On June 14, Toronto practitioners were invited to attend the Horizon Inter-faith Council annual banquet. This non-profit organization is one of the largest multi-faith organizations in Toronto that consists of over 20 faith groups.

At the banquet, the Horizon announced the appreciation award from Falun Dafa to Professor Kunlun Zhang. The 120 attendees from over 20 faith groups, including a number of leaders, listened to the detailed announcement (see below) with great attention. When Professor Zhang walked to the front to receive the award, the whole room gave him a spontaneous and instantaneous standing ovation for a long period of time. Many people's eyes were wet. At the end of the banquet, many came to Professor Zhang to thank him for bringing the truth to them. One working staff of the Council told us that she thinks that the "I Support Falun Dafa" pin is a great idea and she would like to donate money so we can make more pins to spread the truth.

We were deeply touched by all of this and were glad that so many people had the opportunity to hear about Dafa and about the vicious persecution that is taking place in China. We smiled to our benevolent teacher from our heart.

Master Li says: "At present, humankind's every day is arranged according to Dafa's needs", and "Everything Dafa disciples are doing at present is creating the future" (from his article "What Are Supernormal Abilities"). The daily activities of practitioners may seem ordinary, but they include many benevolent arrangements from Master Li. As Dafa particles, let's all step out to clarify the truth and disclose the evil while positioning ourselves within the turning Falun. Let's cherish each single day.

Appreciation Award From Falun Dafa

Professor Kunlun Zhang is a Canadian citizen, currently living in Ottawa, who is a world renowned sculptor. He is the Past Director of the Sculpture Department at Shandong Art College in China, as well as a former visiting scholar to McGill University. More recently, Professor Zhang has received media attention for having been arrested and detained illegally in China for practicing Falun Gong. Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, is a peaceful practice of body, mind and spirit. The people who practice Falun Dafa follow the teachings of Mr. Li Hongzhi, and do their best to conduct their lives by the universal principle of "Truth-Compassion-Forbearance", as set forth in Mr. Li's book, "Zhuan Falun. This includes strengthening one's moral values, and practicing five sets of graceful, meditative exercises. For many years Falun Gong received much support and many awards from the Chinese government, for the health and well being it had brought to citizens throughout China. Early in 1999, the government in Beijing conducted a survey and discovered that over 70 million people in China practiced Falun Gong. Because that number exceeded the membership of the [party' name omitted] party, Jiang Zemin and his accomplices instituted a vicious crackdown. Since then, thousands of practitioners have suffered torture, rape and beatings in labour camps, and hundreds have died in police custody. In November 2000, Professor Zhang was sentenced to a forced-labour camp for 3 years without trial. He suffered brutal mental and physical torture including electrical shocks while in police custody. With help from the Canadian government, human rights organizations and the Canadian people he was released in January 2001 and returned to Canada. Since his return, Professor Zhang has devoted all his time and energy to appeal for those who are still suffering in China. In the past four months he has traveled to 12 countries, appealing for a global effort to stop the brutal persecution in China. He is also working to free another Canadian resident from Montreal, Ms. Ying Zhu who was arrested and detained mid-May, 2001 while on her way to visit her ailing mother in China, simply for being a Falun Gong practitioner. Professor Zhang says, "Persecution memories are extremely painful and are beyond words. Every time I recall those darkest days in my life, I feel as if I am still being mentally tortured. The pain remains vivid, the memories haunting. I share with you my painful experience so that you may know the truth. I endure this pain again so that there may be justice." Professor Zhang's experience and dedication to upholding freedom of belief in China, and his belief in the universal principle of "Truth-Compassion-Forbearance," is both honourable and important. His selflessness and courage have inspired thousands of people in many countries, especially Canada, to support truth and justice.