Source: VoiceOnline.com
Saturday, Feb 11, 2006
In a meeting with community leaders held at the Bear Creek Pavilion in Surrey on Thursday, Jagrup Brar, MLA, Surrey-Panorama Ridge, discussed a motion submitted by him that aims to honour BC’s Sikh community and its contributions to the province as well as create awareness about the Sikh faith and culture. In attendance were Harry Bains, MLA, Surrey-Newton, Sue Hammell, MLA, Surrey-Green Timbers, Bruce Ralston, MLA, Surrey-Whalley, and Raj Chouhan, MLA, Burnaby-Edmonds, besides representatives of various social and religious organizations.
“My motion and today’s event honour the glorious contributions made by the Sikh community to the diversity and multicultural values not only of this province, but of our entire nation,” said Brar. “This motion is an opportunity for all elected representatives to reaffirm their commitment to upholding the values of multiculturalism and tolerance.”
In addition to recognizing the Sikh community’s achievements and contributions, Brar’s motion submitted on November 22 asks for recognition of the importance of April 13th, the day known as Vaisaki as well as it aims to create awareness of the five symbols of Sikh faith known as the Five K’s.
Jagrup Brar and several of his NDP colleagues from the South Fraser and Vancouver region joined hands to put out this call to the community.
“I would like to urge all BC MLAs to vote in favour of this motion, when it comes time to put it to a vote in the House. The contributions of Sikhs to the history of this beautiful province and to this great country should and must be recognized,” said Brar.
“The Sikh community’s contribution to the diversification of British Columbia has been strong and continues to flourish. We’ve seen the rise of this community’s members to high levels in politics and a variety of professions. Their culture and festivals have helped make British Columbia a vibrant province,” added Brar.
This motion was introduced in the House:
Be it resolved that this House recognize the importance of April 13 to all Sikhs and the contributions that Canadian Sikhs have made to our country, and that this House also recognize the importance of the five K’s: the KIRPAN – a sword representing indomitable spirit; KES – unshorn hair, representing a simple life, saintliness and devotion to God; KARA – a wooden comb worn to represent a clean mind and body; KANGA – a wooden comb worn to represent a clean mind and body; and KACHA – short breeches, representing hygienic living.
Recognizing BC Sikhs’ Contributions (Brar’s address):
Today’s event is to honor the glorious contributions made by the Sikh community to the diversity not only of this province…but of our entire nation.
On November 22, 2005, I proposed a motion in the House to recognize these contributions.
There are three dimensions to the motion.
The first one is to recognize the importance of April 13, the day known as Vaisakhi, the anniversary of the creation of Khalsa.
The second dimension is to recognize the social, economic and political contribution of Sikhs to the province of British Columbia.
The third dimension is to recognize the importance of the five K’s: the kirpan, the kes, the kara, the kanga and the kachara.
The purpose of this motion is to recognize and reaffirm our values of multiculturalism, human rights, racial and religious tolerance and pluralism.
The story of Sikhs in Canada goes back to Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee in 1897 when Sikh regiments passed through Canada on their way to London. They passed through again in 1902 for the coronation of Edward VII.
By 1903 Sikh immigration to Canada had begun. Between 1903 and 1908 nearly 6,000 Sikhs entered Canada, most of them traveling directly from their village in Punjab to British Columbia. Unfortunately, their arrival in B.C. was greeted with opposition in many quarters. There were Vancouver members of parliament and the mayor of Vancouver who called for a ban on further immigration of Sikhs.
In April 1907 Sikhs were denied the right to vote in B.C. and laws were passed prohibiting Asians from entering the professions, serving on juries, obtaining government contracts, and buying property in some parts of Vancouver. The recently arrived Sikhs were included in this category and therefore these laws also affected them, although they were not directed only at them.
To make a long story short, Sikhs were eventually prevented from entering Canada by virtue of the continuous journey mechanism. The consequence of this was that Sikh immigration did not resume until the late 1940s with the exception of the spouses and children of people who were already here.
The worst blow came when on May 21st, 1914, the ship, the Komagata Maru arrived in Vancouver. This ship was kept from landing for 2 months and then was eventually sent away. The details of this story are both fascinating and embarrassing in this day of multiculturalism, human rights and racial and religious tolerance and pluralism.
Sikhs continued to struggle and went on to attain key allies such as organized labour, particularly IWA, who helped with the “fair pay to the Sikhs” campaign. By 1947, Sikhs were granted the right to vote and to become Canadian citizens. The most rewarding year was 1962, when not only for Sikhs, but for people of other ethnic backgrounds as well, the quota system was dropped in favor of non-discriminatory immigration laws.
Given the early experiences of Sikhs in this country, there is an added reason for us to be proud of the sense of affinity that so many Sikh Canadians feel today for this province. Despite the initial differences between the Sikh immigrants and the general population, it is important to recognize that in the long run, if it had not been for the tolerance and acceptance demonstrated by the Canadian community, Sikhs would not have been able to accomplish all they have been able to. This sense of tolerance has evolved into a strong relationship between people of different racial and cultural backgrounds.
We should be all the more pleased to recognize, through the passage of this motion and speaking to this motion, the great contribution they went on to make to all of Canada, as Sikhs immigrated to provinces other than British Columbia and made their mark in many Canadian cities in all walks of life.
Sikhs in British Columbia have enriched and enhanced the diversity by bringing to it the values that emanate from their way of life and their religion: the values of equality, social responsibility, community service and the importance of family.
Sikhs continued with their contributions to Canadian history. In 1950 Mr. Narjan Grewal became the first Sikh to be elected to a city council in BC. in the city of Mission. From this point on, more and more Sikhs immigrated, families came and expanded. Sikh children were able to be educated in public schools with others, and, little by little, Sikhs enriched and enhanced the diversity and the mosaic which was becoming apparent in this province and this country. Sikhs brought with them many great values from their way of life.
Sikhs started to join many professions. The first Sikh elected to any provincial legislature in Canada was Moe Sihota from Esquimalt, BC, in 1986. By 1995, British Columbia schools started offering Punjabi language in its curriculum from grades five to twelve. At this time, there were over one hundred Gurdwaras in Canada. Fifty of these Gurdwaras were in BC.
Sikh contribution to the diversification of British Columbia and Canada has been strong and continues to flourish. We’ve seen the rise of Sikhs to high levels in politics and a variety of professions. We have had Sikh MLA’s, MP’s, ministers and even a Sikh Premier. We also saw the appointments of Sikh judges in top courts. In addition to everyday Sikh Canadian citizens, Sikhs have also produced prominent entrepreneurs, athletes, poets, artists, engineers, newscasters and actors who are proud to exhibit the Canadian flag hand in hand with displaying the passion of their faith.
I would like to urge all residents of this wonderful province to impress upon their respective elected officials and let them know that when it comes time to put this motion to a vote in the house, that their MLA vote in favor of this motion. The contributions of Sikhs to the history of this beautiful province and to this great country should and must be recognized.
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