On June 28, 2023, an interfaith dialogue took place at the Community Safety Village in Canada, facilitated by the York Regional Police. Ven. Dayi Shi, the sole religious leader representing Mahayana Buddhism, attended this significant event in the York region.

During the celebration of Canada's Multiculturalism Day, Ven. Dayi Shi, the President of The Buddhist Association of Canada and the Abbot of Cham Shan Temple, led a delegation to participate in the meticulously organized interfaith and multicultural event at York Police's Community Safety Village. He delivered a speech sharing the teachings of Buddhism, the community engagement initiatives of Cham Shan Temple, and our future plans.

On June 27th of this year, Canada celebrated its national Multiculturalism Day, with various levels of government from federal to provincial and municipal commemorating this special occasion in diverse manners. On June 28th, the York Regional Police invited 13 religious leaders representing Christian, Presbyterian, Orthodox, Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, and other faiths to partake in an Interfaith Harmony Initiative. Engaging discussions were held regarding the target audiences of each religion, dissemination methods, religious services, important observances, and the propagation of teachings and doctrines.

Ven. Dayi Shi, representing Mahayana Buddhism, shared the remarkable development of Cham Shan Temple over the past 50 years. This year marks the temple's 50th anniversary, and Ven. Dayi Shi actively promotes the guiding principle of "Living with Wisdom" as part of his missionary efforts. He stated, "We warmly welcome visitors from all walks of life and regularly host tours for school boards, police forces, and social organizations." Ven. Dayi further emphasized the importance of interfaith dialogue in fostering understanding among diverse communities.

For over a decade, Cham Shan Temple has been hosting the “Vesak Vegetarian Banquet for the Mighty Thousand”. Additionally, the popular “Bell Sounding Ceremony”, attended by thousands, heralds the arrival of the Lunar New Year each year. Ven. Dayi Shi shared Cham Shan Temple's visionary statement, "To Perceive with Wisdom and Reach Out with Compassion," with the interfaith leaders. He also introduced the temple's wide range of activities, such as meditation classes, Dharma discourses, children's classes, tea ceremonies, martial arts, and calligraphy classes, to promote cultural heritage. The temple regularly visits senior homes and donates mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

As the leader of Chinese Mahayana Buddhism, Ven. Dayi Shi is spearheading the development of Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden in Canada, with construction well underway. It is anticipated that this Buddhist Garden will be open to the public later this year. Ven. Dayi Shi warmly welcomes religious leaders from various faiths to visit Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden and eagerly anticipates collaboration and synergy with all religions. United by our common aspirations, we strive for the well-being of humanity.

Religious leaders from a variety of denominations, including priests, pastors, reverends, imams, and monks, among others, actively participated in this interfaith initiative. Each representative shared insights from their respective religious perspectives on how their faiths perceive and contribute to the well-being of individuals, communities, and the world. With a unanimous voice, we advocated for religious harmony and expressed gratitude to the organizers for hosting this meaningful interfaith exchange. Everyone also expressed our eagerness for future opportunities to collaborate and share experiences among diverse religious practices.

The event concluded on a positive and harmonious note, leaving all participants eagerly anticipating future collaborations and connections.