Fort St. John to celebrate Sikh culture in April

FORT ST. JOHN — The City of Fort St. John is celebrating Sikh culture by signing a proclamation and flying the Sikh flag outside city hall throughout April. 

Council proclaimed April as Sikh Heritage Month during their meeting on March 25th.

The month marks the birth of Khalsa and teaches lessons of equality, community service and social justice. Vaisakhi is celebrated every April as it marks the Sikh New Year.

Local Sikhs will celebrate their culture at the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple in Fort St. John, founded in April 1987. The temple provides free food on weekends to everybody regardless of their faith.

According to volunteer Shubhdeep Kaur’s presentation to council, the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple provides support and solace for individuals coming to the city from across Canada and beyond. 

Kaur says the temple’s mission extends past religious boundaries in embracing individuals in need and offering newcomers a warm and inclusive environment to foster connections.

“It serves as a welcoming sanctuary where Sikhs and people from diverse backgrounds find assistance as they integrate into the community,” said Kaur in her presentation.

“The month of April provides us an opportunity to celebrate Sikh culture and heritage and facilitate the connection between the community and Sikhs in building a better, more inclusive Canada.” 

Kaur said the Sikh community has flourished, with over 700,000 Sikhs calling Canada home. 

In 2023, the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple and Cultural Society won first prize for its float during the Canada Day Parade in Fort St. John, something Kaur says is treasured deeply. 

“We extended the joy by sharing our float with the residents of Peace Villa, an assisted living facility in our beautiful city.”

The proclamation can be viewed below: