Remarks by the Honourable Judith Guichon, OBC
Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
Lotus Light Charity Society 2013 Annual World Peace and Harmony Ceremony
July 20, 2013
Master Lian Tzi, President of Lotus Light Charity Society:
Thank you for the invitation to join you at this Lotus Light Charity Society‘s 2013 World Peace and Harmony Ceremony. I cannot think of any better reason to get together than to focus on bringing peace and positive energy to our struggling world. As one who has lived on and stewarded the land for 40 years, I know that there is nothing in this world that disrupts agriculture and desecrates the land like civil unrest and war.
We in Canada and in British Columbia in particular, are so fortunate that we live in a land with a long history of peace and good governance. But around the world there are many who are not as fortunate as we. In addition, within our own communities there are many also who struggle just to meet the daily requirements of food and shelter. It is wonderful to read that the Lotus Light Charity Society is an international, non-denominational charitable organization with chapters around the world and with a goal to benefit all people. I think that the motto, “through caring and learning, we help to build a better tomorrow” is a wonderful foundation upon which to build a healthy community. All of the four areas in which the society is active are also important supports for strong healthy communities. Educational advancement, social service development, medical assistance and cultural awareness are indeed the areas of social development that contribute to peace.
The list of organizations which the Lotus Light Charity Society has supported is long and varied. I am especially impressed with the annual “Blanket and Winter Clothing Charity Drive” held every Christmas for the last 17 years and the distribution of blankets, sleeping bags and winter clothing to those who are not as fortunate as the rest of us. It may seem like a small gesture to those of us who have never struggled, but on a cold winter night no gift could be any more welcome along with warm food in the stomach. These caring donations, along with the donation of large quantities of rice to food banks, are the basics that make a difference for so many around the world who fight just to survive.
Once again thank you for the invitation to join you today for this World Peace and Harmony Ceremony and thank you for your support for students through your Charity Scholarships presented today. It is wonderful to see organizations such as yours working with the front line emergency personal who work in our communities to keep us all safe and to help in emergency situations. Thank you for all you do to make this community a gentler, more peaceful community for all of us.
