Sikhism in Canada: Difference between revisions

| population      = '''468,670''' (2011)

|pop2              = 179,760

|pop3              = 52,300

| langs            = [[Canadian English]] • [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]<br>{{smaller|[[Canadian French]] • [[Hindi]] • [[Urdu]]}}

| related_groups  =  

}}

'''Canadian Sikhs''' number roughly 500,000 people<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldsikh.org/sikhs_in_canada|title=Sikhs in Canada|website=World Sikh Organization of Canada|access-date=2019-11-03}}</ref> and account for roughly 1.4% of Canada's population.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/130508/dq130508b-eng.htm|title=The Daily —&nbsp;2011&nbsp;National Household Survey: Immigration, place of birth, citizenship, ethnic origin, visible minorities, language and religion}}</ref> Canadian Sikhs are often credited for paving the path and creating the presence of [[Sikhism in the United States]]. [[Sikhism]] is a world religion with 27 million followers worldwide, with majority of their population in [[Punjab, India]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sikhism|title=Sikhism {{!}} History, Doctrines, Practice, & Literature|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|access-date=2019-09-23}}</ref> The [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]] and all other provinces in Canada celebrates April as Sikh Heritage Month.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/nri/us-canada-news/April-to-be-Sikh-Heritage-Month-in-Ontario/articleshow/27239007.cms  April to be Sikh Heritage Month in Ontario - Times of India]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-40/session-2/bill-52|title=Sikh Heritage Month Act, 2013|website=Legislative Assembly of Ontario|access-date=6 January 2019}}</ref>

British Columbia is home to not only the largest population of Sikhs in the country, but also some of the longest established Sikh communities. Although Sikhs can be found in most towns and cities within the province - most are concentrated in the [[Lower Mainland]]. In the city of Vancouver, Sikhs form over 30% of the population in the [[Sunset, Vancouver|Sunset]] neighbourhood, with the traditional [[Punjabi Market, Vancouver|Punjabi Market]] being the epicenter of Vancouver's Sikh community. In Vancouver's suburb of Surrey, Sikhs form a majority in the [[Newton, Surrey|Newton]] and [[Whalley, Surrey|Whalley]] neighbourhoods. Surrey's Sikhs can be found in large numbers across the city, with the exception of South Surrey. Sikhs in [[New Westminster, BC|New Westminister]] can be found in the [[Queensborough, New Westminster|Queensborough area]], where they are upwards of 30% of the population, and have lived since 1919.<ref name="NewWest">{{cite web |last1=Dobie |first1=Cayley |title=Society carries tradition into the 21st century |url=https://www.newwestrecord.ca/news/society-carries-tradition-into-the-21st-century-1.754410 |website=New West Record}}</ref> The west side of Abbotsford similarly hosts a large Sikh community, forming over 60% of the population in some parts of the [[Clearbrook, Abbotsford|Clearbook]] and Townline Hill areas. Similar to New Westminster, the establishment of Abbotsford's Sikh community goes back generations to 1905.<ref name="Baker">{{cite news |url=http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/news/said/2867977/Ahead+century/3971773/story.html?id=3971773|title=Abbotsford's Gur Sikh Temple celebrates 100 years|last=Baker |first=Rochelle|date=December 13, 2010|work=Abbotsford Times|access-date=2 April 2011}}([https://web.archive.org/web/20120311084550/http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/news/said/2867977/Ahead+century/3971773/story.html?id=3971773 archived])</ref> The southern half of [[Oliver, BC]], a small town in the Okanagan Valley, also has a Sikh population above 40%.<ref>{{cite web |title=SIKHS OF OLIVER: Hardworking, Proud To Be Part Of BC Wine Country's Flourishing Community – DesiBuzz |url=http://www.desibuzzbc.com/news/sikhs-of-oliver-hardworking-proud-to-be-part-of-bc-wine-countrys-flourishing-community/ |access-date=1 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Chronicle |first1=Oliver |title=Sikhs make world go round in Oliver {{!}} Oliver Chronicle |url=https://www.oliverchronicle.com/sikhs-make-world-go-round-in-oliver/ |access-date=1 February 2019}}</ref>

