Canada: Falun Dafa Warmly Welcomed in Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade

(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners participated in the Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade, the biggest parade of the year in Winnipeg, Canada, on November 19, 2022, delighting the spectators. 

Winnipeg is the eighth largest city in Canada and an important transportation hub in Western Canada. The Santa Claus Parade has been a tradition in Winnipeg since 1909. It officially kicks off the Christmas festival season each year and is the most attended parade in the city.

This year was the 10th time that Falun Dafa practitioners have participated in this parade. The parade was suspended during the pandemic and resumed this year, but started in the afternoon, earlier than in previous years. Despite the day being the coldest in recent weeks, and the normal temperature being -13 degrees Fahrenheit (-25 degrees Celsius) at this time of year, people came to watch the parade with enthusiasm. Many parents brought their children, chairs, blankets, and hot chocolate.

This year, the theme of Falun Dafa’s float entry was Zhuan Falun, the main book of Falun Dafa, and the Falun Dafa principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. The Falun Dafa float had a huge lotus flower and the book Zhuan Falun on top of it. Many small lotus flowers decorated the float.

Zhuan Falun, the main book of Falun Dafa, was the theme of this year’s Falun Dafa float entry

Practitioners from Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatoon played the song “Falun Dafa is Good” with waist drums. Their performance brought peace and joy to the audience. People applauded and cheered along with the drumbeat.

Practitioners perform on their waist drums

Winnipeg’s main media outlets, CTV News and CBC, covered the practitioners’ waist drum performance in their reports. Some other media outlets also posted photos and videos about the performance.

CTV News covered the practitioners’ waist drum performance (website screenshot)

CBC covered the practitioners’ waist drum performance (screenshot of online video)

Practitioners walking in the parade held banners with the words “Falun Dafa” and “The World Needs Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance” written in both English and Chinese. The message was welcomed by many along the parade route. Some people applauded, some waved, and some exclaimed loudly, “It’s so beautiful!”

Practitioners hold banners in both Chinese and English

Several Chinese people pressed their hands in front of their chests to show respect to practitioners, and others shouted enthusiastically “Falun Dafa.” Some audience members came over after the parade and patted practitioners on the shoulder and said, “Well done!”