Contact is taking a holiday!

-by Canada Tibet Committee, 19 November 2025

Ottawa, November 17, 2025 – Hollywood icon and advocate for Tibet, Richard Gere, who is also Chair of the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), joined parliamentarians and Tibetan-Canadian community members on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on November 17 for Tibet Day on the Hill. The full-day agenda included high-level meetings, a reception, media interviews, and the screening of the new documentary “Wisdom of Happiness,” featuring His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The visit emphasized the call to declare 2025 as the Year of Compassion, in honour of His Holiness’s lifelong dedication to global peace and compassion, as well as his 90th birthday.

During the day, Parliamentary Friends of Tibet (PFT) Chair MP James Maloney and Vice-Chairs MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe and MP Karim Bardeesy delivered statements in the House of Commons celebrating the Dalai Lama’s message of compassion and voicing support for the self-determination rights of the Tibetan people, the resumption of Sino-Tibetan dialogue, and the protection of human rights in Tibet.

Following the statements in the House of Commons, Richard Gere held multiple meetings with key decision-makers, including Minister of Justice Sean Fraser, Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Mona Fortier, President of the Treasury Board Shafqat Ali, Secretary of State Stephanie McLean, and other dignitaries.

In the evening, PFT Chair MP James Maloney, along with co-chairs MP Garnett Genuis and MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, hosted a reception in the Speaker’s Lounge with the support of the Honourable Speaker of the House, Francis Scarpaleggia. The reception was attended by ministers, secretaries of state, and MPs from all parties. The three parliamentary co-sponsors delivered remarks supporting Tibet and His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and Richard Gere urged Canada to support His Holiness’s vision for a peaceful resolution of the Sino-Tibetan conflict and a just future for the Tibetan people.

Richard Gere also appeared on CBC’s Power & Politicsfor a national television interview, where he spoke about Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s message of compassion, and the importance of Canada’s role in supporting a peaceful resolution to the Sino-Tibetan conflict. Later in the day, a special screening of Wisdom of Happiness was held on Parliament Hill, attended by over 90 people, including several parliamentarians, staffers, academics, Tibet supporters, and community members.

This historic day in Ottawa was made possible by the Parliamentary Friends of Tibet Chairperson James Maloney. Richard Gere was joined in all meetings by the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in North America, Dr. Namgyal Choedup, International Campaign for Tibet’s President Tencho Gyatso and Research and Monitoring lead Bhuchung Tsering, and CTC’s director Sherap Therchin.