Albert Lin, The Merit Times staff writer

Powerful ice storm hit Ontario, Canada on April 5th, after the beginning of spring. The large amounts of ice broke off tree branches, interrupted power lines and caused widespread power outages, Fo Guang Shan Temple of Ottawa was also affected. Despite the snowstorm and power outage, however, masters still recorded the series of "Good Morning Fo Guang" and uploaded it to the YouTube channel, allowing the program to be broadcast smoothly.

More than one million customers in Quebec and Ontario were without power Wednesday after a messy mix of freezing rain and thunderstorms pummeled parts of both provinces.photo／AP

On the morning of the April 5th, power outages influenced tens of thousands of households in Ottawa, including Fo Guang Shan Temple of Ottawa. In order to be able to broadcast "Good Morning Fo Guang" as scheduled, Abbess Yung Ku and Master Neng Ju recorded the program with natural light and the background of frozen tree branches, overcoming the challenges of external natural disasters.  After recording the video, the masters drove to a supermarket wherethe electricity is available, uploaded the file through the free WiFi provided by the supermarket, and successfully broadcasted the program.

At the same time, Fo Guang Shan Temple of Ottawa held charity sale to raise funds for building the temple; in order to promote vegetarian diet, Fo Guang Shan Temple of Ottawa launched the "Half-month Fasting" meal box after four months' planning.  One of the elder believers, Lin Meiluan, was unable to go out to pick up the meal due to the bad weather, therefore the masters decided to sent it to her house.  When Lin received the meal box, she was moved by the masters' thoughtfulness and warmth, so she shed tears and expressed her thankfulness.

More than one million customers in Quebec and Ontario were without power Wednesday after a messy mix of freezing rain and thunderstorms pummeled parts of both provinces.photo／AP