Concerns Raised Over Buddhist Temple's Proposed Expansion

August 26, 2004

Source: The Province/Global BC

http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/news/story.html?id=5f365ee4-25e9-4956-ba5a-9ecf0547a06a

On August 26, 2004 Global BC reported, "It could become one of the Lower Mainland's newest landmarks. But the expansion plans for a Buddhist temple in Richmond are raising some concerns. Worshippers at the temple on No. 5 Road in Richmond have approved a $50-million project, that would be built just south of the existing site. It would include a giant statue of Buddha. If approved, it will be bigger than the largest statue of its kind on Hong Kong's Lantau Island -- and it may even rival New York's Statue of Liberty in size. But officials with other churches in the area say the expansion may overwhelm the area. 'That's significantly larger than what any of the other facilities and churches and temples along here have been allowed to build,' said Brad Julihn, senior pastor at Richmond Bethel Church. Richmond Councillor Bill McNulty says the expanded temple would be the largest Buddhist temple in North America, and one of the largest in the world. The megaproject is in the final planning stages, and is expected to go before Richmond city council for approval this fall."