{"id":544577,"date":"2026-03-18T13:37:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T13:37:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/544577\/"},"modified":"2026-03-18T13:37:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T13:37:11","slug":"dedication-perseverance-and-commitment-ontario-lawmaker-awards-shen-yun-for-20-years-of-performances","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/544577\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Dedication, Perseverance, and Commitment\u2019: Ontario Lawmaker Awards Shen Yun for 20 Years of Performances"},"content":{"rendered":"

MISSISSAUGA, Canada\u2014Ontario lawmaker Sheref Sabawy presented Shen Yun<\/a> Performing Arts with an award to mark the classical Chinese dance company\u2019s 20 years of performing globally as he attended its matinee show at the the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, Ont., on March 14.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour success is a powerful reflection of your dedication, perseverance, and commitment. Together, we celebrate the progress that you have made,\u201d wrote Mr. Sabawy, member of provincial parliament (MPP) for the Mississauga-Erin Mills riding in Ontario.<\/p>\n

Noting that Ontario\u2019s \u201cspirit is exemplified through dedication, good character, and community leadership,\u201d Mr. Sabawy said, \u201cwe extend our heartfelt congratulations to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is the dedication of individuals like you that ensures our province continues to thrive and prosper,\u201d his congratulatory letter read. \u201cWe celebrate your progress and look forward to witnessing your future success. We offer our deepest appreciation of your invaluable and ongoing contributions to our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shen Yun<\/a> is a world-renowned classical Chinese dance and music company based in New York that was founded in 2006. The company aims to revive China\u2019s 5,000 years of culture that was nearly lost under communism and to bring it to audiences around the world.\"Mississauga<\/p>\n

Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish’s letter to Shen Yun Performing Arts ahead of its 2026 Mississauga performances.<\/p>\n

\u2018Wave of Excitement\u2019Several other lawmakers in Mississauga also sent greetings letters to Shen Yun, congratulating the company on its 20th anniversary and its return to Canada as part of its 2026 global tour.<\/p>\n

Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish said there is \u201calways a wave of excitement and anticipation for Shen Yun and its artists\u201d when the show returns to Mississauga each year.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the last 20 years, you have become the world\u2019s premier classical Chinese dance<\/a> and music<\/a> company,\u201d Ms. Parrish wrote in a letter. \u201cDeservedly, you have become a global cultural phenomenon that has reached over 1 million spectators on 5 continents.\u201d<\/p>\n

She noted that Shen Yun has \u201cpropelled dynamic growth\u201d in the arts across Canada and Mississauga, as the performances promote Chinese artistry, culture, and performance.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are always enriched from your offering of traditional Chinese culture, arts, and values. Your portrayal of 5,000 years of heritage provides us with a stunning theatrical journey time and again,\u201d Ms. Parrish said.<\/p>\n

\"Mississauga<\/p>\n

Mississauga Deputy Mayor John Kovac\u2019s letter to Shen Yun Performing Arts ahead of its 2026 performances in Mississauga, Ont.<\/p>\n

\u2018Truly Commendable\u2019Mississauga Deputy Mayor John Kovac said he was pleased to acknowledge Shen Yun\u2019s 20th anniversary and applauded the performing arts company\u2019s \u201ccontinued efforts to educate, uplift, and inspire audiences across Canada and around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShen Yun\u2019s dedication to reviving China\u2019s 5,000 years of traditional culture and sharing universal values such as compassion, courage, loyalty, and freedom is truly commendable,\u201d Mr. Kovac wrote in a letter. \u201cYour performances offer audiences a remarkable opportunity to experience classical Chinese dance and music while celebrating cultural diversity and artistic excellence.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recognize the extraordinary challenges<\/a> Shen Yun has faced, including international pressures and attempts to disrupt its mission. Your resilience and commitment to preserving traditional culture in the face of such adversity are inspiring.\u201d\"MPP<\/p>\n

MPP Rudy Cuzzetto’s letter to Shen Yun Performing Arts ahead of its 2026 Mississauga performances.<\/p>\n

\u2018Timeless Principles\u2019MPP Rudy Cuzzetto, of the Mississauga-Lakeshore riding, wished Shen Yun success in its 2026 performances, noting that the company continues \u201cto inspire audiences and celebrate the richness of Chinese culture.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor more than two decades, Shen Yun has been dedicated to reviving and presenting China\u2019s 5,000 years of traditional culture, arts, and values to audiences in more than 150 cities around the world,\u201d Mr. Cuzzetto said in a letter.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough music, classical Chinese dance, and storytelling<\/a>, Shen Yun celebrates timeless principles\u2014compassion, courage, loyalty, freedom, and reverence\u2014that resonate across cultures and generations.\u201d\u2018Focused on History\u2019Former MP Wladyslaw Lizon, who was also at the Shen Yun performance in Mississauga on March 14, said that although he has seen the company perform several times before, \u201cthis one is quite different from the past ones.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt does refer to current times and politics, but it\u2019s really focused on history, on different dances from different groups, both from regional and ethnic groups,\u201d Mr. Lizon said after the show.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, Shen Yun cannot be seen<\/a> in China. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has engaged in decades of political campaigns to eradicate China\u2019s cultural heritage, as it regards Shen Yun and the revival of ancient culture as a threat.<\/p>\n

Mr. Lizon said he is \u201ctruly surprised\u201d that the CCP tries to \u201ccut off the roots of the tradition that\u2019s several thousand years old.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat should not be happening, because whatever happened in the past, we cannot change. We should be proud of it and build on it, not destroy it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Besides performances of classical Chinese dance and Chinese ethnic and folk dances, Shen Yun also features dances that tell a story. Among them are dances that portray the true story of Falun Dafa practitioners being persecuted for their faith in China today. Falun Dafa<\/a> is a peaceful spiritual practice that teaches the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe still have to remember that people in communist China are persecuted, Falun Dafa and other groups are persecuted, [for their beliefs that don\u2019t align with the current policies,\u201d Mr. Lizon said. \u201cI truly hope that this ends soon,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\"Mississauga<\/p>\n

Mississauga city councillor Brad Butt\u2019s letter to Shen Yun Performing Arts ahead of its 2026 Mississauga performances.<\/p>\n

\u2018Beautiful Orchestral Performances\u2019Mississauga city councillor Brad Butt said he has had \u201cthe absolute pleasure\u201d of attending \u201ccaptivating\u201d Shen Yun performances for several years in Mississauga.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor two historic decades, Shen Yun has continued its mission to breathe life into 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture, through stunning classical Chinese dance, beautiful orchestral performances, and breathtaking interactive backdrops that transport the audience to another world,\u201d Mr. Butt wrote in a greeting letter.<\/p>\n

\u201cMississauga is a world-class city, with a thriving arts and culture scene that is at the heart of the city and embedded everywhere. We are so fortunate to host world-renowned performances like Shen Yun that provide high-quality artistic and cultural experiences to our residents and visitors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reporting by NTD and Olivia Gomm.<\/p>\n

NTD is a media sponsor of\u00a0Shen Yun Performing Arts, covering\u00a0audience reactions\u00a0since 2006.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"MISSISSAUGA, Canada\u2014Ontario lawmaker Sheref Sabawy presented Shen Yun Performing Arts with an award to mark the classical Chinese…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":544578,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[194297],"tags":[49,48,55405],"class_list":{"0":"post-544577","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mississauga","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-mississauga"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/544577","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=544577"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/544577\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/544578"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=544577"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=544577"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=544577"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}