Buddhism in British Columbia's Interior

Buddhist BC and the BC interior rebirth in British Columbia samsara

Buddhism in Fort Steele, Greenwood, Kamloops, Kelowna, Knutsford, Merritt, Midway, Nelson, New Denver, Prince George, Slocan Park, Terrace, Vernon, Westbank, Westbridge

Copyright © 1998, 2007 Buddhist Women's Network of Toronto


  • Buddhist Meditation Society of Northern British Columbia
    Mailing address:
    1925 4th Avenue
    Prince George, BC V2M 6E3
  • e-mail: buddhistinfohotmail.com
  • Interdisciplinary with subgroups: students of Eshin Godfrey of the Vancouver Zen Centre, and a non-affiliated vipassana sitting group
  • Since 1996
  • Activities: hosting 3-4 weekend retreats each year with visiting teachers; weekly vipassana and Zen sits. For more information, see Web site at www.bmsnbc.com
  • Contacts: Zen: Judith 250-563-4199 or Ken 250-564-4057
    Vipassana: John 250-964-2685
  • Language: English
    Updated April 13, 2006

  • Clear Sky Centre
  • PO Box 19
  • Fort Steele, BC V0B 1N0
  • 250-429-3929; fax: 250-429-3951
  • e-mail: contactclearskycenter.org
  • Since 2004. Clear Sky is located at the foot of the Canadian Rockies. Retreat facility including a 5,000 sq-foot 5 bedroom main building, trailer and 310 Acres of grounds providing virtually unlimited camping space.
  • Founder and director: Achariya Doug Duncan Sensei, student of Namgyal Rinpoche.
  • Activities: Meditation retreats, universal teachings of awakening through Buddhadharma, Western Mystical Teachings and other activities. For details, see Web site: www.clearskycenter.org
  • Language: English
    Updated June 18, 2006

  • Daiko-ji Soto Zen Centre 
  • Terrace, B.C.
  • 250-635-1543
  • e-mail: awultelus.net
  • Director: Myozen, ordained monk; Soto Zen; affiliated with Kodo Ito Roshi Shike of Nagoya, Japan.
  • Since 2002.  Zazendo is located in a private home. 
  • Activity: Regular meditation sittings with study period afterwards including tea (Wenesday evenings: 7:30-9:30 PM).  Further meditation sitting available upon appointment. Other events scheduled throughout the year.  Call Don Philpott at 250-635-3455 or Tracy Wall at 250-635-1543 for location and details.
  • Languages:  English and Japanese
  • Contact:  Tracy Wall
    Updated December 18, 2005

  • Gendrun Drubpa Study Group
  • mailing address: Box 650, 150 Mile House BC V0K 2G0
  • 250-2963386
  • e-mail: gendundrubpaxplornet.com
  • Since summer, 2006
  • Spiritual Director: Lama Zopa Rinpoche; Geluk tradition, affiliated with FPMT
  • Activity: We offer non-residential courses of study using the Discovering Buddhism at Home program. Periodically, we also offer meditation programs. We invite visiting FPMT teachers 2-3 times/year for weekend retreats. For details, see web site at gendundrubpa.com
  • Language: English
  • Contact: Marilyn Dickson, coordinator
  • Updated March 20, 2007

  • Greenwood Buddhist Association
    PO Box 162
    Greenwood, BC V0H 1J0
  • Affiliated with the Buddhist Churches of Canada
  • Contact: Umeko Kozai
  • Language: Japanese and English
    Updated May 25, 2000

  • HÜMÜH Monastery Buddhist Meditation & Retreat Centre
    The Jeweled Path of Living Wisdom
    Mailing address: P.O. Box 149
    Westbridge, BC V0H 2B0
  • 1-800-336-6015; phone/fax: 250-446-2022
  • e-mail: officehumuh.org
  • Founder and Spiritual Leader: Wisdom Master Maticintin, a reincarnated Buddhist master. In this lifetime, she was aroused to awakening through a Lakota Woman who was living in the Shaman Consciousness.
  • Since May, 2000; a retreat centre and monastery, on 220 acres surrounded by cascading mountains and bordered by the Kettle river; Brava House with 2 large rooms with private bath; log house with 8 rooms and shared baths; forest cabins; tent cabins; tent camping; bathhouse with showers; and laundry facilities.
  • Activities: meditation and spiritual discussion on Sundays at 11:00 AM. Retreat season year-round, but closed in November. For more details see Web site at humuh.org
  • Language: English, Fench, Japanese
    Updated December 8, 2005

