(MCS, Calgary: January 3, 2003)

Mon Buddhist Temple Calgary held a "New Year's Opening Meeing" on January 01, 2004 in Calgary, Canada.

The religious meeting was opened by worshiping to Lord Buddha and welcoming messages leaders of MBTC.

Reports of fiscal year 2003 and future plans were discussed; the group has collected over 5,000 Canadian $ from members and fund raising event.

A founding member of the Mon Community of Canada Nai Einda Monnya who traveled from Vancouver also delivered a message and Ms. Onngalee who recently visited India and Sri Lanka as pilgrimages shared her experience about the trip. Members were motivated to speed up the work plans of building the temple in the near future.

On December 25, the Mon Cultural Society (MCS) also held its AGM in Calgary.

Past activities and finance reported. Three panels on women affairs, MCS constitution, solidarity and networking were divided into 3 different groups and actively discussed for the future tasks. The meeting also unanimously agreed to change its name from Mon Cultural Society to Mon Canadian Society.

The Mon Community in Canada was first founded in 1995 by a group of Mon who gathered in Toronto during Christmas holiday season. The aims of the MCS are to promote and preserve Mon culture, literature, and social life and to assist the Mons in the homeland and in exile.