Chùa An Lạc Belleisle · Nova Scotia Tiếng Việt

Chùa An Lạc

Temple of Peace and Happiness

A Vietnamese Buddhist temple and a white statue of Quan Âm, planned for the top of North Mountain above Belleisle, looking out over the Annapolis Valley. It is not built yet.

Walk up to the temple Stay informed
The temple and a white statue of Quan Âm on a forested hilltop above farmland
The temple and the statue of Quan Âm on North Mountain, as planned.

The heart of the community

For Vietnamese families far from home, the temple is where people pray, welcome the new year, honour their parents and remember their ancestors, share a meal, and teach their children the language and customs of home.

This temple is planned for the top of North Mountain, in a clearing ringed by forest, with wide views over the Valley.

Families and a monk sharing a vegetarian meal at long tables in the temple

Walk up to the temple

This is how a visit will go once the temple is built.

  1. A road winding up a forested mountain in autumn colours

    The road up đường lên chùa

    A road winds up the mountain through maple, birch and spruce. In autumn the whole slope turns red and gold.

  2. The temple gate with three doorways under curved red-tiled roofs

    The temple gate cổng tam quan

    The gate's three doorways welcome everyone in. Beyond it, the courtyard opens up.

  3. A monk sweeping a stone courtyard beside a lotus pond, with the bell tower behind

    The courtyard sân chùa

    A lotus pond, pine trees and stone lanterns: a quiet place to walk and sit. To one side, the bell tower rings for the morning and evening prayers.

  4. People in grey robes chanting before a golden Buddha in a hall of red columns

    The main hall chánh điện

    Curved tiled roofs, red lacquered columns and carved wooden doors. The Buddha is enshrined here, and the monks and nuns lead the chanting.

  5. A white statue of Quan Âm on a lotus, above a terrace looking over the valley

    Quan Âm and the lookout tượng Quan Âm

    At the edge of the mountain, a white statue of Quan Âm looks out over the farms and the river. The lookout beside her is free and open to everyone.

    More about Quan Âm

Festivals at the temple

Once the temple opens, its festivals are open to everyone in the Valley.

  • Lion dancers in a snowy temple courtyard at Lunar New Year

    Tết Nguyên đán

    Lunar New Year

    Prayers for a peaceful new year, with lion dancing and red lanterns, even in the snow.

  • A monk and families bathing a small statue of the Buddha in the courtyard

    Phật Đản

    The Buddha's birthday

    The bathing of the Buddha, with flowers, flags and lanterns.

  • A monk pinning a red rose on a young man beside his mother

    Vu Lan

    Gratitude to parents

    A rose for every mother: red if she is living, white if she has passed.

  • Children with star and carp lanterns in the courtyard at night

    Trung Thu

    Mid-Autumn Festival

    Star and carp lanterns, mooncakes and a procession under the full moon.

See the festivals

Where things stand

The temple is planned. It is not built yet and has no opening date. Before anything is built, the plans need approval from Annapolis County and the Province of Nova Scotia.

The temple will be built and run by a temple society: a Buddhist charity with a sponsoring Buddhist order.

Be part of it from the start

  • Stay informed

    We will write when there is news: the plans, the approvals and the day the temple opens.

    Get the news

  • Help form the temple society

    The society will build and run the temple. We are looking for people to help start it, serve on it and volunteer.

    Offer your help

  • Give, when the time comes

    We are not taking donations yet. Tell us if you would like to give once the temple society can accept gifts.

    Add your name