Quebec Dharma Celebration 2026
November 13 - 15 ~ Montreal
Blessing Empowerment of Medicine Buddha
～ The Healing Power of Medicine Buddha ～
with Gen Kelsang Chodor
The Quebec Dharma Celebration (QDC) is a special annual event open to everyone, held in Montreal at Kadampa Meditation Centre Montreal (KMCM).
It’s a wonderful opportunity for people from all backgrounds to come together to receive heartfelt advice, practical teachings and meditations. We can learn to live with greater meaning and joy by applying Buddha’s wisdom (Dharma) in daily life.
The focus of this year’s Dharma Celebrations will be the healing practice of Medicine Buddha. In these modern times, people suffer from so much pain, confusion, and conflict. We need a special reliable method to heal this pain—first from within our own mind, from which we can then develop the power to heal others. Medicine Buddha practice fulfills this aim, bringing us closer to world peace.
Gen Kelsang Chodor will grant the blessing empowerment of Medicine Buddha. The empowerment is a guided meditation and blessing ceremony that connects us directly with enlightened healing energy, awakening our potential for pure happiness and the ability to benefit others.
Please join us! Everyone is welcome. This is a most precious opportunity, not to be missed.
Celebration Teacher
Gen Kelsang Chodor is the National Spiritual Director of Canada and the Resident Teacher at Kadampa Meditation Centre Canada in Toronto.
He is admired by students because of his practical knowledge, warm presentations and authentic teachings, as well as his natural joy and sense of humour. He is skilled at putting everyone at ease and helping them solve their problems and anxieties with practical Dharma advice.
Gen Kelsang Chodor
Introduction Teacher
Kadam Marie-Claude Martel is the Resident Teacher at Kadampa Meditation Centre Québec.
With over fifteen years of experience studying, practising and teaching meditation and Buddhism under the guidance of her Spiritual Guide, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, Kadam Marie-Claude enthusiastically and humorously shares these practical teachings, which can be easily applied to our busy everyday lives.
Marie-Claude Martel
Meditations Teacher
Guèn Kelsang Chögyan is the Resident Teacher at Kadampa Meditation Centre Montréal.
She has been studying and teaching Kadampa Buddhism for over 25 years under the guidance of her Spiritual Guide, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche. Guèn Chögyan is a constant source of encouragement through her sincerity, faith and ability to transform any situation into an opportunity for inner growth. Her joy and energy inspire everyone to put Buddha’s teachings into practice and experience their tangible benefits in everyday life.
Guèn Kelsang Chögyan
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Friday, November 13
11:00 am– 12:30 pm : Sodjong with Gen Kelsang Chodor (for
ordained sangha only)
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm: Introduction with Kadam Marie-Claude Martel
Saturday, November 14
9:00 am – 10:00 am: Meditation with Gen Kelsang Chögyan
11:00 am – 1:00 pm: Empowerment with Gen Kelsang Chodor
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm: Teaching with Gen Kelsang Chodor
7:30 pm – 8:45 pm: Wishfulfilling Jewel Prayers with Tsog
Sunday, November 15
9:00 am – 10:00 am: Meditation with Gen Kelsang Chögyan
11:00 am – 12:30 pm: Teaching with Gen Kelsang Chodor
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm: Teaching with Gen Kelsang Chodor
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Kadampa Meditation Centre Montreal
835 Laurier Ave E, Montreal, Quebec H2J 1G2
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In-Person
Adults
Full celebration (November 13–15): $195
Introduction: Friday, November 13: $25
Saturday, November 14 only: $100
Sunday, November 15 only: $70
In-person Sojong: Friday, November 13, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM: $0 (ordained sangha only)Children
0–7 years: free
8–15 years: 50% discount
Full celebration: $98
Friday, November 13: $13
Saturday, November 14: $50
Sunday, November 15: $35
16 years and older: full adult rateCDQ Meals:
Lunch, Saturday, November 14:
Recommended contribution: $16
Lunch, Sunday, November 15:
Recommended contribution: $16Audio recordings
Full celebration: $35
Friday, November 13 only: $5
Saturday, November 14 only: $15
Sunday, November 15 only: $15The audio recordings include teaching sessions only . The recordings do not include the morning meditations or empowerment.
