By JENNIFER LEWINGTON
CITY HALL BUREAU CHIEF
The organizers of a Toronto visit from the Dalai Lama next year are seeking $1-million from the city and the province to support an event expected to draw 10,000 people.
The request was made yesterday when a spokesman for the Canadian Tibetan Association of Ontario appeared before the city’s economic development committee.
With the city looking to rebound from the hit on tourism from the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, several city councillors spoke warmly about the coming visit — worth an estimated $35-million to $53-million in economic value to the city.
“Any help we can give we should,” said Councillor Chris Korwin-Kuczynski, a committee member.
Some of the $1-million, if approved, would help pay for security for the Dalai Lama and for the cost of renting the National Trade Centre, where the event is scheduled for April 24-May 6, 2004.
The proposed financial assistance is about one-third of the total $3-million cost of the event, says Gelek Gyaltong, director of security and government relations for the Tibetan association.
The group, which represents about 3,000 Tibetans in Ontario, says it has so far raised $100,000 toward the event.
Later, Mayor Mel Lastman said “there will probably have to be” some financial help for the event, especially for security.
During the visit of Pope John Paul to Toronto last July, the city and senior governments provided assistance for security, transportation and other issues. The city spent between $6-million and $8-million in support of the Pope’s visit, which drew more than 200,000 visitors.
The visit by the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan leader and spiritual head of Buddhists around the world, is expected to draw Buddhists from Canada and the United States.
The event is built around a special ritual for peace and non-violence, known as Kalachakra or “wheel of time,” with the Dalai Lama as the lead religious teacher.
In addition, the Dalai Lama is expected to hold a public event, possibly at SkyDome, that is expected to attract other tourists.
The Buddhist leader will be in Vancouver and Ottawa before coming to Toronto next year.
