Thousands of B.C.Sikhs joined Western Canada’s top soldier to honour Canada’s fallen men and women and recognize their countrymen’s contribution to global peace at a special Remembrance Day ceremony this week.
The event at the Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar in Surrey organized by South Asian Post publisher, Harbinder Singh Sewak, featured Rear-Adm. Bill Truelove, the Commander Maritime Forces Pacific.
Sewak, who is also the Canada Sikh Community Military Liaison and the founding member of the Surrey-based 3300 Army Cadet Corps, Canada’s first supported by the Sikh community, hailed the event as a “historic day” for B.C.
“It was a great honour to have Rear-Adm Truelove with us to remember Canada’s fallen while recognizing the sacrifices of the Sikh soldiers who fought for what we have today,” he said.
Truelove’s address to the temple included the many contributions of Canadian military personnel in global conflicts, but also highlighted the efforts of Sikhs, 65,000 of who fought for the British Commonwealth alongside more than 500,000 Canadians in the First World War.
A further 300,000 Sikhs fought for the Commonwealth during the Second World War, with 83,005 turban-wearing soldiers dying in the course of the two major wars, while another 109,045 were wounded.
“We must never forget the terrible price Canadians paid during the First World War for the freedoms we enjoy today,” said Truelove.
“That price included Sikhs warriors. Notably, one of the wounded was Sikh soldier John Baboo of Winnipeg, Manitoba. His wounds were inflicted during the battle for Vimy Ridge, the battle that has been referred to as “the birth of a nation”, our nation.
Another wounded soldier, and who subsequently died upon his return to Canada, was Private Buckham Singh. His grave, located in the Mount Hope Cemetery in Kitchener, Ontario, is the only military grave in Canada belonging to a Sikh soldier,” he said.
Truelove told the gathering that in the wake of recent tragic events involving Canadian Armed Forces members that took place in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu and at the National War Memorial, it is important that all reflect on the sacrifices made by our military personnel serving every day, whether it be at home or abroad. 
“I am incredibly proud to share with you all these amazing stories of service and sacrifice, and to celebrate the central roles that Canadian Sikhs played in episodes that helped define who we are as a country. “
Sewak presented Truelove with a sword of honour to close the ceremonies.
Similar Remembrance Day ceremonies are being planned in Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto, added Sewak.

Photo credit: Adam Ziorio