Accommodation
Shared room for two: $120 per night for the room – 2 single beds. Includes all bedding.
Dormitory bed: $40 per night. Includes all bedding.
Indoor camping: $25 per night (camping mat, blanket, towel, and pillow provided).
Breakfast is not included. -
Children and adolescents are welcome at the celebration. However, for their safety and well-being, certain specific conditions apply. Please note that two responsible adults must be designated for all child registrations if the child is 15 years of age or younger.
Due to the public nature of the celebration, the safety and well-being of the children are the responsibility of their designated supervising adults at all times. CMK Montreal assumes no responsibility for children participating in the celebration. Children (of all ages) must be under adult supervision at all times.
Celebration Pass
To ensure your child's safety and facilitate reuniting them with their caregivers in the event of difficulties, passes for children under 15 will feature, on the back, the names of the two responsible adults designated to look after them.Children's rates:
Celebration
0–7 years: free
8–15 years: 50% discount
16 years and older: full adult rate -
Opening date: October 6, 2026
Information to follow. -
Some spots are available on-site for the Dharma Celebration (November 13–15) upon request.
Shared room (double occupancy): $120 per night for the room – 2 single beds. Includes all bedding.
Dormitory bed: $40 per night. Includes all bedding.
Indoor camping: $25 per night (camping mat, blanket, towel, and pillow provided).
Breakfast is not available on-site.
Accommodation will be reserved exclusively for participants in the celebration. Preference will be given to those booking for the entire duration of the celebration.How do I request accommodation?
Pre-registration:
The accommodation pre-registration form will be available to fill out on September 30, 2026, 6pm (EDT).
Registration and payment:
Following your request, we will let you know by October 7 whether we can accommodate you on your desired dates. If your request is successful, we will send you a link and you will then be able to pay for your accommodation. You will be required to pay for your accommodation by October 14 to secure your spot.Waiting list:
We will create a waiting list once the beds have been booked and paid for, and we will notify you if you have been placed on the waiting list because the desired accommodation is fully booked.To request accommodation, fill out the ACCOMMODATION REQUEST FORM here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScKxa7pSYIel10EM7x_NdTd2_vYEhELDDRVyTuErwUzIFVN8g/viewform
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Meals
Lunch will be served on Saturday and Sunday. Space is limited, so it is recommended to book your meal in advance. The deadline to book for lunches is November 8, 2026. Suggested voluntary contribution: $16 per meal.Café de la Paix
the world peace cafe will offer a selection of savory snacks, cakes, and pastries, as well as coffees, teas, hot chocolates, and cold drinks.Shop
The celebration shop will sell a range of healthy snacks, including gluten-free options, as well as chips, chocolate, and offerings for the transmission of blessings and tsog. -
A Tharpa Shop featuring books, sadhanas, offerings and other goodies will be open during the in-person celebration. An on-line shop will also be available.
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The Celebration is organized and run by volunteers. There are many opportunities and ways in which you can help, such as preparing food, serving, clearing, cleaning, setting up, helping in the café or bookshop. Volunteering is a wonderful way to meet other Kadampas from across Quebec. Your contribution of time and energy is an important part of making the Celebration happen and is deeply appreciated. Please consider stopping by the volunteering desk in the registration area to find out how you can help, or contact your local centre for more information.
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The introduction and guided meditations will be taught in French and simultaneously translated into English.
The transmission of blessings and other teachings will be taught in English and simultaneously translated into French.
To receive the translation, you must book it when registering, before November 6. -
Hard of hearing
Special headsets are available in the main meditation hall for individuals with hearing impairments. If you require a headset, please select this option when registering. Please register by November 3rd, as the number of special headsets is limited.After November 3, it may still be possible to reserve headsets for the hard hearings, but please contact info@meditationamontreal.org as soon as possible to check availability. We will do our best to accommodate your request.