Sikh communities are found in most cities and towns in [[Southern Ontario]], while few are found living north of [[Barrie, Ontario|Barrie]]. The [[Greater Toronto Area]] is home to the second largest community of Sikhs in Canada, after the Vancouver-Abbotsford area of British Columbia. Sikhs in Toronto traditionally lived in the [[Rexdale, Toronto|Rexdale]] neighbourhood of Etobicoke, and [[Armadale, Ontario|Armadale]] in Scarborough. An older established Sikh community can be found in [[Malton, Mississauga]] as well, where Sikhs form nearly 25% of the population.<ref>{{cite web |last1=City of |first1=Mississauga |title=2011CENSUS & NHS RESULTS MALTON PROFILE |url=http://www7.mississauga.ca/documents/pb/main/2015/MaltonCensus.pdf |website=Mississauga.ca |access-date=1 February 2019}}</ref> Over half of Ontario's Sikhs can be found in Brampton, where they account for 19% of the city's total population.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ahmed-Ullah |first1=Noreen |title=How Brampton, a town in suburban Ontario, was dubbed a ghetto |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/brampton-a-story-of-political-importance-power-and-ethnic-enclaves/article30273820/ |website=The Globe and Mail |access-date=1 February 2019}}</ref> While Sikhs can be found living in all parts of Brampton, they form upwards of 35% of the population in the neighbourhoods of [[Churchville (Brampton)|Churchville]], [[Springdale, Brampton|Springdale]] and [[Castlemore, Brampton|Castlemore]].

The [[History of Canadian nationality law|Immigration Act, 1910]] came under scrutiny when a party of 39 Indians, mostly Sikhs, arriving on a Japanese ship, the [[SS Komagata Maru|Komagata Maru]], succeeded in obtaining ''habeas corpus'' against the immigration department's order of deportation. The Canadian Government then passed a law intended to keep labourers and artisans, whether skilled or unskilled, out of Canada by preventing them from landing at any dock in British Columbia. As Canadian immigration became stricter, more Indians, most of them Sikhs, travelled south to the United States of America. The [[Gur Sikh Temple]] opened on February 26, 1911; Sikhs and non-Sikhs from across British Columbia attended the ceremony and a local newspaper reported on the event. It was the first Gurdwara not only in North America, but also anywhere in the world outside of South Asia, and has since become a Canadian historical landmark and symbol, the only Gurdwara to have similar status outside India. The Khalsa Diwan Society subsequently built Gurdwaras in Vancouver and Victoria.<ref name="Gur Sikh Temple">{{cite web|url=http://www.canadiansikhheritage.ca/en/node/16|title=Gur Sikh Temple &#124; CanadianSikhHeritage.ca|access-date=7 April 2011}}</ref> The first and only Sikh settlement in Canada, [[Paldi, British Columbia]] was established as a mill town in 1916.<ref>{{cite web |title=Paldi, BC, The Oldest Sikh Settlement In Canada Falls On Bad Days |url=https://www.darpanmagazine.com/news/national/paldi-bc-the-oldest-sikh-settlement-in-canada-falls-on-bad-days/ |website=darpanmagazine.com |access-date=16 April 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

{{main|Komagata Maru incident}}In 1908, a series of ordinances were passed by the federal government, by which Indian immigrants entering Canada had to have 200 Canadian dollars (vs. 25 for Europeans). They also had to arrive directly from the area of birth/nationality- even though there was no direct route between India and Canada.  Because of this legislation, in 1914, a Japanese ship called Komagata Maru chartered by a Sikh businessman which sailed from Hong Kong to Vancouver (with multiple stops) was not allowed to dock at the final port. The ship, which had 376 passengers (340 Sikhs), had to spend over 2 months offshore and only 20 former Canadian residents were allowed to disembark.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://caravanmagazine.in/reportage/jagmeet-singh-hard-questions-facing-canada-multiculturalism-poster-boy|title=The hard questions facing the poster boy of Canadian multiculturalism|last=Block|first=Daniel|website=The Caravan|language=en|access-date=2019-08-19}}</ref> [[File:Komagata Maru and Rainbow.jpg|thumb|250px|right|''[[Komagata Maru]]'' (furthest ship on the left)]]

