Thunder Bay, Ontario
Up North
I came down the ramp from a
pleasant flight after a tense long lineup at the Toronto airport, to arrive at
a signage indicating “Small city, big opportunities.” The place is Thunder Bay
with a population of 108,000 and is unique in Canada because, as a walker
across this vast country, all roads and trails appear to channel through this
place. Being situated at the head-point of massive Lake Superior, it can make
that claim as a fairly remote northern destination.
Prem Kishor, who has successfully
landed a marvelous project; Vedic Cultural Center (ISKCON), in the city, picked
me up to prepare for a presentation at their Sunday program. Prem’s wife,
Suniti, is 50% of the powerhouse behind the project, which is not only a place
for mantras and worship but the building houses Fairway Physiotherapy,
making it a wellness center for cancer patients and yoga students. Imagine
that, you have all this wellness/goodness under one roof.
I met Brian, 75, who remembers me
from 1973, when I first joined ISKCON and became a monk in Toronto. I also met
Myles, born in the north, from Wawa, and having a knack as a horticulturist,
who brings flowers for Krishna for every visit. There is also Gaurav and a host
of his friends, either international students from India or settled down
employees from India, some of them are here to stay in the city of
opportunities.
Seeing that most of these
regulars at the Sunday feast are young, bright and energetic I engaged them in bhakti
song-and-dance after a talk on the fundamentals of the Bhagavad-Gita; the
dialogue that enriches lives.
May the Source be with you!
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