VANCOUVER – Organizers of two Vancouver speaking engagements by the Dalai Lama this April have moved the appearances to larger venues because of overwhelming public response.
The Tibetan spiritual leader had been scheduled to speak at UBC’s War Memorial Gymnasium on April 18.
But the facility can only accommodate 4,000 people, and both events sold out almost immediately.
“An overwhelming demand, unprecedented,” says spokesperson Angela Hryniuk. “It’s been wonderful – beautiful to see how many people are enthused by His Holiness’s teachings.”
The Dalai Lama’s two talks have been moved to the 12,500-seat Pacific Coliseum, allowing many more people to attend.
Hryniuk says the public’s response shows the Nobel Laureate and spiritual leader has a universal appeal.
“This is a man that embodies virtue 100 per cent. He embodies compassion and peace,” she says. “He doesn’t just talk about it. He’s living it.”
The new inventory of tickets for the visit will not go on sale until Friday, February 20 through Ticketmaster.
People who already have tickets will have priority, and can exchange them for new venue tickets, but not till Monday, February 23.
The Dalai Lama’s visit dovetails with visits by Archbishop Desmond Tutu; former Czech president Vaclav Havel; this year’s Nobel laureate from Iran, Shirin Ebadi, Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and First Nations leader Jo Ann Archibald.
