The 2023-2024 Subchapters Committee Elections of the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) Toronto Chapter were held on November 5th, 6th, and 12th, at Markham, Toronto, and Waterloo locations respectively. Nineteen Subchapters’ Committees were elected. The Presidents and Vice Presidents of the Subchapters were also subsequently elected by the committee members. 

The Secretariat of the BLIA Toronto Chapter talked about this election. BLIA Toronto Chapter has 22 Subchapters. The Presidents of three Subchapters, the Radiance Subchapter, the Toronto Subchapter, and the Youth Subchapter, were appointed, so only 19 Subchapters held re-elections. In addition, to following the election regulations of the BLIA World Head quarters and using the electronic voting system of the BLIA World Headquarters, the Election Committee and the Election IT groups were carefully established during the election process. The elections were held at separate locations and at different times for the convenience of the members. Posters about the candidates were posted in Buddha’s Light Centers of Markham and Waterloo, and Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto before the Elections. All candidates’ information, ballot IDs and election website QR codes were emailed to subchapter members.

Kunyi Lin, the Head of the Election Committee, indicated that “The election went very smoothly with absentee voting, online voting at home, and in-person voting. There were large TV screens displaying the voting tally live for each subchapter. The election was open and fair”. On the day of voting, all the candidates were at the voting locations in-person to meet with their members.

In their inauguration speeches, the newly elected Presidents pledged to undertake this responsibility and put their ability to the greatest extent for their subchapter. The re-elected presidents also expressed their determination to continue uniting their members, grow and present their collective creativity.

Venerable Chueh Fan, the Abbess of FGS Temple of Toronto, and Mabel Ho, the President of the BLIA Toronto Chapter, also gave speeches to encourage the newly elected and re-elected members to work together to promote Buddha's Light Affairs. “It is for the future that we all believe in Buddha and practice Buddhism, therefore we must focus on passing down our faith,” said Mabel.

Translated by Anna Liu

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