Fo Guang Shan Announces Plans For Richmond Community Centre

Franktown Road Temple Will Be Re-Purposed To Include Basketball Court When New Temple Is Built

It was a surprise announcement, and it will make a big difference in the community.

The current building housing the Fo Guang Shan Temple on Franktown on the western edge of the village will eventually be repurposed into a basketball court and a community centre for the entire community to use.

The announcement was made during the inaugural Global Veg Run celebration at the temple on Sat., July 16.

The International Buddhist Progress Society of Ottawa-Carleton built the traditional Chinese-style temple more than three years ago. They have a lot of land at their site at 6688 Franktown Road, and have plans for a larger, permanent temple on the site. The current building will be turned into a basketball court and community centre.

“This will be something for everyone in the community to use,” said Abass Yung Ku.

The Global VegRun is a virtual vegan run to promote vegetarianism and the protection and care of the earth. Close to 200 people attended the event, which included entertainment and a tree planting ceremony.

Among the guests who spoke at the event were Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari and Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation Executive Director Dianne Downey.

Ghamari presented the Abass with a scroll on behalf of the Province of Ontario commemorating the event.

Downey said the foundation is delighted to be working with the temple.

“Because so much of the watershed is privately owned, we have to work with our partners to do good things,” she said. “We know that by working together we can bring many lasting and important environmental efforts not only to the Fo Guong Shon Temple, but to the entire watershed community.”