Photo :Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, the leader of Tai Ji Men, leads a group of about 70 members—ranging in age from 7 to 79 and from all walks of life—to participate in the East York Canada Day Parade.

 

Spreading Conscience, Hope, Peace, and Joy on Canada’s 158th Birthday

July 4, 2025

On July 1, 2025, Canada celebrated its 158th birthday with nationwide festivities. One of the major annual events in the Greater Toronto Area—the 69th East York Canada Day Parade—kicked off at 10:30 a.m. from Dieppe Park and proceeded along Cosburn Avenue to Stan Wadlow Park. As the city’s longest-running Canada Day parade, the event was filled with excitement and community spirit. This year marked Tai Ji Men’s debut at the celebration, adding brilliance and cultural richness to the festivities.

 

Photo:Tai Ji Men presents the peacock dance, symbolizing love and peace, to encourage people to face adversity with an open heart and transform challenges into hope and light.

 

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, the leader of Tai Ji Men, led the procession while riding in a convertible parade car. He was joined by approximately 70 Tai Ji Men members, aged 7 to 79, from diverse professional backgrounds. Together, they formed a vibrant and meaningful cultural team combining ancient Eastern and Western wisdom. The group presented elegant peacock and phoenix dances, spirited Energy Boys & Energy Girls, joyful drums, and powerful martial arts demonstrations. Their performances, rooted in years of qigong practice, conveyed inner strength and grace while spreading positive energy through messages of conscience, hope, peace, and joy.

 

Photo:Tai Ji Men presents the purple phoenix dance, symbolizing auspiciousness and prosperity, to bring love and blessings to all.

 

Spectators along the route were captivated by Tai Ji Men’s presentation. Elizabeth Lessard shared her excitement: “I think it’s beautiful! It’s colorful. It’s full of energy! Everyone’s smiling. The music’s beautiful! The costumes…It’s fantastic!” Others echoed similar praise, saying: “That was our favorite part of the parade. They were so awesome!” “Come back to the parade!”

 

Photo:The traditional art form of Taiwanese opera, a cultural treasure, is widely cherished and well-received.

 

Among the highlights was the peacock dance, symbolizing love and peace. According to legend, the peacock can ingest poisons and pollutants and release fragrance. Through this dance, Tai Ji Men encourages people worldwide to approach adversity with a broad and open heart, turning challenges into hope and light. Dr. Emma Chen, a dentist and peacock dance performer, shared, “Through practicing the peacock dance, I’ve learned that I must first purify myself and become a better person in order to truly embody the spirit of the peacock, spreading positivity.”

 

Photo:The lively and energetic performance by the Energy Boys and Energy Girls spread joy and positive energy to all.

 

Another highlight was the elegant purple phoenix, a symbol of auspiciousness and prosperity, which brought love and blessings to the crowd. The energetic drums, performed by younger members, filled the air with vitality, expressing the joy and health they gained from qigong practice.

 

Photo:Tai Ji Men’s young members perform the joyful drums, conveying health and happiness through their powerful and lively rhythms.

 

Tai Ji Men’s martial artists showcased strong and powerful formations, delivering the core message of martial arts: ending conflict and promoting peace. Their sharp, precise movements reflected modern society’s pursuit of accuracy and efficiency, encouraging people to move forward with courage and let the light of peace shine into every corner of the world.

 

Photo :The powerful and dynamic double-stick martial arts formation embodies the spirit of martial arts—resolving conflict and fostering peace.

 

Tai Ji Men’s youth members, through regular qigong practice, have developed an optimistic outlook on life. As Energy Boys and Energy Girls, they shared their happiness and energy through a dynamic performance that lit up the parade route.

 

At the parade’s conclusion in Stan Wadlow Park, Tai Ji Men’s stage performances—including elegant dances, Taiwanese opera, and martial arts—received enthusiastic applause and left a lasting impression on the audience. Ann Chen, a Tai Ji Men member and licensed attorney in both Taiwan and the U.S., said, “It’s an honor to participate in such a meaningful event. I wish everyone happiness, peace, and health! We warmly invite all of you to join Tai Ji Men, practice qigong, and rediscover balance and well-being—to change your life and destiny!”

 

Photo:Tai Ji Men makes vibrant debut at East York Canada Day Parade.

 

Erica Wu, a recent graduate of Columbia University, added, “In today’s world of intensifying climate change and global conflicts, the values of conscience, love, and peace promoted by Tai Ji Men are more important than ever. This wasn’t just a cultural performance—it was a message of hope for a more harmonious and sustainable future.”

 

Joanne Bailey, Parade Coordinator of the East York Canada Day Parade, praised the group: “The Tai Ji Men was an incredible addition to our Canada Day Parade in East York. They are so vibrant, colorful, so well-performing. I was totally blown away by everything they brought to the parade today.” She added that the message of conscience, love, and peace conveyed through their presentation is exactly what the world needs today. Expressing her enthusiasm for future collaboration, she said, “I hope you come back to our event!”

 

About Tai Ji Men in Toronto:
Tai Ji Men is a nonprofit organization committed to education. Its mission is to educate individuals—especially those navigating the pressures of modern life—on the ancient wisdom of qigong, the philosophy of yin and yang, and the principles of balance and harmony. Through this holistic approach, Tai Ji Men empowers people to relieve stress, restore well-being, and cultivate a healthy body, mind, and spirit.

 

The first Tai Ji Men chapter in Canada is located in Toronto at 125 King Street East (Toronto, ON, M5C 1G6). It offers high-quality educational programs that blend physical training with philosophical guidance. Tai Ji Men Qigong is easy to learn and highly effective. With consistent practice, individuals of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds can attain what Tai Ji Men calls the five treasures of life: health, wealth, wisdom, joy, and happiness.