(Minghui.org) On June 15-16, the Toronto Falun Gong group's Divine Land Marching Band and waist drum team participated in parades in three nearby towns, including the Music Festival Parade in Burlington on Saturday morning, the Flower City Parade in Brampton on Saturday afternoon, and the Multicultural Festival Parade in Oshawa on Sunday.
The Divine Land Marching Band
More than 20 groups participated in the Music Festival Parade in Burlington. Scott Johnson, the organizer, said that they have invited the Divine Land Marching Band to this festival several years in a row. “I've seen them in many other parades,” Mr. Johnson said. “The waist drum team is also great. They are full of energy. This group is really popular. I like them too. I hope that they can come every year.”
Parade organizer Scott Johnson is a fan of the Divine Land Marching Band
On Saturday afternoon, practitioners traveled to Brampton right after the parade in Burlington. Before the parade took off, the mayor of Brampton passed by practitioners' group. He waved to practitioners and said, “Thank you for coming!”
At the Multicultural Festival Parade in Oshawa on Sunday, city council member Nester Pidwerbecki said that he saw the band's performances every year. “They are exceptionally good,” he said. “I really enjoyed their performances.” He welcomed Falun Gong practitioners to this multicultural town.
Mr. Xu and his wife are from Nanjing, China. They now live in Burlington. Ms. Xu likes the Divine Land Marching Band very much. “We have seen the band many times. Every year, my wife takes videos of the band. This is a free country. Falun Gong practitioners can express themselves. They are so energetic. The communist party is a tyrannical dictatorship. They should not suppress Falun Gong,” Mr. Xu said.
Ms. Chen from Shenzhen, China, has lived in Toronto for two years. She attended the parade in Burlington with her 13-year-old daughter. They talked to practitioners before the parade began. Practitioners told her about the persecution of Falun Gong in China and encouraged her to quit the communist party. She happily agreed. When she saw the band's performances, she was amazed and said, “You cannot see this in China.”
Josie and Mary, local residents in Burlington, also liked the band. “They are full of energy. The performances are uplifting. Very impressive,” Josie said. “I am glad to see them again this year. I hope they come every year.”
Josie and Mary
Mr. Jian, a third generation migrant from Guangdong, China, has lived in Burlington for 26 years. “I never saw such a large Chinese group in the parade before. I am excited and happy. My roots are in China, although I was born in Canada. I am excited to see a Chinese group in the parade. I will try to learn more about Falun Gong on internet. Thank you for bringing happiness to our town,” he said.
Mr. Jian welcomes Falun Gong practitioners to Burlington.
Bettyann from Brampton applauded for the band. When she learned that the members of both the band and waist drum team are Falun Gong practitioners, she said: “Falun Dafa is really good. It is beautiful.” She wanted to know more about Falun Dafa. After talking to practitioners, she took informational materials and said she would read more on the internet.