When the ship arrived in Canada, it was not allowed to dock. The [[British Columbia Conservative Party|Conservative]] [[Premier of British Columbia]], [[Richard McBride]], issued a categorical statement that the passengers would not be allowed to disembark. Meanwhile, a "Shore Committee" had been formed with the participation of Hussain Rahim and Sohan Lal Pathak. Protest meetings were held in Canada and the USA. At one, held in Dominion Hall, Vancouver, it was resolved that if the passengers were not allowed off, Indo-Canadians should follow them back to India to start a rebellion (or Ghadar). The shore Committee raised $22,000 [[Canadian dollar|dollars]] as an instalment on chartering the ship. They also launched a test case legal battle in the name of Munshi Singh, one of the passengers. Further, the [[Khalsa Diwan Society Vancouver|Khalsa Diwan Society]] (founded 1907 to manage Vancouver's gurudwara) offered to pay the 200 dollar admittance fee for every passenger, which was denied.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://caravanmagazine.in/reportage/jagmeet-singh-hard-questions-facing-canada-multiculturalism-poster-boy|title=The hard questions facing the poster boy of Canadian multiculturalism|last=Block|first=Daniel|website=The Caravan|language=en|access-date=2019-08-19}}</ref>  On July 7, the full bench of the Supreme Court gave a unanimous judgment that under new Orders-In-Council it had no authority to interfere with the decisions of the Department of Immigration and Colonization. The Japanese captain was relieved of duty by the angry passengers, but the Canadian government ordered the harbour tug Sea Lion to push the ship out on its homeward journey. On July 19, the angry passengers mounted an attack. Next day the Vancouver newspaper The Sun reported: "Howling masses of Hindus showered policemen with lumps of coal and bricks... it was like standing underneath a coal chute".

Extremism in Canada increased after the [[Operation Bluestar]] to evict militant leader Bhindranwale occupying the Akal Takht inside the [[Harmandir Sahib|Golden Temple]], the holiest shrine of Sikhs, to evade arrest. Some Sikhs wanted a separate nation based on religion, called [[Khalistan]]. Khalistanis would sometimes be met by opposition by some Indians and went generally unnoticed by the Canadian Government."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=86965 |title=Sikh extremism spread fast in Canada |date=23 May 2007 |publisher=expressindia.com |access-date=2009-05-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://ia.rediff.com/news/2007/may/23ai1.htm |title=Sikh extremism in Canada mushroomed very quickly |date=23 May 2007|publisher=rediff.com |access-date=2009-05-31}}</ref> [[Ujjal Dosanjh]], a moderate Sikh, spoke against Sikh extremists and faced a "reign of terror".<ref name="THESTAR">{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/article/278833 |title=The reign of terror is still there |last=Brown |first=Jim |date=22 November 2007<!-- 04:30 AM--> |place=Toronto |newspaper=[[Toronto Star]] |access-date=2008-11-14}}</ref>

In Vancouver, many Sikh protests occurred. Two Sikhs entered the Indian Consulate in Vancouver and smashed all pictures of [[Indira Gandhi]] with swords. Later in the week, Sikh protesters by the hundreds blocked the entrance to the consulate, forcing it to close, then burned the Indian National Flag and an effigy of Indira Gandhi. They would spend the day chanting "Down With Gandhi" and "Gandhi is a Murderer" until the consulate had to agree to relay their demands to the Indian Government. Following their dispersion, the Sikhs spent the rest of the day mourning [[Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale]].<ref>http://www.sikhmuseum.com/bluestar/newsreports/pdfs/840606_3.pdf</ref> Bhindranwale had been declared a "terrorist" by the Indian government and had brought arms and ammunition while occupying a sacred place of worship, held sacred by all Indians, the Golden Temple in Amritsar, following which Operation Bluestar was launched.

[[Air India Flight 182]] was an [[Air India]] flight operating on the [[Montréal]]-[[London]]-[[Delhi]]-[[Bombay]] route. On 23 June 1985, the airplane operating on the route was blown up in midair by a bomb in the coast of Ireland. In all, 329 people perished, among them 280 Canadian nationals, mostly of Indian birth or descent, and 22 Indian nationals. The attack was the deadliest act of aviation terrorism until the [[September 11 attacks]] in 2001.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Global Intelligence Oversight: Governing Security in the Twenty-First Century|last=Goldman|first=Zachary K.|last2=Rascoff|first2=Samuel J.|date=26 April 2016|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780190458089|pages=177|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Hoffman 144">{{Cite book|title=The Evolution of the Global Terrorist Threat: From 9/11 to Osama bin Laden's Death|last=Hoffman|first=Bruce|last2=Reinares|first2=Fernando|date=28 October 2014|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=9780231537438|pages=144|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://time.com/4672937/inderjit-singh-reyat-air-india-bombing-canada-freed/|title=Man Convicted for 1985 Air India Bombing Now Free|website=Time|language=en|access-date=2018-12-21}}</ref>

The main suspects in the bombing were the members of a [[Sikh]] separatist group called the [[Babbar Khalsa]] and other related groups who were at the time agitating for a separate State based on religion called [[Khalistan movement|Khalistan]] in [[Punjab, India]]. In September 2007, the Canadian commission investigated reports, initially disclosed in the Indian investigative news magazine ''[[Tehelka]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tehelka.com/story_main33.asp?filename=Ne040807operation_silence.asp |title=Free. Fair. Fearless |publisher=Tehelka |access-date=2010-01-11}}</ref> that a hitherto unnamed person, [[Lakhbir Singh Rode]] had masterminded the explosions.

