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Vancouver Shambhala Centre

5.0 (1 review)

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Vancouver Buddhist Temple - Front of Vancouver Buddhist Temple during the 2015 Powell Street Festival

Vancouver Buddhist Temple

5.0(2 reviews)
2.4 km•Downtown Eastside

* Temple at the heart of the community *…read more This area of Vancouver has seen a lot of change over the years, and a lot of displacement. One of the major groups that used to inhabit the area were the Japanese before World War II. They were interned and had their property and businesses taken away during the War, yet the area is still called Japantown by many. There are many remnants of the Japanese community if you look around carefully. Everything from the Japanese names in mosaic tile in front of many of the modern day non-Japanese businesses to the historical connection between the Japanese community and the neighbourhood. The Powell Street Festival highlights the community each year, and one of the things I appreciate about it is how the Japanese community is so good at integrating all members of the current community in the area. Everyone is welcome, and many aspects of the festival are designed to share both the Japanese culture and other cultures. It has a true community building feel to it. The Vancouver Buddhist Temple is at the heart of the festival and opens its doors. There was a nice ikebono display, some historical photo displays, a shiatsu clinic, and a table from the Japanese consulate explaining their various offerings. Just outside the Temple's doors the festival fills up the nearby streets and Oppenheimer park. You can find everything from a spam musubi booth to freshly made yakisoba to okonomiyaki to takoyaki to karaage, etc. Photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz_photos/vancouver-buddhist-church-vancouver?select=RVMiB7J595daOBluQvHb6A#RVMiB7J595daOBluQvHb6A The organizers setup everything from multiple music stages, story telling, walking tours of the neighbourhood and its history to cross-cultural tours focusing on the various groups of the area besides the Japanese (history of the Chinese, Indian, and First Nation activities in the area's history). There were also activities for all ages including even a suikawari game. (A Japanese game similar to hitting a pinata while blindfolded, but instead you hit a watermelon.) Many festivals around Vancouver are filled with the same typical corporate sponsors (I'm looking at you big banks and radio stations). None of those were in sight here. It was a very community feel overall, and made for a very nice day. All coordinated via the Vancouver Buddhist Temple headquarters! This Temple is truly at the heart of the multi-ethnic community that this area is.

What a wonderful place. Friendly people and a beautiful antique altar from Japan. Offering Dharma…read moresessions and a place to unwind.

The Evergreen Taoist Church of Canada - Evergreen Taoist Church of Canada

The Evergreen Taoist Church of Canada

4.0(2 reviews)
1.9 km•Chinatown

The Evergreen Taoist Church of Canada is not your everyday temple, or at least not in Thailand or…read moreMalaysia. The Evergreen Taoist Church of Canada is located on the third floor of 223 Keefer Street. All are welcome. You do not have to be Taoist to go and you are not required to give money, but some change is highly appreciated. The people in the Evergreen Taoist Church of Canada do not speak a lot of English, but some other people may. Feel free to ask questions. Just inside the door, is a cabinet that has fortune telling sticks. Feel free to open the top part of the cabinet and get a cup of the sticks. Knee and pray to God, Buddha, other deity and shake the cup until one stick falls out. Take the number on the stick and open the top drawer of the cabinet. Get the paper with the number of the stick and read your fortune. This is a good time to donate some change... The papers cost money.... You can take pictures inside the temple, but respect others. And as always, Have Fun!!!

If you are Taoist or are curious about Taoism, this temple is an excellent place to check out. We…read morewent here as part of a Chinatown tour and I am glad we did. The place can be a bit smoky from the incense burning but there's a person attending to the place and she was available to answer any questions in English. You could also try your luck at fortune telling. Just grab a canister filled with sticks and shake until 1 stick falls out. Look for the number on the stick and look it up in the nearby cabinet. Your fortune awaits on the piece of paper with your lucky number on it. No money is necessary but donations are always welcomed. =)

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The Evergreen Taoist Church of Canada

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Vancouver Shambhala Centre - buddhist_temples - Updated May 2026

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