In 2006 the Westend location was decorated for our annual Chinese New Year banquet and celebration with paper lanterns and a blanket of snow.
Taoist Tai Chi Society of Canada
Western Region
History of the Edmonton Branch
The Taoist Tai Chi Society™ internal art of Tai Chi Chuan (taijiquan) was first taught In Edmonton in the fall of 1980 when a student moved here from Toronto, Ontario. In 1983, the founder of the Taoist Tai Chi Society of Canada, Master Moy Lin-shin, made his first trip to western Canada. He began visiting regularly, thus dramatically improving the level of instruction and spurring on growth in the membership.
We started teaching in Edmonton in 1984 on the southside, west of the Mill Creek Ravine on Whyte Avenue. In 1998, we expanded and moved into the upper level of our current westend location on Stony Plain Road. This became our main location and office. Rather than renew our lease in December 1990, we decided to purchase the building. This was possible only with Master Moy’s foresight and guidance, and the efforts of many volunteers. Through a combination of savings, the financial support of member donations, and interest free loans from other Taoist Tai Chi Society™ clubs around the world, we were able to purchase the building without having to obtain a bank loan. In November 1991, we held a celebratory grand opening workshop lead by Master Moy.
Now in Edmonton, we offer classes from two full-time locations (Stony Plain Road and Whyte Avenue) and four part-time locations around the city. We also hold classes in St. Albert and Sherwood Park, and support classes in Camrose, Wetaskiwin and Yellowknife.
For Master Moy, a good kitchen was always an important aspect of Society buildings. When we purchased the Westend building, he encouraged us to put in a full Chinese kitchen with three industrial woks capable of preparing meals for 300+ people, much more than we thought necessary at the time. In the mid-nineties we renovated, moving the kitchen downstairs to a much larger area and expanding the temple space upstairs.
Our members continue to enjoy the community-building aspects of sharing meals together at workshops and special events such as our annual Chinese New Year Banquets and Mother's Day Dinners. The Fung Loy Kok Taoist temple participants regularly make lunch after chanting and on special occasions, have prepared Taoist jai (vegetarian) meals for members and the public. We have also used the kitchen to help others. Several times since June 2006 we have purchased, prepared and transported hot food to Edmonton's Mustard Seed Church where we have often served over 300 meals each night to the homeless community.
Organizational History
As the Society has grown over the years, structural changes to the organization have also taken place. On July 12, 1991, the "Taoist Tai Chi Society of Canada—Edmonton” changed its name to the “Taoist Tai Chi Society of Canada—Western Region”. Soon after, the Calgary and Grande Prairie Taoist Tai Chi associations joined the "Western Region". On March 2 of the following year, Revenue Canada registered the "Taoist Tai Chi Society of Canada—Western Region" as a charitable organization. By this time, the Western Region covered quite a large area, offering classes in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories and British Columbia border communities. The Western Region, with the Pacific Region, joined the the Taoist Tai Chi Society of Canada in 2001.
The Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism and The Gei Pang Lok Hup academy are sister organizations to the Taoist Tai Chi Society of Canada. Many of the larger clubs in the Western Region have Lok Hup practice sessions and host regular workshops and review sessions. In 1999 (or 2000) Gei Pang was dissolved as a legal entity and now the International Taoist Tai Chi board looks after Lok Hup issues and policy. FLK is currently remains on its own as a separate entity.