SIKH Heritage Month BC is celebrating its seventh anniversary with an exciting lineup of events and awards aimed at recognizing and celebrating the unique contributions of Sikh Canadians.

The theme for Sikh Heritage Month 2024 is “Chardi Kala,” meaning a positive and uplifted state of mind. Chardi Kala, a Sikh concept centered around high spirits, optimism and resilience, calls on all individuals to treat adversity as a catalyst for growth, faith and community. You are invited to join the exploration of the bounds of Chardi Kala through a series of in-person events aimed at encouraging intercultural dialogue and spreading awareness about the contributions Sikh Canadians have made to the province of British Columbia for well over a century.

“We hope that British Columbians will take advantage of these events, and join us in celebrating the history and culture of the Sikh community,” says Mohnaam Kaur Shergill, a spokesperson for Sikh Heritage BC. “If you’ve ever wondered why we look the way we do, or why so many of us find ourselves actively involved in politics and social justice, then these events are for you.”

This year’s events include:

• Sikh Heritage Month 2024 Opening Celebration, March 30, at Surrey City Hall, 1-4 p.m. Guests will enjoy a live performance, a sneak peak of the arts event and plenty of food. This event will include official recognition of SHBC’s five scholarship recipients and celebration of three ‘Community Changemakers’.  

• Artificial Intelligence and Sikhi – March 31, at Surrey City Hall, 2-4 p.m. Harjinder Singh Sandhu, CTO of Health and Life Sciences at Microsoft, will speak about the impact of AI and what it means for Sikhs. Learn about AI bias, risks inherent with the use of AI, and much more. Jujaar Singh will talk about AI and film, and how it will change the creative landscape. From animation to music and beyond, learn about the many ways in which AI is impacting the arts today. 

• Sikhs Speak: Embracing Chardi Kala – April 6, at Simon Fraser University Surrey, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. In partnership with the Sikh Students Associations of KPU, SFU and UBC, join an enlightening event where Sikhs from all walks of life come together to share their stories, experiences and wisdom.

• Kaum (Community) – a live and interactive art exhibit at Surrey City Hall, April 14, from 1-3 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Join in for an evening of art, performance and storytelling, celebrating Sikh resilience throughout the centuries. Reflecting on 40 years since the 1984 Sikh Genocide, Kaum will explore the past, present and future of Chardi Kala in the face of oppression. The kaum, or ‘community’, is a critical source of strength, solace and political direction and offers a well of inspiration for the visual art, film, poetry and music to be featured at Sikh Heritage Month’s flagship event.  

• 1984: The Female Perspective – April 21, at Khalsa School, Old Yale Road, 2:30-4:30 pm. In partnership with the World Sikh Organization of Canada, join in for a riveting discussion about the impact of 1984 on the Sikh community, through an exploration of resilience, faith and community, all told from the female perspective. 

• Blossoming: Eeshar Singh, Live in Concert, April 26, at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, 6:30-9 p.m. Join in for an intimate, immersive and musical evening with renowned musician and composer Eeshar Singh from the UK. Join in and be immersed in the meditative sounds of his Santoor, atmospheric synths, and the powerful boom of the Nagara. This event will also feature a discussion on the rich heritage of the Sikh musical and storytelling tradition, celebrating the completion of Season 1 of the Suraj Podcast X. This event is open to the public.

2024 also marks the 40th anniversary of the 1984 Sikh Genocide, when the Indian government instituted a state-sponsored attack against the Sikh community, including at Sikh places of worship. Tens of thousands of innocent Sikhs were slaughtered, burned alive, raped and brutally tortured. To date, the Sikh community continues to demand justice and accountability. A remarkable example of strength, resilience and faith, the Sikh community’s demonstrated ability to prosper and continue to break barriers in the face of genocide and oppression is but one example of the spirit of Chardi Kala coming to life.

More recently, the upholding of key portions of Quebec’s Bill 21 by the Quebec Court of Appeal highlights the importance of advocacy, community and education, especially when faced with governmental attempts to limit the rights of religious minorities under the guise of secularism and democracy.

“As a practicing Sikh woman born in this country, Bill 21 tells me that I am not welcome in Quebec unless I agree to sever a core part of my being,” says Mohnaam Kaur Shergill. “My articles of faith are not mere accessories that I don when it is convenient to do so. They are an extension of myself and the values that I stand for.”

The Sikh community in Canada is no stranger to these types of blatantly discriminatory laws. It was not too long ago that Sikhs were fighting for the right to vote and that the passengers of the Komagata Maru were refused entry to British Columbia. Even now, Sikhs are routinely faced with discrimination and forced to justify their existence.

“The Sikh community’s fight for justice and freedom is far from over,” says Jasleen Kaur Sidhu, a high school teacher and Director of Education at Sikh Heritage BC. “But our community is resilient, and we will persevere all while showing British Columbians how the Sikh community’s history in British Columbia is an integral extension of Canadian history.”

This year, Sikh Heritage BC has specifically curated a series of events throughout the month of April which aim to educate the public and create awareness around the resilience of Canadian Sikhs, and their commitment to justice and equality.

In addition to the aforementioned events, SHBC will also be hosting a number of partnered events throughout the month. Further details can be found at Sikh Heritage BC.

SHBC’s education project also features five $1,500 scholarships. These scholarships are being awarded to current grade 12 students attending a post-secondary institution in September 2024, regardless of their ethnicity, religion or status. They include the Bhai Mardana Ji Arts Scholarship, the Bibi Harnam Kaur Ji Leadership Scholarship, the Mata Bhaag Kaur Ji Athletics Scholarship, the Mata Khivi Ji Community Service Scholarship, and the Sant Teja Singh Ji Academic Achievement Scholarship.

“In keeping with our mandate, these scholarships are a key element of our education project,” says Jasleen Kaur Sidhu. “Although applications have now closed, we will formally recognize the scholarship recipients at the onset of Sikh Heritage Month. We hope funding opportunities like these will assist young British Columbians in pursuing their dreams and making an impact in their communities.” For more information, visit: Education — Sikh Heritage BC.

SHBC has also added a series of new lesson plans to supplement those which were unveiled in previous years, including lesson plans on Vaisakhi, Diwali, Jallianwala Bagh and 1984. These lesson plans aim to incorporate Sikh voices and stories into BC classrooms and are created by teachers for teachers. For more information, visit: Education — Sikh Heritage BC.

About Sikh Heritage BC

Sikh Heritage BC initially launched Sikh Heritage Month in BC in 2018, with the purpose of celebrating the contributions and aspirations of all Sikh-Canadians and developing a greater understanding and appreciation of the community’s rich, unique and diverse heritage. Sikhs have been in BC for over 100 years and Sikh Heritage Month BC is an opportunity to showcase their contribution to the economic, social, and cultural fabric of the province.