Our History
HISTORY OF WATERLOO WELLINGTON BUDDHIST MONASTERY AND MEDITATION CENTE
That was a time when Sri Lankan Buddhists living in the Region of Waterloo and Wellington County had to commute around 80 km or more to Toronto or Mississauga to visit a Buddhist place of worship. As a result, these Buddhists had to limit their religious practices to whatever they could do at home.
In 2001, Venerable B. Devamittha Thero who was ordained and trained in Sri Lanka came into residence at the Pommaram Lao Buddhist Vihara in Kitchener. Since the Sri Lankan community did not have a place of worship of our own, Venerable B. Devamittha Thero also served the Sri Lankan Buddhist community. We are grateful to the Laos community and to the Chief Incumbent Monk of the Laos Temple for their support.
In 2010, Venerable B. Devamittha Thero suggested to the Sri Lankan community to consider starting a Buddhist Temple. On April 16, 2010, Sri Lankans took the initial steps to form an association to support a place of worship. A committee was elected immediately to work on this suggestion. This committee was later transferred to be the first Board of Directors once it was registered as a not-for-profit organization in Ontario.
This Board of Directors met regularly and the following very important steps were taken:
- Decided on a name for the Association: “Waterloo Wellington Buddhist Cultural Association”. Decided on objectives acceptable to the Government of Ontario and Revenue Canada.
- Developed By-laws.
- Started a Bank Account.
- Registered as a not-for-profit organization in the province of Ontario. (Ontario Corporation number 1836339).
- Registered as a Charitable Organization with Revenue Canada. (BN/Registration Number: 814652517RR0001)
- Started organizing religious activities in our area inviting Buddhist monks from Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, and Asapuwa.
- Supported Dhamma School for the children.
- October 12, 2014: Venerable Karametiye Sarada Thero was introduced to the Waterloo Wellington Buddhist Community and was invited to reside in the Waterloo Wellington region. Venerable Karametiye Sarada Thero accepted the invitation and came into residence at 8 Clover Avenue, Cambridge. The community furnished the building and stocked it with all necessities for the monk to reside within two weeks. Since then, the place became a beehive of activity.
- Effective October 13, 2015, changed the name to Waterloo Wellington Buddhist Monastery and Meditation Center.
Venerable Karametiye Sarada Thero took the leadership and organized various religious activities. His services were valued and highly praised by the visiting Buddhist monks from other institutions. Religious activities including Katina ceremonies were well attended by Buddhist monks from even far away temples such as from Ottawa and Montreal.
November 01, 2015: Recommended by Venerable Sarada Thero, the Board of Directors decided to purchase the present monastery at 226 Royal Oak Road, Cambridge, Ontario. After moving to this site, it was possible to organize most activities there, without renting halls outside. For major events like Katina Pooja, it is still necessary to rent outside halls due to space and other limitations.
July 06, 2020: Venerable Karametiye Sarada Thero resigned from abbot and president positions, recommending Venerable Horana Anuruddha Thero for the positions.
July 08, 2020: Venerable Horana Anuruddha Thero was offered the positions of Abbot and president of Waterloo Wellington Buddhist Monastery and Meditation Centre by the board of directors according to the recommendation from the subcommittee for making a recommendation for the next abbot and president. Venerable Horana Anuruddha Thero accepted the offer and became the second abbot of the monastery. He is now leading all operations and services offered by the monastery.
You can find more information about past to the current director boards here.
Stepping Stones of Our History
November 9, 2014
Most Venerable Karamatiye Sarada Thero accepted the invitation to be the abbot of WWBMMC. We started our first Buddhist Monastery at 8 Clover Avenue, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada.
January 4, 2015
Atavisi Buddha Pooja; The very first event held after the establishment of the monastery. The event location was Dhamma hall of Dhammarama Buddhist Temple, 12 Old Mill Road, Cambridge.
May 9 and 10, 2015
First Wesak Celebration
The program included Sil Program, Dhamma Desana, display of Rotating Wesak Lantern and Dansal.
Dhamma Desana was conducted by Most Venerable Mawarale Bhaddiya Thero. Chief guests for the opening ceremony of rotating Wesak Lantern were Mayor Berry Vrbanovic of Kitchener, consul general of Sri Lanka, his excellency Asoka Godawita and Hon. Bardish Chagger of the city of Waterloo.
November 28, 2015
With the guidance of Most Venerable Karamatiye Sarada Thero, we moved the monastery to a better place at 229 Royal Oak Road, Cambridge ON. We would not be able to do this without the help and support of our devotees. We thank all of them for their hard work during that period.
August 20, 2021
Acquisition of New Monastery Property:
With the guidance and blessings of abbot and president, Most Venerable Horana Anuruddha Theo, WWBMMC was successful in acquiring the property at 1145 Roseville Road, Cambridge on August 20, 2021. Property at 229 Royal Oak Road Cambridge was successfully sold above the market value and was handed over to the new owners on January 20th, 2022. The selling of the old property enabled WWBMMC to release the trustees who had signed for its mortgage. The title of the new property at 1145 Roseville Road, Cambridge is in the name of WWBMMC and the same mortgage amount was carried forward to the new property.
November 7, 2021
Most Venerable Kalugala Chandaloka Thero
Most Venerable Gigummaduwe SuseelaThero
Most Venerable Horana Anuruddha Thero
Most Venerable Kalubowila Ananda Thero