On Saturday, June 17th, the FGS Toronto Surmount newsletter made its community outreach debut at the book fair held by Brampton Library and the City of Brampton at Gage Park. Over 50 local authors were in attendance to promote their work, while members and supporters from the Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto, dedicated the beautiful morning to introducing Humanistic Buddhism to the local community. Venerable Chueh Fan, the Abbess of FGS Temple of Toronto, also arrived to show her support for the Surmount newsletter editorial team.

Surmount is more than a newsletter, it serves as a representation of the FGS community's commitment to caring for and serving others. Therefore, their booth at the fair showcased Temple services brochures, FGS Insight newsletters, and booklets that covered various topics related to Humanistic Buddhism. All of these materials were also available for free online with just a quick scan of a QR code.

SURMOUNT is an online publication accessible with just a scan of a QR code! photo／The Life News Agency

The Surmount team made it their mission to raise awareness about mental and spiritual well-being. In addition to sharing the perspective of Humanistic Buddhism, they actively engaged in conversations with the public to address their needs. Many visitors to the booth were interested in learning how Buddhists enhance their spiritual wellness by cultivating a carefree nature. Local authors at the fair also exchanged inspirations and stories, which spoke to the power of writing to bring hearts together and foster positive affinities.

Angel, the editor-in-chief of SURMOUNT, introduced the spiritual and mental well-being newsletter to the local community. photo／The Life News Agency

The positive feedback received for Issue 01 of the Surmount newsletter has inspired the editorial team to find more ways to promote mental and spiritual well-being in local communities. Julia Huang, the project director of the book fair, has taken an interest in Surmount's work and is assisting in the application process to feature it in the Brampton Local Author Showcase collection. Moreover, Julia has expressed a desire to distribute the profound wisdom found in Venerable Master Hsing Yun's writings through the Brampton Library system.

More than 50 local authors gathered to showcase their work at Brampton’s Gage Park. photo／The Life News Agency