The protests had gained mixed reactions, with a majority of citizens not supporting the protests of the Sikhs, seeing them as people with an unjust cause.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sikhsangat.org/1699/balwant-singh-rajoana-case-is-about-the-rule-of-law-in-india/|title=The Canadian Sikh Community Will Not Be Marginalized by Milewski and Kay – Global Sikh News<!-- Bot generated title -->|access-date=6 January 2019}}</ref> Many members of the [[Canadian Parliament]] supported the Sikh rallies and their protests against the death penalty in India. These politicians included, but were not limited to, [[Justin Trudeau]], [[Parm Gill]], [[Jasbir Sandhu]], [[Wayne Marston]], [[Don Davies]], [[Kirsty Duncan]] and [[Jim Karygiannis]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/03/28/pol-sikh-parliament-hill-milewski.html | work=CBC News | date=28 March 2012}}</ref> Around this time, a group of [[White power skinhead|Skinheads]] called "Blood and Honour" would attack two Sikh men in [[Edmonton]].<ref name="thelinkpaper.ca">{{cite web|url=http://thelinkpaper.ca/?p=19337|title=Confronting Ignorance And Racism In Canada Like Racists On CKNW}}</ref>

NDP Party Leader [[Thomas Mulcair]] would once again raise ire and tensions when he would bring up the 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots. Mulcair would demand that a full investigation be put into the riots and those harmed be compensated.<ref>http://sikhsangat.org/1699/tom-mulcair-responds-tells-india-he-wont-be-bullied-stands-firm-on-1984-statement/</ref> Soon after this statement, neo-Nazi gunman Wade Michael Page would commence a shooting at a Sikh Temple in Wisconsin, America, which would be described as a domestic terrorism act. Despite the fact that the shooting occurred outside of Canada, Canadian Sikhs would take full responsibility to spread the message of Sikhism, explain the religion, honour the dead and wounded as well as give their reactions to the shootings.<ref>https://theprovince.com/news/Surrey+Sikhs+honour+victims+temple+tragedy/7048124/story.html</ref>

The Indian Overseas Congress would request to the [[Akal Takht]] that all Khalistan symbols prevailing in Canadian gurdwaras be removed. They would go on to claim [[Pakistan]] funding Canadian efforts relating Khalistan and that Canadian politicians of Sikh heritage were turning militant,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thelinkpaper.ca/?p=22191|title=Indian Overseas Congress Approaches Akal Takht To Get Khalistan Insignias Removed From Gurdwaras In Canada And US}}</ref> a claim that would immediately be denied.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globaltvbc.com/bc+politicians+deny+helping+sikh+militants/6442713964/story.html|title=Global News - Latest & Current News - Weather, Sports & Health News|work=Global News}}</ref>

The Sikhs of Canada would once again take solidarity and hospitality, much like they had done with the Rajoana situation, to support Daljit Singh Bittu and Kulbir Singh Barapind. The two had previously been arrested and abused on false charges, resulting in their most recent arrest to raise the ire of the Canadian Sikhs, who would go on to trash the policing forces in Punjab.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thelinkpaper.ca/?p=22856|title=Canadian Sikh Coalition Decries Abuse Of Democracy In The Punjab Arrest Of Activist Politicians Barapind And Bittu}}</ref>

