In 2013 “Sikh Heritage Month” was proclaimed by The Legislative Assembly of Ontario through Bill 52, this Act was the first of its kind in the world.  Six years later the Canadian Parliament passed a Bill that received Royal Assent ensuring that in each year, the month of April is to be known as “Sikh Heritage Month”.  Canada became the first country in the world to do so. 

Sikhs first came to Canada in 1897 as a part of the Hong Kong Army regiments commemorating Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.  Within the early part of the next century nearly 5,000 immigrants from Punjab (majority of them being Sikhs) arrived in British Columbia between 1904 and 1908.  From those humble beginnings, Canada now has more than 500,00 Sikhs who call it home.  Canada is also home to the world’s second largest Sikh population. 

Every April, millions of Sikhs celebrate the harvest season through the celebration of Vaisakhi also known as Khalsa Day, it is the most significant day in the Sikh calendar.  This year Khalsa Day is April 14.  Vaisakhi allows for a community celebration of hard-work, charity, and gratitude.  Furthermore, it celebrates the human pursuit of compassion, justice, courage, determination, and self-mastery with a focus on servant-leadership.  Khalsa Day processions are held across the world with two of the largest held in Surrey, British Columbia and Yuba City, California.  Both routinely have over 100,000 participants. 

Notable Sikh Points:

• Founded in 1469 by Guru Nanak Dev Ji
• The fifth largest organized religion worldwide
• Gurudwaras (Sikh Temples) around the world provide free food (community kitchens) to anyone in need all day, every day
• The world’s largest community kitchen is at Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar, they feed over 100,000 people daily
• In WW1 approximately 140,000 soldiers or 20% of the British Indian Army was made up of Sikhs, compared with less than 2% of the general population of India

 Other Information:

• The Sikh Heritage Museum (History of Sikhs in Canada) – https://shmc.ca/
• Overview of Sikhs - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zsjpyrd/articles/zkjpkmn"
• Selfless Service in Sikhism - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zmcf3k7/revision/3