed students to redeem a souvenir, which caused great excitement.
Demonstrations of pulled ramen noodles, hands-on traditional games, dough figurine tutorials, calligraphy writing, and rubbing activities immersed adults and children alike in a rich New Year flavor. A display of mats made from recycled milk bags further allowed everyone to see the practical results of environmental protection and love in action.
Grade 4 teacher Chi-Wen Tai demonstrated ramen-making, attracting many adults and children to try it out. She shared that the dough must not be too wet, the resting time must be sufficient, and a layer of oil should be applied at the end before pulling. Junior Kindergarten teacher Hsiu-Chu Hsieh was in charge of the traditional games area where adults revisited childhood memories with glove puppetry, while children happily played with pinball games.
Teacher Fang-Min Lai, who joined this year and is a cultural seed teacher of the Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC), taught dough-figurine making. She said, “The material for dough figurines is flour. Unlike clay, once it’s finished it dries and sets, and can’t be reshaped.” Many adults and children made their favorite designs to take home.
Grade 3 teacher Li-Chu Wu managed the spring-couplet booth, attracting many to pick up a brush and write. Grade 1 teacher Yi-Ling Shih used a simple rubbing technique to print auspicious phrases and yin-yang patterns, adding a creative touch.
North Toronto volunteer Su-Wen Chang has long led local volunteers in collecting and recycling Canada’s unique milk bags, giving discarded milk bags a second life. Together with the North Toronto team, they collect these seemingly ordinary plastic bags, wash them, cut them, and weave them—slowly transforming them into sturdy, durable mats for people experiencing homelessness.
Wishing Everyone Happiness and Peace
The Academy also regularly calls on parents, students, and volunteers to donate milk bags. Today, the finished mats made from these donations were specially displayed, allowing everyone to see the tangible power created by each act of love. This is not only environmental protection; it is a story woven together by good intentions.
Tzu Chi volunteer Yi-Ting Liu, visiting her sister in Canada from Taiwan, made a special effort to attend the Year-End Blessing event before returning home. Sharing from a “tourist’s” perspective, she felt the event was heartwarming. She was moved by the children’s dedication to the festival and found it a rare and precious opportunity to experience such a strong New Year atmosphere in Canada.
Ms. Han-Chin Liu, attending the Year-End Blessing for the first time, said the event was full of spring spirit, with wonderful performances. She received a red envelope and a peace gift, and even had the chance to write spring couplets—leaving her both touched and happy. Mr. Wei-Jen Wang and Ms. Yi-Chia Fang also expressed that they were honored to participate in the Tzu Chi event. They were deeply moved by receiving the red envelopes and souvenirs, and by hearing Master Cheng Yen’s teachings and the Dharma master’s blessings, hoping to attend frequently in the future.
Grade 8 student Tse-Hsiang Wen, who performed the lion dance last year, took the stage again this year due to a classmate’s sudden absence. He said, “It’s hard to see lion dancing in Canada, so it’s a great honor to perform here.” Another Grade 8 student, Yun-Hsi Hsieh, performed the lion dance for the first time this year and said happily that he looks forward to the Lunar New Year event every year because there are so many fun stalls to enjoy.
The New Year Blessing event concluded perfectly amidst lively joy and celebration. May 2026 bring peace to the world and happiness and smooth journeys for all; and, as the Dharma master said, may the Fire Horse year dispel ignorance and bring wisdom and well-being.