Organised by Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar the event is the annual celebration of the winter harvest - attendees are given free food and drink from hundreds of local residents and businesses. For many thousands of years, Vaisakhi has been the time when farmers have put their scythes to harvest and celebrated the coming of a new year.
Since 1699, the Sikhs have also celebrated the birth of the Khalsa fraternity in parallel with Vaisakhi. Three hundred years on, this tradition continues with much gaiety, vigour and enthusiasm. Sikhs worldwide celebrate annually the most important day in their religious calendar – the day the Khalsa was created.
The Canadian Forces played a prominent and historic role in this year's Khalsa Day parade. This is the first time a contingent of soldier participated in the parade as guards of honor and met and march with the community.
To mark the occasion, Surjit Singh, president of the Gurdwara presented the commanding officer with a sword, called a kirpan, the highest honour with which Sikhs can bestow on someone from a different community.
“Today the Sikh community is most appreciative of the Canadian Armed Forces policies and practices governing religious accommodation,” said Surjit Singh.
Harbinder Singh Sewak is the chair of the Canada Sikh Community Military Liaision and the main organizers for the military participation in Sikh parades across Canada. He also remarked on the precedent setting participation of the Canadian Forces.
“It attests to the institutional willingness of the Canadain Forces to adapt to a new era of diversity in the ranks,” said Sewak.
Speaking afterwards, Canadian Forces spokesperson said he was greatly pleased at the inaugural event and was hopeful it would strengthen ties between the Sikh-Canadian community and the nation's military.
“Vaisakhi is an occasion for everyone to give back to their community and to Canada,” said Jasbinder Singh, the community representative for the military at the parade.
"Through Sikhism I have discovered the values that strengthen and resolve, promote decency and encourage women and men to do the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason and it resonates with Canadian values," Jasbinder added.
The Montreal Vaisakhi Parade has been held in the community for the past 17 years.
This year, the parade took three hours on its route around the city. The event attracted nearly 15,000 thousand people.