The Steveston Buddhist Temple will celebrate its 90th Anniversary this weekend with a commemorative anniversary service, a public lecture on Buddhism and a banquet.

The celebration will kick off with a public lecture on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. It will be given by guest speaker Dr. Jeff Wilson, author of the book Buddhism of the Heart: Reflections on Shin Buddhism and Inner Togetherness, who is also a Religious Studies professor at the University of Waterloo

article continues below

“Dr. Wilson will give a presentation introducing Shin Buddhism in a way that is accessible to everyone,” the temple said in a press release.

The public is also welcome to attend the 90th anniversary commemorative service at the temple at 4360 Garry Street on Sunday, Oct. 21 at 10:30 a.m.

As part of the celebration, the temple will also hold a 90th anniversary banquet Saturday night for people who have purchased tickets.

The first Steveston Buddhist Temple was built in 1928 in the heart of the village of Steveston and services were observed there until the outbreak of World War Two, when Japanese-Canadians were forcibly removed from the west coast by the Canadian government.

Following the war, in 1949 the second Steveston Buddhist Temple was established when the congregation returned to the coast and purchased the former Japanese Kindergarten building located just west of the corner of Chatham and No. 1 Rd.

In 1962, a five-acre property was purchased on Garry St. and a new temple was erected and completed in the fall of 1963. The temple has existed on the present site ever since and has been an integral part of the cultural mosaic of the village of Steveston. The present temple is the oldest standing Buddhist Temple in the lower mainland area.

Over the course of its 90-year history, the Steveston Buddhist Temple has served primarily as a religious centre where the congregation have gathered for regular Sunday services as well as for other religious functions such as funerals, weddings and memorial services.

The temple has also opened its doors to the public and has performed activities including establishing the first Japanese language classes in Steveston over 50 years ago, holding weekly public Bingo, music concerts, children’s play groups, and many bazaars and festivals, such as the annual Obon Festival that attracts upwards of 1000 visitors every summer.

“Looking to the future, the Steveston Buddhist Temple is in the process of building an independent seniors housing complex which will be open to the public,” said the press release.

“With the building of the new structure, we look forward to continuing being an important part of the Steveston community for years to come.”

For more information, check Steveston-Temple.ca.