2013 was a monumental year for Sikhs as the April of that year was declared the Sikh Heritage Month by the Government of Ontario.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ontariosikhheritagemonth.ca/|title=ontariosikhheritagemonth.ca – Ontario Sikh Heritage Month|work=ontariosikhheritagemonth.ca}}</ref> In 2014, history was made when a park in [[Calgary]] was named after Harnam Singh Hari, the first Sikh settler who was able to successfully farm on fertile land in Alberta. This happened shortly after the announcement of Quebec's Charter of Values, which threatened the use of religious items at government workplaces. This Charter was opposed by the Sikhs, Hindus, Jews, Christians, and Muslims whose symbols would be affected by the charter. In May 2014, [[Lieutenant Colonel]] [[Harjit Sajjan]] became the first Sikh to command a Canadian regiment, ironically it was the [[British Columbia Regiment]] (Duke Connaught's Own), which opposed the Komagata Maru a century prior.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-regiment-that-once-forced-out-the-komagata-maru-is-now-commanded-by-a-sikh/article18832286/|title=B.C. regiment that once forced out the Komagata Maru is now commanded by a Sikh|work=The Globe and Mail}}</ref> In 2015, the [[Surrey, British Columbia|Surrey]] Nagar Kirtan was declared the largest parade of its kind outside of India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://asiasamachar.com/2015/05/08/largest-khalsa-day-parade-outside-india/|title=Largest Khalsa Day parade outside India|author=Asia Samachar|date=8 May 2015|work=Asia Samachar}}</ref> In August 2015, [[Corporal]] Tej Singh Aujla of the 39th Brigade Group, [[Royal Westminster Regiment]] became the first Sikh soldier to guard and watch over the "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier" at Canada's National War Memorial.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjabisabroad/first-sikh-soldier-to-guard-tomb-of-unknown-soldier/article1-1385244.aspx|title=First Sikh soldier to guard Tomb of Unknown Soldier in Canada|work=hindustantimes.com/}}</ref> In regards to the [[2015 Canadian election]], it was internationally noted that in over twelve constituencies Sikh politicians were riding against each other, a highlight of the successful integration of the Sikh populace as Canadian citizens. It was also noted that of these politicians, Martin Singh was a Caucasian convert to Sikhism and potentially the first "white" Sikh to run for a constituency in the federal elections.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/nris-in-news/sikh-vs-sikh-in-upcoming-canada-polls/articleshow/48466347.cms|title=Sikh vs Sikh in upcoming Canada polls|work=The Economic Times}}</ref>

On October 1, 2017, [[Jagmeet Singh]], was elected leader of the federal [[New Democratic Party of Canada|New Democratic Party]] on the first ballot of that party's [[2017 New Democratic Party leadership election|2017 leadership race]]. Upon his election, Singh became the first Sikh and the first person of a visible minority group to be elected leader of a Canadian federal political party.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/canada-s-jagmeet-singh-becomes-first-sikh-politician-to-lead-new-democratic-party/story-GYam4rzzdMVaDRHC2Y312M.html|title=Jagmeet Singh becomes first Sikh politician to lead major Canadian party|work=Hindustan Times}}</ref> Previously, Singh had also held the distinction of being the first turban-wearing Sikh to sit as a provincial legislator in Ontario.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Zimonjic|first1=Peter|title=Meet Jagmeet Singh: New leader of federal NDP|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/jagmeet-singh-profile-biography-win-1.4315780|access-date=3 October 2017|work=CBC News|date=1 October 2017|language=en}}</ref>

In 2001 16,780 persons in the [[Abbotsford, British Columbia|Abbotsford]] area stated that they were of the Sikh religion. In 2011 28,235 persons in the Abbotsford area stated that they were of the Sikh religion, making up 16.9% of the population.<ref>"[http://www.vancouverdesi.com/news/abbotsfords-sikh-numbers-soar-census/551777/ Abbotsford’s Sikh numbers nearly double over last decade: Statistics Canada]" ([https://www.webcitation.org/6U6j4YPNq?url=http://www.vancouverdesi.com/news/abbotsfords-sikh-numbers-soar-census/551777/ Archive]). ''[[Vancouver Desi]]''. May 8, 2013. Retrieved on November 16, 2014.</ref> Of all [[census metropolitan areas]] in Canada, Abbotsford had the highest Sikh percentage in 2011.<ref>Mills, Kevin. "[http://www.abbynews.com/news/207379841.html Abbotsford's Sikh population has doubled in the past 10 years]" ([https://www.webcitation.org/6U6jRCtXH?url=http://www.abbynews.com/news/207379841.html Archive]). ''[[Abbotsford News]]''. May 14, 2013. Retrieved on November 16, 2014.</ref>

