A petition in support of a proposed spiritual center in Caledon had 1,295 signatures as of April 9th.
Caledon resident Bhavesh Patel was asked about the proposal after Caledon City Council members postponed a vote on the Official Plan and Bylaw Amendment that would allow construction of the center at the Feb. 13 Planning and Development Committee meeting. A petition has been launched in support of the SMVS Swaminarayan Spiritual Center.
A Caledon City staff report presented to council at the meeting recommended rejection of the amendment. As a result of the postponement, the proposed amendments are expected to be submitted to parliament again this spring.
Rushi Patel, a volunteer with SMVS, which stands for Swaminarayan Mandir Vasna Sanstha, explained that SMVS is an international socio-spiritual charity committed to sharing the principles of God Swaminarayan.
“The principles revolve around the vision that all people should live lives in harmony with themselves, their families, and their communities…gaining peace of mind amidst life’s uncertainties, You should strive to be the best version of yourself,” Luci said.
Luci said SMVS holds weekly meetings for children, youth and adults focused on personal growth and learning. This currently takes place at our Canadian headquarters in North York and at locations around the world. SMVS also hosts community activities such as youth sports and speech contests, food drives, and yoga and meditation sessions.
Luci said SMVS is conducting a community survey and is considering building a spiritual center in Caledon as many of its members live in Caledon or surrounding municipalities. Although SMVS is a Hindu faith organization, its spiritual center and programs are open to anyone regardless of faith, Rushi said. He also said there is no cost to attend the center.
“Spiritual Center is the culmination of a vision and a lasting solution to focus on inner peace and spiritual health,” Luci said.
He said Caledon was the perfect location for a spiritual center because its rural nature allows people to experience inner peace and tranquility.
Bhavesh said she was inspired to start a petition in support of the temple because there is currently no place for Hindu believers to gather in Caledon, despite the obvious need. He said Caledon residents who follow the Hindu faith must go to places like Brampton or Mississauga to practice.
The Caledon SMVS Swaminarayan Spiritual Center is proposed to be located at 6939 King Street, at the intersection of King Street and Centerville Creek Road.
“It’s a beautiful place…a center like this would fill a critical gap in the cultural landscape of our city,” Bhavesh said.
He said the support for the petition was heartwarming to see and the spiritual center would be an important hub for spiritual enrichment, cultural exchange and community cohesion.
“The primary purpose of the petition is to urge Caledon City Council to positively consider this proposal and demonstrate the community’s collective need for such a center,” Babesh said.
Kapil Vaidya, a volunteer with SMVS, said Caledon would become a more complete community if a spiritual center were allowed. He said SMVS wants the spiritual center to be a beautiful place for the community to gather in the future.
“I plant mango trees not for myself, but for future generations,” Vaidya said. “We see Caledon as an opportunity to develop a place where people can come and get some much-needed peace of mind in this world.”
Zachary Roman, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Caledon Citizen
