In September, a refugee will be officially granted Canadian citizenship in Vancouver. Not exactly breaking news, you might think. Except that this is the world's most famous refugee—a burgundy-robed monk with a shaven head and a jovial smile, living in exile since 1959, following the invasion of his homeland by Chinese troops. The Dalai Lama, spiritual leader to millions of Tibetan Buddhists and head of the Tibetan government-in-exile, is the third person ever to receive honorary citizenship from Canadian Parliament. The other two are South African leader Nelson Mandela and Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg; all three have been involved in major human-rights battles.

The Dalai Lama has seen more than his share of tragedy and horrendous losses. And yet here's a man who readily dispenses advice on the art of happiness, along with generous doses of humour. His extraordinary journey through turbulent times has made him the iconic figure he is—the greatest living advocate of world peace, and the planet's most widely recognized and respected spiritual figure. One who still travels on a humble refugee's yellow identity certificate from India—though he won't need to show that to enter Canada anymore.

In his role as a spiritual teacher, the Dalai Lama is without equal for his mesmerizing talks on the themes of happiness, right action, compassion, positive thinking, and mindfulness. From September 8 to 10, he will engage in a series of dialogues that encompass these themes. But this time around in Vancouver, he will do more than talk. He's here to inaugurate a unique centre that will translate his ideas of compassion and universal ethics into action.

According to Victor Chan, the driving force behind the creation of this unusual cultural space, the Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education “will provide an educational environment that cultivates mindfulness: the integration of mind, body, and spirit. It will encourage heightened awareness within diverse practices of art. And it will offer a venue to examine the world's wisdom traditions through creative interpretation.”

When built, the centre will be the only such institution bearing the Dalai Lama's name. The budget for the proposed 30,000-square-foot downtown complex could run to $30 million—raised by donations —with completion slated for 2009. As Chan tells the Georgia Straight, it will “work to balance the education of the mind with education of the heart. We believe that the learning process should be holistic: a full engagement of our physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions.” Chan envisages a design that will encourage visitors to connect meaningfully.

Chan, founding director and a trustee of the centre, is coauthor with the Dalai Lama of The Wisdom of Forgiveness (Riverhead Books, 2004), in which he spends five years following his old friend around the world as the Tibetan leader interacts with global leaders and great minds. The book contains many thought-provoking insights—and Chan has no shortage of similarly edifying ideas for the new centre. There are plans to host science- spirituality symposia, contemplative programs offering wisdom from both East and West, and a Nobel-laureates lecture series.

The space will be a nonpolitical, nonsectarian initiative that promotes peace through education, research, and dialogue. Behind the scenes is an impressive board of advisers, including four other Nobel Peace Prize winners—among them Archbishop Desmond Tutu (who has a peace centre named after him under way in Cape Town) and former U.S. president Jimmy Carter (a centre bearing his name in Atlanta deals with health, human-rights, and democracy issues).

Why Vancouver? “His Holiness chose Vancouver as the site for this institution because he recognized the city's potential as a place of peace,” Chan replies. “The centre will be part of Vancouver's cultural community but will be global in reach: we will partner with other organizations around the world.”

Chan adds that the Dalai Lama has strong connections with Canada, and particularly Vancouver. He had a long association with the late George and Inge Woodcock, who founded the nonprofit Tibetan Refugee Aid Society in 1962, in response to the plight of Tibetans fleeing the Chinese invasion. “The Dalai Lama is very respectful and admiring of the Canadian sensibility toward those who are less advantaged,” Chan explains.

The Dalai Lama's visit to Vancouver will be his second in as many years. And he could be flying back in from India once every year or two because, says Chan, “he is fully committed to the idea of the Dalai Lama centre over the longer term.” There's another reason: during his 2004 visit, the Dalai Lama developed a strong rapport with such prominent Vancouverites as Pitman Potter, director of the Institute of Asian Research at the University of British Columbia, and outgoing UBC president Martha Piper. “His Holiness feels right at home here.”