Tensions boiled over at a town-planning meeting held on 18 November in Three Rivers in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island (PEI) in response to the development of a large Buddhist monastery on the island. The town has reportedly hired security guards to ensure the safety of residents after a message was shared online that stated: “It’s time to get the guns out and sharpen the knives.” (CBC News)
The town’s move has come in response to heated online rhetoric from PEI residents, who have expressed displeasure over the purchase of more than 485 hectares of local land by Buddhist monks and nuns, and their supporters, for a monastic complex.
The monastics have stated that they were disappointed by some of the views expressed during the meeting and on social media. “It was actually quite disheartening,” said Sabrina Chiang, a frequent spokesperson for the monastery’s 600 Buddhist nuns, who are mainly from Taiwan. (Yahoo News)
Some local residents have accused the monastics of being agents of the Chinese Communist Party, with speculation that some other outside group might actually be behind the land purchase.
One nun, Ven. Chiang, responded to the accusations, saying, “It’s a really strong allegation. And we are not part of the communist party, we are just students of the Buddha. We have no political ties with any group.” (Yahoo News)
Another nun, Ven. Joanna Ho, stated the monastics were grateful to PEI for giving them a safe, stable place to study, offering freedom of religion and respect for individual human rights. (Yahoo News)
The nuns held an open house at the new monastery in July, inviting local residents to visit the premises in the hope of dispelling some of the rumors that have been circulating about them and their organization. The event was attended by 1,600 people.
The nuns’ final objective is to build a large complex with the capacity to house up 1,400 monastics. According to the master plan put forth by the Great Wisdom Buddhist Institute and filed with the provincial authorities, the completed monastery will be composed of six buildings on an area of 121 hectares, featuring worship space, dormitories, recreation facilities, and lecture halls. The monastery grounds will also be home to gardens, a greenhouse, and walking trails, along with a parking lot for 315 vehicles.
Because a proposed complex of this size requires the local council to make changes to zoning bylaws, an environmental planning strategy for the construction of the monastery was discussed in June. The institute has also worked to address concerns from local residents regarding the impact on traffic, reminding them that most of the nuns do not own cars.
At the recent meeting, Victoria Cross resident Janice MacBeth voiced concern over changing zoning bylaws, in particular about how zoning would be handled in areas where the nuns live in a communal setting. Media reports noted that discussions online have speculated that this could lead to groups building their own hospitals and police stations.
“Our provincial government and our municipality is supporting the development of gated communities not open to the general public,” MacBeth told planning board members. “The divide between rich newcomers and poor Islanders has never been as wide, as homes and property values continue to rise and undermine our young families’ ability to live in Three Rivers in the future.” (Yahoo News)
In spite of all the negativity, the nuns said they remained positive about the future and were unconcerned about their safety as long as threats remained online. Reflecting on PEI as a whole, Ven. Chiang stated: “The kind people and the kindness in PEI makes PEI the beautiful place that it is, even though there is this negativity going on on social media, I do not feel it represents Prince Edward Island.” (Yahoo News)
See more
Buddhist monks and nuns on P.E.I. ‘disheartened’ by negative comments about land ownership (Yahoo news)
Tensions between Three Rivers Councillors and some residents spill over at planning meeting (CBC News)
Related news reports from BDG
Buddhist Nuns Unveil New Monastery in Prince Edward Island, Canada
Students Leave Buddhist Institute on Canada’s Prince Edward Island after Opposition to Expansion
Great Wisdom Buddhist Institute on Prince Edward Island, Canada, Faces Local Opposition
Canada’s Prince Edward Island Approves 120-hectare Monastery for Buddhist Nuns
