WELCOME TO DLF—CANADA

DLF-Canada can be contacted at canada@dlfound.org or by phoning 450.465.2946. The DLF Canada reviews publications and its own activities online at the website of The Dalai Lama Foundation.

Thubten Samdup serves as the National Chair of The Dalai Lama Foundation—Canada. “Sam,” as he is called by friends, is building a network of supporters to bring the movement for grass roots education in ethics and peace to communities across Canada.

Samdup is well-known within the Tibetan community and in his adopted city of Montréal. He was named to Montréal's “who's who” list of prominent citizens for his many years of community work including the founding of a national advocacy group, the Canada Tibet Committee, in 1987. Samdup served as National President of the CTC for 17 years. Among his many other achievements, Samdup was presented in October 2005 with the Unsung Hero of Compassion Award, an honour that was bestowed in San Francisco by the Dalai Lama himself. On September 21, 2008, he was honored as Pacifist of the Year at a ceremony in Montreal.

Samdup offered these reflections as he begins this new phase in his work: “After 20 years of lobbying Canadian politicians and raising public awareness, I have come to realize that this approach on its own, will not achieve peace in Tibet or in other areas of conflict around the world. Knowledge must be informed by wisdom—an ethical base that goes beyond self-interest. I truly believe that the basic principles for ethical living as promoted in the teachings of the Dalai Lama will find resonance with individuals and their communities. Ultimately this approach will contribute more concretely towards changing societies from within.”

In addition to supporting the DLF's mission of promoting education for ethics and peace, Samdup hopes to build a national peace coalition to advance concepts such as compassion and non-violence. He is currently working with City of Montréal officials to declare September 21st as an International Day of Peace—an initiative that parallels similar efforts at the United Nations. Montréal is well-suited to take the lead in this area. It is home to numerous diverse cultural communities and bears the proud motto “Well-being through Harmony.”

Samdup has recently established a new organization, “Tibet Innovations,” in order to tie professional capacity providers to small community-level livelihood initiatives within the Tibetan diaspora. Samdup feels that the goals of Tibet Innovations will complement those of the DLF through an emphasis on human responsibility, cross-border dialogue and altruism.

“I will focus my time in the coming years to building coalitions in the interest of tolerance and peace” Samdup said. “I believe this is the best way to represent myself as a Tibetan and as a Canadian. I am honoured to have been given this opportunity to pursue my goal as the National Chair of DLF Canada.”