  • Kamloops Buddhist Church
    361 Poplar St.
    Kamloops, BC V2B 4B9
  • 250-376-8516
  • Head: his Eminence Koskin Ohtani; Sensei Michael Hayashi; Jodo Shinshu (Pure Land Japanese); affiliated with Buddhist Church of Canada
  • Activities include Dharma school
  • Contact: Eddie Hori: 250-376-3112 
  • Language: Japanese and English
    Updated October 14, 2002

  • Karma Kagyu Center Okanagan
  • 3879 Glen Canyon Drive
  • Westbank, BC V4T 2P8
  • 250-768-3408
  • e-mail: Okanagandiamondway-center.org
  • Web site: http://www.diamondway-buddhism.ca/okanagan.html
  • Founded: November, 2002
  • Facilities: meetings in a private home; small library of books, pamphlets and videos
  • Founder: Lama Ole Nydahl; Vajrayana Kagyu
  • Activities: weekly Guru Yoga meditation
  • Language: English
  • Contact: Carmen and Dennis Lenihan
    Updated May 17, 2005

  • Kelowna Buddhist Temple
  • 1089 Borden Ave.
  • Kelowna, BC, V1Y 7P2
  • Mailing address: PO Box 22092
  • RPO Capri Centre
  • V1Y 9N9
  • 250-763-3827
  • e-mail: kbtempletelus.net
  • Head: his Eminence Koskin Ohtani; Minister: Rev. Yasuhiro Miyakawa; Jodo Shinshu (Pure Land Japanese); affiliated with Buddhist Church of Canada 
  • Activities: meditation, dharma school, martial arts, special services.  For details, see Web site.
  • Language: Japanese and English
    Updated April 22, 2005

  • Kelowna Zen Centre
  • Kelowna, BC V1X 6R8
  • 250- 807-9550
  • e-mail: william.batesubc.ca
  • Since 1994
  • Director: Unsan Bates, ordained monk; Rinzai and Soto Zen; affiliated with Rinzai Zen teacher Shinzan Miyamae Roshi of Gyokuruji, Japan
  • Activity: Zazen and Dharma talks on Tuesdays 7 to 9pm
    Updated September 9, 2005

  • Kootenay Shambhala Meditation Centre
    location: 444 Baker St., 3rd floor
  • mailing address: PO Box 136
    Nelson, BC V1L 5P7
  • 250-352-5560
  • e-mail: infonelsonbuddha.com
  • Web site: www.nelsonbuddha.com
  • Head: Sakyong Mipham Rinpche; Shambhala Vajrayana (Kagyü, Nyingma)
  • Director: rotating
  • Since 1974
  • Activities: Mondays 7 - 9:30 PM: open house, with meditation instruction and practice, Dharma talk, and tea; Thursdays 5:15 - 6:15 PM and Sundays 9 - noon: meditation practice.
  • Contact: Jim Northcote
  • Language: English
    Updated August 18, 2007

  • Midway Buddhist Association
    PO Box 118
    Midway, BC V0H 1M0
  • Affiliated with the Buddhist Churches of Canada
  • Contact: Mr Satoko Takeda
    Updated May 25, 2000

  • New Denver Oyoriko
    PO Box 45
    New Denver, BC V0G 1S0
  • Affiliated with the Buddhist Churches of Canada
  • Contact: Mrs Kiyoko Takahara
    Updated Jan. 27, 1998

  • No Mind Zen Center
    mailing address: PO Box 117
    Slocan Park, BC V0G 2E0
  • e-mail: nomindnetidea.com
  • Teacher: Dae Kwang; Korean Zen, Seung Sahn lineage; affiliated with Kwan Um school
  • Contact: Will Dafoe
    Updated April 28, 2005

  • Sitavana Forest Monastery
  • P.O. Box # 5
  • Knutsford, BC V0E 2A0
  • 250-434-2555
  • Abbot: Ven Bhikkhu Sona, Thai Forest Tradition of Theravada
  • meditatebirken.ca
  • Since 1994. Set on 80 Acres, the Birken residence provides 10,000 sq. ft. of living space, including a meditation hall overlooking the surrounding forest and bird sanctuary. The main building has shared facilities, including 5 bathroooms, a kitchen, eating area, laundry facilities, and a library and walking meditation hall in the basement. Outdoor cabins (kutis) are used by monastics. Depending on demand, rooms may be private or shared. Men and women’s quarters are separate. Private cabins are sometimes available.
  • Activities: See www.birken.ca
  • Language: English
  • Updated November 29, 2007

