Can you guess where the very first Sikh temple in North America was located?

                Through the support of Khalsa Diwan Society, the first Sikh establishment in BC, the very first Sikh temple in North America located in 1866 West 2nd Avenue (yes, in Vancouver!) was built.

                The Second Avenue Gurdwara had became a hub for Vancouver's growing Sikh community from 1908-1970. According to Naveen Girn, a South Asian-Canadian cultural historian, "the gurdwara was the centre for spiritual, political and social life for Indians of all faiths and stood at the forefront of social justice campaigns for immigration reform and regaining the right to vote in 1947".

                 Recently, it was commemorated with a plaque as part of the Vancouver Heritage Foundation Places That Matter project! I couldn't have said it any better than what the people who nominated the site for the award have said. It is, indeed, a "living proof of the living history of other culture in BC history", one that has shaped our city.

 

The first Sikh temple in North America

 

 

The Khalsa Diwan Society, on the other hand, which has greatly helped newly migrated Sikh families in need of communal ground to share their collected experiences, and of assistance and support emotionally and financially, has spread to areas, such as Abbotsford. There, they built the Gur Sikh Gurdwara in 1911 which is the oldest existing Sikh Temple in North America and a National Historic Site Canada - making it the only Sikh temple outside of India and Pakistan that is designated as national historic site.

            The Khalsa Diwan Society of Abbotsford, BC. Parks Canada’s news release in 2002 stated: “The Sikh Temple is the oldest surviving example of the temples which formed the religious, social and political centre of pioneer Canadian Sikh communities. Architecturally, it is an adaptation of traditional Sikh forms to Canadian conditions which nevertheless embodies the fundamental beliefs of Sikhs and their early experience as immigrants in Canada”.



The Five Thieves: Lust

Dear journal :)

Me and my baby had the best date ever last night! Not “my baby” with the shag cut and high-tops from the Zulu on West 4^th that I met at the Starbucks near Vine (Venti Mocha Cookie Crumble, extra chocolate syrup, extra whip, yum!) last week. I’m SO over him! He has been replaced with Hutch, the bodybuilder from Spartacus Gym on The Drive. I met him while getting teppanyaki on Broadway (steak and lobster was to DIE for!). I need to fill my time since Jimmy went off to Toronto for work. We said we would stay together but a girl has needs, ya know? I think I should cut him loose, but what if I get bored one weekend and my guys are busy and I want to go back East? So frustrating…

Where was I? Oh, right, Hutch :) :) We went to Theatre Under The Stars on Beach and then back to his place for drinks and dessert. He has a HUGE… apartment!

I hope my date with Maxim tonight is just as awesome! Thierry Chocolaterie Patisserie Café on Alberni, how could it not??

Tootles!

xoxo

Bimbo Barbie

Khalsa Credit Union - A credit union by Sikhs for the whole community

With the opening of the first branch in Vancouver on April 1, 1986, Khalsa Credit Union (KCU) strives to be the most successful Sikh credit union in Canada. The founders of KCU were presented with some obstacles and challenges, but their faith was never wavered. Their desire for a religious bond credit union serving the financial needs of the Sikh community became a reality. From those early struggles, KCU emerged as stronger and more energized and is a model of efficiency for the credit union system of British Columbia in the present day.

The Credit Union’s first branch was opened in Vancouver, British Columbia followed by a branch in Surrey, British Columbia on October 11,1987 and Abbotsford, British Columbia on January 30,1989. Another Surrey branch, this one in Guildford- now relocated to Newton, opened on September 27,1993 and Victoria, British Columbia on Vancouver Island, became the fifth branch office to open on August 19,1990. From these locations and its Head Office on Scott Road in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, KCU serves both retail and business members throughout the province and is very proud of its real estate holdings.

The founders of KCU believe that growth for the sake of growth has never been their motto. Instead, their values are deeply rooted in Sikh heritage that motivates them to do the right thing for the members, employees, and the community out of an uncompromising desire.

As a faith based institution, KCU participates in many religious activities including, but not limited to, the annual Vaisakhi parade held in Surrey, Vancouver, and other smaller communities like Abbotsford & Kelowna in British Columbia. Whereas many financial institutions focus on national and international sponsorship activities, effectively ignoring their local markets, KCU has a much deeper connection with its local community where it awards thousands of dollars to worthy recipients through scholarships and bursaries and other incentives every year.

http://www.khalsacreditunion.ca/Home/

Birds of a feather flock together

 

Many of you have probably heard that people who are similar will associate with each other, well this is certainly true for Sikhs according to National Household Survey done in 2011. 30.2% of the people who live around Moberly Park and Ross Park in Vancouver are Sikh (See the green area outlined in the photo above). There are 80,135 Sikhs living in North Surrey which makes up 67.1% of the population in the area. Is it a coincidence that the Sikh Academy is located in the same area in North Surrey?

