(Minghui.org) On July 1, 2012, local Falun Gong practitioners participated in the parades celebrating the 145^th birthday of Canada, in Richmond and Vancouver. Many Chinese people in the audience applauded for the Falun Gong group, and asked to take pictures with the practitioners. More than 20 Chinese people in Richmond quit the Chinese Communist Party after the parade.

Divine Land Marching Band in the Richmond parade

Young practitioners dance in the parade

Spectators pose for pictures with the Falun Gong float

Clarifying the truth of Falun Gong

The Divine Land Marching Band in the Vancouver parade

Practitioners perform in the parade in Vancouver

The Divine Land Marching Band led the Falun Gong group. Following the band was the float, a young celestial maiden dance team, and waist drum team. The performances by practitioners were warmly welcomed by the spectators.

Francis Dray watched the parade with her sister and daughters. They applauded warmly for the Divine Land Marching Band, saying they liked the band very much. The music played by the band reminded her of her hometown in Scotland. “I wanted to cry,” she said. Her sister, Pat Cook, was also touched by the band's performance. “I cried too, but they were happy tears,” she said.

Many Chinese people applauded the band, and asked to take pictures with the band members. Ms. Lina, a Falun Gong practitioner, said, “I passed out Falun Gong materials during the parade. Most Chinese people accepted them. Some of them also encouraged me to keep up the good work. I passed out all the Chinese materials during the parade.”

Practitioner Ms. Yu said, “More than twenty Chinese people in Richmond quit the Chinese Communist Party after the parade. Even a former communist party official quit the party. I can tell that Chinese peoples' attitudes towards Falun Gong have changed a lot. Most people have a positive understanding of Falun Gong, and many Chinese believe that the Chinese Communist Party is about to crash.”

After the parade in Richmond, Falun Gong practitioners set up a booth at a city park, where they introduced Falun Gong to the public. Many people stopped by and asked for contact information for the local exercise sites.

The practitioners also participated in an evening parade in downtown Vancouver.