  • Spring Rain Sangha West
  • 341 Braid Street
  • Penticton, BC V2A 4X9
  • 250-490-4626
  • deboraspringrainsangha.com
  • Since 2006.  Meeetings are held in private homes.  For those coming for the first time, please call Debora (250–490–4626) or Zoe (250–462–1044) to confirm location and obtain directions.
  • Teacher: Debora Ritchie; Theravada and Vipassana; affiliated with Spring Rain Sangha
  • Activities: meditation class on Tuesday nights at 7:15 - 9 PM.  Retreats.  See web site at http://springrainsangha.com/west/index2.php
  • Contact: Debora Ritchie
    Updated November 16, 2006

  • Tashi Chöling Mahayana Buddhist Meditation Society
    Tashi Choling Society
    Gaden Tashi Choling Retreat
  • 6425 Sproule Creek Rd
  • Nelson, BC V1L 6Y1
  • e-mail: tcskics.bc.ca
  • Since 1980
  • Spiritual Advisor: Ven. Zasep Tulku Rinpoche; Gelulgpa
  • Activities: Offering weekly meditaion and discussions for the beginning and advanced practitioners alike. Weekend retreats lead by Zasep Tulku as well as by guest teachers are offerered three to four times a year. For more information see Web site at tcs.kics.bc.ca.
    Updated October 18, 2006

  • Vast Ocean Buddhist Centre
    (Daikaiji)
  • 1015 Toovey Road
  • Kelowna, BC V1X 6R2
  • 250-491-9604
  • e-mail: daikaijimac.com or william.batesubc.ca
  • Founder and director: Ven. Unzan Genshin Bates, Soto Zen
  • Activities: Daily meditation 5 - 7 AM and 7 - 9 PM.  For more information, see web site at http://web.mac.com/daikaiji/iWeb/Soto/Daikaiji.html
  • Updated July 25, 2007

  • Vernon Buddhist Temple
    Yukitoshi Yakuta
  • meeting address: 4895 Bella Vista Rd
  • mailing address: P.O. Box 1886
  • Vernon, BC V1T 8Z7
  • 250-542-2164 or 250-491-2053
  • Since 1948. Meet at the Japanese Cultural Centre.
  • Head: his Eminence Koskin Ohtani; Sensei Michael Hayashi; Jodo Shinshu (Pure Land Japanese); affiliated with Buddhist Church of Canada
  • Activities include Dharma school
  • Contact: Tosh Yakura 250-542-2164 or Mari 250-542-5633
  • Language: Japanese, English
    Updated November 17, 2006

  • Vipassana Meditation Centre of British Columbia
    Dhamma Surabhi
  • PO Box 699
  • Merritt, BC V1K 1B8
  • 250-378-4506
  • e-mail: infosurabhi.dhamma.org
  • Spiritual head: S.N. Goenka; Vipassana Meditation in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin as taught by S.N. Goenka and his assistant teachers
  • Since 1969
  • Activities: the technique of Vipassana Meditation is taught at ten day residential retreat courses during which participants learn the basics of the method and practice sufficiently to experience its beneficial results. For more information about Dhamma Surabhi, see Web page at www.surabhi.dhamma.org. For more information about Vipassana, see Web page at www.dhamma.org
  • Language: English
    Updated April 1, 2004

  • Vipassana Sitting Group in Kelowna
    meetings at: 1272 St Paul St
  • 250-769-6413
  • Meetings are held at Kelowna Yoga House
  • Associated with Vipassana BC
  • Activity: Monday evening (7:30 - 9PM) Vipassana meditation and talks by Shirley Jayanta Johannesen.
  • Contact: David
  • Language: English
  • Updated June 8, 2005

  • Yitung Buddhist Temple
    Yi Tung Temple
  • 1370 Lawrence Avenue
  • Kelowna, BC V1Y 6M7
  • 250-717-8975; fax: 250-717-8973
  • e-mail: yitungbdtempleyahoo.com
  • Spiritual director: Master Xing Ru
  • Activities: open every Sunday from 10:30am - 12:00. Meditation and chanting every third Sunday. Vegetarian lunch at noon.
  • Languages: Mandarin, English
    Updated January 27, 2008
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