The architecture of the main building of Wat Thammikaram was designed free of charge by Cambodian-Canadian Architect Tan Bun Hieng. The structural design was executed free of charge by Cambodian-Canadian Engineer Ly Kim Huy. Several hundreds of Cambodian-Canadians have contributed funds, workforce, time and material to build this symbol of pride of Cambodian-Canadians in Montreal, Canada.
The Vihara is adorned by a giant statue of Buddha made out of marble imported from Pursat, Cambodia. Several smaller marble statues can also be seen.
The Vihara is also adorned with several Buddhist paintings by Cambodian master artists. (Photos: kindly contributed by a KI-Media reader from Montreal, Canada)Construction completed for Cambodian Pagoda in Canada
17 June 2006
By Moeung Tum
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by KI-Media
A group of Cambodian Buddhists in Canada had successfully teamed up to build a pagoda.
Mrs. Chip Lon Heng, the vice-president of the Thammikaram Buddhist Association located in Rivière des Prairies, Montreal, Canada, told Radio Free Asia that several hundreds of Cambodian Buddhists have gathered to contribute funds, workforce, time and material to voluntarily build the Thammikaram pagoda.
The pagoda is located on a piece of land extending about 1,700 square meters (18,000 square feet), and consists a temple (Vihara) the size of two large homes. Wat Thammikaram was first erected in 2003 at the cost of CND$760,000 which is almost the same cost in US dollars.
Mrs. Chip Lon Heng indicated that Wat Thammikaram imported a statue of Buddha and several lion statues from Cambodia. The art and decoration of the pagoda were carefully executed by famous Cambodian artists.
Mrs. Chip Lon Heng said: “The mold for the decoration was made in Cambodia and imported by boat to Canada, the decoration was then actually made in Canada to provide better grade cement in Canada which can better resist the cold climate. We cannot bring objects from Cambodia to use in Canada because of the difference in climate. Our generation had helped built this pagoda, and we want it to represent Cambodian people living abroad, and to let people see that the Cambodian religion still remains. The temple represents the 99% of Cambodian people who are Buddhists. Even if we have left our country for several decades already, we want to build something that represents our country. Buddhism is a path for people to find peace, faith, honesty, and good behavior. It is also a place for training people to follow the right path that we, as Buddhist Cambodians, want to provide as a model to people from other nations. Right now, I have seen Canadians coming to visit Wat Thomikaram almost every week, they take more interest in Cambodian Buddhism.”
Currently, Wat Thammikaram has three monks with Venerable Thoeung Thim being the abbot of the pagoda.
On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 16 to 18 June, the pagoda association and members of the Wat Thammikaram Buddhist Association, as well as a large number of Buddhists, have gathered in great number to celebrate the inauguration of the new pagoda according to Cambodian Buddhist rites.
Mrs. Chip Lon Heng also indicated that, currently, there are about 25,000 Cambodian people living in Canada, and there are three Cambodian pagodas altogether. Wat Thammikaram is the only pagoda that is built using actual Cambodian pagoda architecture.
In other countries [outside of Cambodia] where Cambodian people are living, there is no such pagoda being built yet, except in Maryland, USA, near Washington DC, where a slightly larger pagoda than Wat Thammikaram was built.
Mrs. Chip Lon Heng, the vice-president of the Thammikaram Buddhist Association located in Rivière des Prairies, Montreal, Canada, told Radio Free Asia that several hundreds of Cambodian Buddhists have gathered to contribute funds, workforce, time and material to voluntarily build the Thammikaram pagoda.
The pagoda is located on a piece of land extending about 1,700 square meters (18,000 square feet), and consists a temple (Vihara) the size of two large homes. Wat Thammikaram was first erected in 2003 at the cost of CND$760,000 which is almost the same cost in US dollars.
Mrs. Chip Lon Heng indicated that Wat Thammikaram imported a statue of Buddha and several lion statues from Cambodia. The art and decoration of the pagoda were carefully executed by famous Cambodian artists.
Mrs. Chip Lon Heng said: “The mold for the decoration was made in Cambodia and imported by boat to Canada, the decoration was then actually made in Canada to provide better grade cement in Canada which can better resist the cold climate. We cannot bring objects from Cambodia to use in Canada because of the difference in climate. Our generation had helped built this pagoda, and we want it to represent Cambodian people living abroad, and to let people see that the Cambodian religion still remains. The temple represents the 99% of Cambodian people who are Buddhists. Even if we have left our country for several decades already, we want to build something that represents our country. Buddhism is a path for people to find peace, faith, honesty, and good behavior. It is also a place for training people to follow the right path that we, as Buddhist Cambodians, want to provide as a model to people from other nations. Right now, I have seen Canadians coming to visit Wat Thomikaram almost every week, they take more interest in Cambodian Buddhism.”
Currently, Wat Thammikaram has three monks with Venerable Thoeung Thim being the abbot of the pagoda.
On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 16 to 18 June, the pagoda association and members of the Wat Thammikaram Buddhist Association, as well as a large number of Buddhists, have gathered in great number to celebrate the inauguration of the new pagoda according to Cambodian Buddhist rites.
Mrs. Chip Lon Heng also indicated that, currently, there are about 25,000 Cambodian people living in Canada, and there are three Cambodian pagodas altogether. Wat Thammikaram is the only pagoda that is built using actual Cambodian pagoda architecture.
In other countries [outside of Cambodia] where Cambodian people are living, there is no such pagoda being built yet, except in Maryland, USA, near Washington DC, where a slightly larger pagoda than Wat Thammikaram was built.
5 comments:
Congratulation! it is beautiful Siam fusion building in addition to expensive statues.
What next,who is the lucky lay back men donned in saffron robes to live in this place built by sweat and toil of poor refugees.
The individual/s in custumes better be worthwhile and moral enough to reap this benefit.Pity Buddhists never learned,good building does bring good merit but good deed of good character.Beware of lazy men who live off your effort.
What the hell Siam fusion? Where the fuck did the Siam fusion came from? This is a joke! This is a fucken lonely concept of Thai fusion! There is nothing the Thai can do that will ever impress me!
Only stupid Cambodian people praise the Siam and allowed the Siam to steal Cambodian culture to claim as their own! No offend!ahah
Filthy mouth needs to eat alot of saop.Listen to your babbling in vulgar tone.
Stupid huh! stupid spoke stupidly with no mannerism.
Pnong knows better than the foul mouth
If you know about the Thia culture so well, then you should know that all Thai Buddhist in United States are sponsored by the Thai government! You know! I see your kind at Wat Thai to donate your hard earn money to the so called the do good Budddhist but actually your money is going straight to Thai government!ahahah
He is khmeng wat. He should know better what temple looks like!
What Siam infusion?
Go to Battambang Kid! some are as old as 200 to 300 hundred years of age and are still standing. Go! before it tumbles down and we build a new one looks just like its old image.
Please don't dare call our temple Saim Infusion.
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