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Police officer of the year award in Surrey, BC

WSO's Senior Policy Advisor S. Gian Singh Sandhu attended the Police Officer of Year Award ceremony in  Surrey  on the evening of Oct. 5, 2011. The Surrey Board of Trade puts these events  on every year to showcase community policing.  The awards recognize excellence in policing and focus on excellent role models, not only for fellow police officers but also for the entire community.

This year's winner is Staff Sgt. Robert McCloy.  

World Sikh Organization Excluded from Quebec National Assembly

WSO groupWSO groupQUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC–(Jan. 18, 2011) – Today the World Sikh Organization of Canada was excluded from the Quebec National Assembly and prevented from speaking in favour of religious accommodation for veiled Muslim women because the Sikhs also wear articles of faith the Assembly has prohibited in its government buildings.

World Sikh Organization Disappointed by ‘Air India Action Plan’

Ottawa: (December 7, 2010) The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) is disappointed by the Government of Canada’s ‘Air India Action Plan’. The Plan omits many of the key recommendations made by Justice John Major’s report including the establishment of a National Security Adviser, universal air cargo screening and appropriate compensation for the victims’ families.

“We have always felt that the families should be compensated. Justice Major recommended an arm’s length body be established to determine appropriate compensation but six months after the release of the Air India Report, it’s clear the Government is not taking this seriously and is in fact contributing to the ongoing frustration of the victims’ families.” said WSO President Prem Singh Vinning. Read more »

My, how we have changed

Surrey Now
03/08/2010
SPECIAL TO THE SURREY NOW

When he was a boy, his classmates threw eggs at him the first day he worea turban to school. Today, Sarj, as he’s known to his friends, is moved to tears when he thinks about how his beloved city has grown to embrace his culture.

SURREY – July was such a big month as far as celebrations go. It’s really is the start of summer, as the weather really warms up around this time. 

We also have some of Surrey’s biggest events happen during the month of July. Specifically, I am talking about the City of Surrey’s Canada Day celebration and the Fusion Festival.  Read more »

Rise in Extremism or Rise in Hysteria? Canadian Sikhs Setting the Record Straight

It has been a tough month for Canadian Sikhs. The festival of Vaisakhi is supposed to be a time of celebration – when Sikhs have a public opportunity to share their values and explain their faith to their fellow Canadians. Instead, numerous incidents have occurred in recent weeks shifting the focus away from the Sikh principles of equality, compassion, freedom of expression, and religious freedom. Fuelled by misinformation and irresponsible leadership, public hysteria has grown over a supposed increase in extremism in the Sikh community. Read more »

Some key dates in a century of Sikhism in B.C.

The Province
16/04/2010

1904: The arrival of the first wave of Sikh immigrants. The census listed 258 Sikhs. Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Sikh Holy book was first brought to Canada by Bhai Arjan Singh. The scriptures were located at a house in Port Moody.

1905: For the next three years, 5,000 Sikhs came to Canada.

1906: A house was rented in Vancouver to start a Gurdwara or Sikh place of worship.

1907: Foundation stone of the Gurdwara for Khalsa Diwan Society was laid at 1866 West 2nd Avenue, Vancouver. Read more »

World Sikh Organization of Canada Celebrates 25 Years and Announces New Executive

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 15, 2009) - The World Sikh Organization of Canada celebrated 25 years of service to the Sikh community in its Biennial Convention held on December 12th and 13th, 2009 in Mississauga Ontario. Sikhs from all across Canada assembled to focus on WSO's history and achievements as well as to shape the direction of WSO's advocacy going forward. The event culminated with the selection of WSO's newest President and Executive for the 2009-2011 term. Read more »

The new face of Canada's Sikhs

Globe And Mail
16/11/2009

Vancouver — From Tuesday's Globe and Mail
Published on Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 10:03PM EST
Last updated on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009 4:18AM EST

Nineteen-year-old Gursimran Kaur puts gender equality and fighting domestic violence at the top of her agenda as a new member of the management committee at one of the largest Sikh temples in North America. Read more »

Ethnic Minorities Continue to Face Employment Challenges in Canada

Ottawa (May 21, 2009) – The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) expresses its deep concern over a CBC report in ‘The National’ on May 20, 2009 indicating the severe degree of discrimination faced by Canadians with non Anglo-Saxon names, as they seek to join Canada’s work force.

Long believed to be the case, it has now been factually and statistically established very credibly by the University of British Columbia, that people with non-English names are 40% less likely to be called for an interview. Read more »

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