Other special needs
If you have other special needs, please email info@meditationamontreal.org in advance. We will do our best to accommodate your request. -
Healing with Every Breath - Discover the Transformative Power of Meditation
DATE & TIME
Wednesday, November 11, 2026 | 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
LOCATION
Kadampa Meditation Centre Montreal
Are you ready to discover a simple yet powerful way to reduce stress, open your heart, and find deeper peace—even in challenging times?Special guest Teacher and Buddhist monk, Gen Chodor, will introduce one of the most renowned ancient meditations taught by Buddha, known as 'taking and giving'. In this practice we transform the simple act of breathing into a powerful practice that deepens our love and compassion for others and heals our mind from the source of our own suffering. This special practice helps us transform everyday difficulties into opportunities for genuine compassion and inner freedom.
The evening will be suitable for everyone, regardless of experience. It will include a talk and meditation followed by delicious refreshments.
This public talk will be in English with simultaneous translation in French.
Everyone is welcome!
Bookings for this public talk can be done here
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Arrival and Registration
You must present your registration confirmation letter (digital or printed) to access the celebration venue. If you are unable to present your confirmation letter, you will need to show a photo ID (passport, driver's license, or identity card) to register on-site.Metro and bus
The center is only a few steps away from Laurier metro station (Avenue Laurier's exit).Parking
The number of free parking spaces near the Centre is limited. Please allow extra time to find a parking space.
https://montreal.ca/sujets/stationnement-dans-la-rue
If you plan to drive, you can purchase a daily parking permit here.Security
All participants are required to wear a celebration pass at all times. Please fully cooperate with this requirement to ensure the safety and smooth running of the celebration. Please bring only essential items and keep your valuables with you at all times. CMK Montreal accepts no responsibility for the loss of or damage of personal belongings.Photography
Taking photographs or recording video or audio during the sessions is prohibited, unless special permission has been obtained from the event organizers. -
This event is organized by the Kadampa Meditation Centre Montreal, a registered charity (charity number 883232720RR0001).
IN-PERSON CELEBRATIONRegistration
Advance registration is required, and full payment must be received prior to arrival at the event.
Registration Confirmation and ID
You will receive an email confirming your booking and payment details. Please keep this safe, as you will need to present a paper or digital copy upon arrival. If you are unable to present your confirmation, you will need to show a photo ID (passport, driver's license, or identity card) to complete your registration on-site.Payment and Refund Policies
All dates and times refer to Eastern Standard Time (EST).
CMK Montreal has contracts with numerous suppliers; therefore, the following conditions apply:Celebration Fee
- Full payment is required at the time of registration.
- Cancellations: 25% of the celebration fee is non-refundable for cancellations made up to 48 hours before the start of the celebration (7:30 PM EST, November 11, 2026). After this deadline, the celebration fee is entirely non-refundable.Meal
- The meal must be reserved prior to the celebration. The deadline to reserve the meal is November 8, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST.
- Cancellations: 25% of the meal cost is non-refundable until November 8, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST. After this date, the meal cost is entirely non-refundable.Accommodation
- Once your booking is approved, you will receive a request for full payment of your accommodation, due by the specified date.
- Cancellation: 25% of the accommodation fee is non-refundable up to 7 days before the start of your stay. For cancellations made less than 7 days before the start of your stay, the accommodation fee is entirely non-refundable.
Fees retained upon cancellation are donated to the NKT-IKBU International Temples Project.
Exceptions may be made in cases of illness or bereavement. You must submit a request via email to the Administrative Director of CMK Montreal at admin@meditationamontreal.org within two weeks of the end of the celebration. This applies only to celebration fees and does not apply to meals.
Audio recordings
Audio recordings cover only the teaching sessions and do not include guided meditations or the empowerment ceremony. They can be purchased via the CDQ website or at the shop during the event.
You must be registered for and have attended a session to receive its audio recording. Recordings are for the exclusive use of the registered participant and may not be shared.
Registrations are non-transferable.ONLINE CELEBRATION
Terms and conditions coming soon... -
Kadampa Meditation Centre Montreal
835, avenue Laurier est, Montréal, QC, H2J 1G2
Email : info@meditationamontreal.org
Phone : 514-521-2529
