2017 marks the 150th birthday of Canada, the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Chinese Mahayana Buddhism in Canada, and the start of the installation of the Grand Dharma Hall of Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden in Canada. The compassionate vows of the three founding masters of The Buddhist Association of Canada (TBAC) and Cham Shan Temple (CST) lead to the history-making project of Four Sacred Buddhist Gardens in Canada. Wutai Shan is the first phase of the project to be completed. This project has received generous donations and support from all circles of society, both locally and internationally. It is anticipated that these gardens will not only serve as religious centres, recreational venues, and educational places, but also function as eye-openers to both Canadians and foreign visitors in their role of advancing Canada's multiculturalism.

Around 2:30 pm on October 14, 2017, a beautiful day after the rain at Wutai Shan, the founding master of TBAC and CST Elder Master Sing Hung and the current President of TBAC Ven. Dayi Shi co-presided a prayer service for the installation of the Grand Dharma Hall of Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden in Canada. Soon after the prayer, the 94-year-old Elder Master Sing Hung proudly announced the lift of the first upright post of the Grand Dharma Hall, which represents a huge progress in the construction of Wutai Shan Project.

The Grand Dharma Hall is designed in accordance with the ancient architecture in Tang Dynasty, which features tenon-and-mortise structure with the absence of cement and nails in parts other than foundation. This requires very specialized skills and high-quality wooden materials, which had to be imported from China. Also, the size of the statues that will be consecrated in this Grand Dharma Hall determines that the Hall can only be installed and capped after the settlement of those statues. It was not until the end of last year that three 9-meter-high Buddhas' statues and four large statues of the Four Great Bodhisattvas were set up inside the Hall and gilded with gold. This explains why it has taken so long to see the installation of the Grand Dharma Hall happen ever since the cornerstone was laid.

People from various Buddhist communities and backgrounds were present at this meaningful and historical moment. Among all attendees were MP Jamie Schmale, Consul General for the German Consulate in Toronto Mr. Peter Fahrenholtz, Chinese Actor Mickey He (He, Shengming), MPP (Trinity-Spadina) Han Dong, MPP (Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock) Laurie Scott, Councillor (the Township of Cavan Monaghan) Jordan Landry, Richmond Hill Councillor Godwin Chan, Kawartha Lakes Councillor Kathleen Seymour-Fagan, Kawartha Lakes Councillor Mary Ann Martin, and many other representatives from governments and local organizations.

Let's pray for the early completion of Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden in Canada. May all sentient beings be safe and happy with Buddha's blessings.