See what religion is dominant in your area

 

SIKH ACADEMY - learning about other cultures while not forgetting their own

Sikh Academy is  a private school located in Surrey teaching students - from Kindergarten to Grade 7 -  about embracing other cultures while ensuring they are knowledgeable about Sikhism. Coming from a different religious background, this surprises me as I'm only familiar with a few of the private Catholic/Christian schools in Greater Vancouver and didn't know about the Sikh Academy which was established in 2008. I think parents' sending their kids to a Sikh school is a great way for the latter to learn not only about cultural diversity (the school itself is a perfect example - READ: 50% of the school staff is Caucasian!!!), but also, more importantly, the equality of all people which is one of the basic beliefs of Sikhism - Sikhism preaches that people of different races, religions, or sex are all equal in the eyes of God; Sikhism teaches the full equality of men and women.

Watch the news about Sikh Academy posted on BCIT Broadcast News website

Provincial government exempted Sikhs from wearing helmets when driving motorcycles

The turban is a characteristic of conservative Sikhs which has attracted the most public attention. It is the hallmark of their religion and gives them a distinct public identity. As per their religious beliefs, a baptized Sikh is not allowed to wear a cap, hat, or helmet of European style.

Due to a lack of understanding of the Sikh religion and more specifically the Sikh turban, there were certain laws and regulations in place in the Province of British Columbia that prohibited practicing members of the Sikh community from participating in activities. This contravened the rights and freedoms allowed by the Canadian Charter of Rights to all Canadians. One of those practices was the ability to ride a motorcycle. Laws in many provinces in Canada (including British Columbia) required that a helmet was mandatory for a rider which was not practical for a turban wearing member of the Sikh community. Therefore, members of the Sikh community who wear turbans were not able to ride a motorcycle.

It was Mr. Avtar Singh Dhillon who took it upon himself to raise awareness of the Sikh beliefs and the importance of the Sikh turban. Soon after getting his first job in 1971, it was for the first time that Mr. Dhillon was forced to stand up to defend his right to wear a turban when his employer required that he remove his turban and wear a hard hat on job. It took almost 30 years of struggle on Mr. Dhillon's part to maintain the sanctity of the turban and ensure the Sikhs continue to have the right to wear the turban.

Read full story of Mr. Dhillon's struggle against law at http://www.voiceonline.com/one-mans-struggle-for-right-to-wear-turban/

It was on May 11, 1999 that Frances Gordon, Member of the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal, announced that Mr. Avtar Singh Dhillon has been discriminated, because of religion, by The Ministry of Transportation and Highways, and Motor Vehicle Branch. This discrimination is contrary to Section 8 of the Human Rights Code. The Chairperson, thus, ordered the Government of British Columbia to amend the motorcycle helmet law to accommodate the Sikhs wearing the turban.

Consequently an amendment was introduced by the Provincial Government, in the provincial legislature to the Motor Vehicle Act #218 which was accepted by the Parliament on July19, 1999. As a result of this amendment, the Motor Vehicle Act and the BC Safe Riding Guide was amended as follows:

“In British Columbia, all riders and their passengers are required to wear approved motorcycle safety helmets. An exception to this requirement is made for people of the Sikh religion with unshorn hair who wear full turbans.”

Sikhism and Sports: The "Safety" Issue of the Patka

The Quebec Soccer Federation (QSF) recently lifted a ban preventing Sikh players from wearing religious headwear (such as the patka) during games. This was after the QSF was suspended from the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) for not following its directive to allow male players to wear head scarves. Quebec was the only province or territory to not follow the CSA's directive. The QSF blamed a language barrier for the confusion, stating that they were only concerned for the players' safety when it came across as though they were starting a religious debate.

Local Vancouver area Indo-Canadian MP's spoke out about the ban before it was lifted. “Children and their families shouldn’t have to choose between their religion and playing organized sports,” said Conservative MP Nina Grewal.

In soccer, no other type of headgear (such as a helmet) is worn during play. This begs the question: what are the rules for sports that require a helmet, such as hockey or football? In 2008, a policy change was put into effect for hockey coaches teaching in the minor leagues in British Columbia. This change now allows coaches to wear religious headwear instead of a helmet when on ice. No indication that a similar policy change has been put into place for players and Internet searches have not revealed details of these rules.