[[Gur Sikh Temple]] is located in Abbotsford. It was the Sikh gurdwara building in North America that is still standing.<ref>"[http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2011/08/28/abbotsfords-gur-sikh-temple-celebrates-its-100th-anniversary Abbotsford’s Gur Sikh Temple celebrates its 100th anniversary]." [[Government of Canada]]. August 28, 2011. Retrieved on November 16, 2014.</ref> In 1975 the Khalsa Diwan Society of Abbotsford separated from the [[Khalsa Diwan Society|parent organization in Vancouver]], as the title of the Abbotsford gurdwara was transferred to the separated entity. The Abbotsford Sikhs wanted to have local control over their gurdwara.<ref>"[https://carleton.ca/india/wp-content/uploads/Budh-Singh-Kashmir-Kaur-Dhahan.pdf Budh Singh and Kashmir Kaur Dhahan]" ([https://www.webcitation.org/6XlAMEOgM?url=http://carleton.ca/india/wp-content/uploads/Budh-Singh-Kashmir-Kaur-Dhahan.pdf Archive]). [[Carleton University]]. Retrieved on April 13, 2015.</ref>

The largest concentration of Sikhs in the Greater Vancouver area is in the City of [[Surrey, British Columbia|Surrey]] in the census agglomeration's southeastern sector, forming 22.6% of the population.  The City of Abbotsford which lies east of the census agglomeration's boundary, has the next-largest concentration of Sikhs in British Columbia, at 13.4% of the population (with 16.3% self-identifying of the total city population as East Indian, and 2.3% as Punjabi).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=5915022&Data=Count&SearchText=Vancouver&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&A1=Religion&B1=All&Custom=&amp;TABID=1|title=National Household Survey (NHS) Profile, 2011}}</ref>{{notincitationgiven|date=April 2015}}

Vaisakhi celebrations happen in both British Columbia and Ontario, with many including a Nagar Kirtan parade. In Ontario, the Vaisakhi celebrations are reported to get bigger and bigger in terms of festivities and attending populace every year. Many Sikh academies and institutes also participate in the Ontario parades, such as the Akal Academy Brampton. While the Nagar Kirtan in the Ontario Vaisakhi celebration starts at the Malton Gurudwara and ends at the Sikh Spiritual Centre, festivities go on until the Rexdale Gurudwara is reached, it is organized annually by the [[Ontario Gurdwara Committee]]. Nagar Kirtan parades also take place in Alberta. Both the cities of Calgary and Edmonton hold them around the May long weekend.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sikhnet.com/news/daily-news/ontario-sikhs-take-streets|title=Ontario Sikhs take to the streets.|work=SikhNet}}</ref>

In February 2011, the [[National Assembly of Quebec|Quebec National Assembly]] banned religious daggers, of which the kirpan was included. Upon the announcement, Canadian Sikh Liberal MP [[Navdeep Bains]] revealed his surprise and anger as he had worn the kirpan to the [[Supreme Court of Canada]] and the [[United States Congress]] without any trouble. The ban sparked a small debate amongst the Canadian Legislatures and news programs as well as backlash from the [[World Sikh Organization]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://religiousliberty.tv/article18-canada.html|title=Article18: Canada - Sikhs Upset After Quebec National Assembly Bans Religious Daggers; Controversy Reignites Multiculturalism Debate - ReligiousLiberty.TV - Celebrating Liberty of Conscience|work=ReligiousLiberty.TV - Celebrating Liberty of Conscience}}</ref> Following this was a vote that the kirpan be banned from all parliamentary buildings including the [[House of Commons of Canada]]. The vote happened in favour of the kirpan, despite fierce opposition from the [[Bloc Québécois]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/parliament-to-accept-and-embrace-wearing-of-kirpan-sergeant-at-arms-explains/article2045522/ | location=Toronto | work=The Globe and Mail | title=Parliament to 'accept and embrace' wearing of kirpan, sergeant-at-arms explains | date=3 June 2011}}</ref>

The [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] came under fire when they refused to let turbaned Canadian Sikh officers join their service. In doing so they had indefinitely banned all RCMP officers from wearing a turban, requiring them to wear the standard and traditional RCMP headdress. The ban was a result of the activism of a petition leader named [[Herman Bittner]],<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1990/03/16/canada-says-sikh-mounties-can-wear-turbans/c5fa5ffe-c7e6-42c8-a1dd-eb68426b9938/</ref> who maintained that he was preserving history rather than discriminating. The ban was lifted in 1990 and turbaned Sikh officers were permitted to join the RCMP.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/archives|title=CBC Archives|website=CBC|access-date=6 January 2019}}</ref>