31^st  Annual

November 13^th – 15^th, 2009

Registration Form – click here

Hosted by the Buddhist Temple of Southern Alberta

470-40^th Street South, Lethbridge, AB

Friday, November 13^th

EVENING

7:00 p.m.

Sensei Ken Yamada, Guest Speaker

Higashi Hongwanji Temple Berkeley California

     My Path to Buddhism

A personal journey that started from an idealistic understanding of the Dharma, leading to abandoning Buddhism for over a decade, then returning to the temple as a minister.

This session is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!!

Registration Required to attend

Saturday/Sunday Conference.

Registration Fee: $60.00 includes Banquet

Students with Valid Student ID can attend for FREE!

Click here for Registration Form

Saturday, November 14^th

MORNING

8:30             Registration

9:00             Opening of Conference

                    Children’s Program offered for Families - Click Here for Details

9:15             Sensei Yamada – Higashi Hongwanji Temple Berkeley California

Shakyamuni and Shinran

10:00          Refreshment Break

10:15          Dr. John Harding

Wild Geese – Studies of Buddhism in Canada

Buddhism in Canada is experiencing dramatic growth. In Wild Geese: Studies of Buddhism in Canada, I have collaborated with 15 other scholars to document this great change as it occurs. This book is the first to attempt both a comprehensive survey of the many forms of Buddhism flourishing in Canada and also present in-depth field studies of particular communities. My chapter on Jodo Shinshu in southern Alberta highlights the centrality of this community to the history of Buddhism in Canada and contrasts it with the newer immigrant communities in Canada’s urban centres. Other chapters offer history, case studies, statistics, and biographies. Wild Geese reflects critically on the concepts and theories presently used to describe Buddhism in the West and relates the development of Buddhism in Canada to developments in Buddhism globally.

11:00           Q & A / Networking Break

11:45          YUMMY ASSORTED SANDWICH BUFFET

                   Catered by LA Chefs

AFTERNOON

1:00            Sensei James Martin, Calgary Buddhist Temple

                   Topic: to be announced

1:45            Coffee Break

2:00             Small Group Discussion & Large Group Sharing

Topic: Lessons from the Day

3:00            Dharma in Music Session

4:00            Break before Supper

EVENING

5:00            Cash Bar Opens

5:30            FABULOUS & DELICOUS BANQUET!!!

Cordon Bleu Chicken with assorted salads of Strawberry Spinach, Traditional Caesar and Thai noodle; gourmet veggies of Zucchini Bruchetta, and Green Bean Almandine, roasted baby potatoes and to top it all off…..carrot cake!

Catered by LA Chefs

7:00            ENTERTAINMENT!!

Dharma School Skit

                   Southern Alberta Buddhist Choir

Japan Tour - Youth Report

SUNDAY, November 15^th

MORNING

10:30          Closing Service

                   Sutra Chanting

Sensei Yamada –

Life Lessons from Kiyozawa Manshi

Click here for background information on Kiyozawa Manshi

12:00           Lunch – Catered by Regent Restaurant!!