Condolences for Williams Lake Sikh Community

For nearly 100 years the Sikh community has thrived in the Cariboo-Chilcotin Valley, first coming to the Central Interior to mine for gold. The Gurdwara has stood for more than 20 years in Williams Lake. Today there are true success stories for the Sikh Community in the Cariboo such as Jackpine Forest Products, one of the largest lumber companies in the province and founded by Temple member and Order of British Columbia recipient Gian Singh Sandhu.

This community can take pride and strength from its many success stories. Community is created in great part through the togetherness nurtured in places of worship. The Gurdwara will be a place of worship again. Of that I am confident and the community will find a way to heal from this traumatic incident.

I am in a unique position as both a Sikh and the Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism. I know the challenges that are faced by various cultures across our province and I know of the damaging conclusions that are often drawn when serious incidents such as this occur.

I have also dedicated my life to the covenants of the Canadian Legal System. Each person is innocent unless proven otherwise. Making assumptions about any motive for this action are not helpful to either the investigation or the continued growth of our community throughout B.C.

When they are ready, the RCMP will send their investigation to Crown Counsel who will review the information and proceed in accordance with the law as it applies to incidents such as these. Our prosecutors are some of the finest in Canada. Having worked as Crown Counsel and also listened to their arguments when I was a judge, I have every confidence they will proceed correctly.

I also want to thank the firefighters in Williams Lake and 150 Mile House for their bravery and action. Last Sunday, only 30 minutes before the incident at the Gurdwara, Williams Lake firefighters were dealing with a blaze at a modular home. As a result, firefighters from 150 Mile House were pressed into action to respond to the Gurdwara fire.

The community of Williams Lake has been challenged like this before. The same weekend of the fire of the Gurdwara Western Singh Sabha the members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church had a rededication ceremony after rebuilding from fire and vandalism a year ago.

For the hard work and dedication of the firefighters who have dealt with so much in the Williams Lake area in the past year, we should be truly grateful. In addition we should be especially grateful that no one was seriously hurt in either incident last Sunday.

I hope those who worship at the Gurdwara, and all those within the Sikh Community in British Columbia know that my thoughts and my prayers are with them. I look forward to the day when the temple is rebuilt and worshippers return to the Gurdwara Western Singh Sabha Sikh Temple in Williams Lake.

By WALLY OPPAL, Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism and Attorney General of British Columbia
Source: The Voice Online (www.voiceonline.com)