(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners held a group practice and artistic performances on Parliament Hill in Ottawa to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day on May 5, 2026. Nineteen Members of Parliament participated in the event and gave speeches. They expressed support for the practitioners and condemned the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution and transnational repression.

World Falun Dafa Day is on May 13 and commemorates the public introduction of the practice in China in 1992, as well as the birthday of the founder of Falun Dafa.

The event drew many tourists and residents, who watched and learned about the spiritual practice. After learning about the background of this event, many people expressed their agreement with Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.

Performances during the celebration on Parliament Hill on May 5 (Minghui.org)

Group exercises on Parliament Hill on May 5 (Minghui.org)

Practitioners talk with passersby about Falun Dafa and the CCP’s human rights abuses (Minghui.org)

Reporter: Enjoying the Positive Energy

Brook said he admired the courage of practitioners in China. (Minghui.org)

Brook, who is a reporter, said he knew about Falun Dafa, so he came over to observe the rally when he saw the practitioners on Parliament Hill. “I am pleased to see these people here,” he said. “Your banners spread energy: peaceful, kind, and compassionate. I feel this is great. It is an important moment.”

Falun Dafa's principles are Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. These principles resonated with Brook, and he said, “First, honesty. In this new era shaped by artificial intelligence, our priority must be uncovering the truth—grasping the reality of the world as it is—so we can prepare for what lies ahead. Second, compassion. Everyone has flaws, and even with the best intentions, we can drift off course, choosing self-interest over the greater good. That’s why compassion isn’t optional; it’s a principle we have to actively uphold.”

Alongside the celebration of World Falun Dafa Day, many practitioners in China are still being persecuted. The CCP even infiltrates other countries, including Canada. Brook said he had heard about these issues and wished things would move in the right direction. “What I can do is to speak out to let your message be heard,” he said. He said he admired the courage of practitioners in China.

Medical Education Consultant: Practicing Falun Gong Lets Me Relax

Ahlim (first on left), an Ottawa resident, learns the exercises from a practitioner on Parliament Hill on May 5. (Minghui.org)

Ahlim at the rally on Parliament Hill on May 5 (Minghui.org)

Ahlim is a medical education consultant. She said she wanted to join the meditation when she saw the group exercises on Parliament Hill. “I think sitting meditation can relieve stress and soothe the mind, bringing greater inner peace,” she said. “But I have never tried it. When I came here and saw you doing meditation, I thought it was wonderful.”

She learned the first exercise from a practitioner. She said, “I feel great. I tried hard to stop my thoughts. I think this is important. It can let me pause what I was doing, relax, and connect with my body.” She said she would learn more online.

When she heard about the Falun Dafa principles, she said that her first thought was inner peace. “Inner peace means a pure soul. Inner peace means healing—no more stress, no more distracting thoughts, no more malice; it is akin to connecting with true humanity—that is peace.”

The Public Likes the Principles

Zined and her husband Teaha wish practitioners in China can practice freely in the near future. (Minghui.irg)

Zined and her husband Teaha passed by Parliament Hill while they were out walking and learned about Falun Dafa from a practitioner. Zined said, “I have not seen this rally before. They look very kind.” Teaha said, “For me those colors are attractive, yellow and blue. Those flowers are beautiful.”

“We need to be sincere, kind to others, and caring. This inner cultivation—meditation and engaging in all these practices—serves to purify your soul and help you become a better person. I find this truly beautiful,” Zined said. She said she would attend an online free teaching class.

Deddie said the principles of Falun Dafa benefit everyone. (Minghui.org)

Deddie, from Saskatchewan, had accompanied her husband to Ottawa to attend a conference. She saw the practitioners’ event on Parliament Hill and said she was happy to see a group of people following Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance gathered together. She said the principles are what “everybody should practice and lets us be good people. It benefits ourselves.”

Deddie said she learned about the persecution of practitioners in China from a TV program. “I think I saw it on Fifth Estate, including the news about the CCP’s spying in Canada,” she said. “This appalled me. It should not happen. Absolutely not.”

New Practitioner: Falun Dafa Lets Me Find Inner Peace

Practitioner Hien and her daughter at the rally on Parliament Hill on May 5 (Minghui.org)

Practitioner Hien from Montreal started practicing Falun Dafa in September 2023. As a new immigrant, she felt great pressure at work, leading to a deterioration in her heath. In July of the same year, she was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and required inpatient treatment.

Upon hearing about her situation, her mother, who had started practicing Dafa, asked her to return to Vietnam and introduced Falun Dafa to her. Around one month after practicing Dafa, Hien’s health became better. “I did not take any medicine,” she said. “I noted that practicing Falun Dafa benefited my health and mind.”

She said hyperthyroidism complicates pregnancy and must be treated. After returning to Montreal, she joined local practitioners for the group exercises outdoors. In August next year, she gave birth to her daughter. “I bring her here to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day,” she said.

“I used to have many goals; I wanted to have a successful career and become wealthy. But along with my studying Dafa, I feel better and think that those things we pursue in life are not that important. The important thing is our health and inner peace.”

Upon the arrival of Falun Dafa Day, she said, “I appreciate Master for teaching us Falun Dafa. It helps me and many people across the world. We have benefited a lot from Falun Dafa and have become better people. Thank you, Master. Thank you, Falun Dafa, for letting more and more people in the world be better.”

Practitioner Pamela talks with passersby about Dafa and the persecution on Parliament Hill on May 5. (Minghui.org)

Pamela saw an advertisement in 1998 that read, “Do you feel stressed and tired? Do you like to relax?” She realized she did and called the number on the post.

She went to the park that the practitioner had told her was the local practice site and saw several people doing the sitting meditation. She said, “I could not believe that the music was so melodious and that they looked so serene. It touched me. They then taught me the first exercise and the sitting meditation. I sat for 15 minutes. Though I did not get into a state of tranquility, I felt good.”

She browsed the Internet to learn more about Falun Dafa, but most of the published teachings were in Chinese. Later more and more teachings in English were posted. She downloaded and printed them to read until books were published.

She talked about the changes she experienced after practicing. “I thought I was a good person and was kind with empathy. But when I learned about the new standards, I realized there was a lot of room for improvement. I am improving, though many years have passed, I am still improving. I still find new issues. I am happy to practice Dafa,” she said.

Pamela appreciates Master: “I admire him very much. Even when I first saw him, I felt he was kind.”