Sikhs in Canada
Sikhism was founded in the 16th century in the Punjab district of what is now India and Pakistan. It was founded by Guru Nanak and is based on his teachings and those of the 9 Sikh gurus who followed him. The Sikh faith began around 1500 CE when Guru Nanak began teaching a faith that was quite distinct from Hinduism and Islam. There are approximately 20 million followers worldwide, most of whom live in the Punjab province of India.
Canadian Sikhs number roughly 468,670 people and account for roughly 1.4% of Canada's population. Sikhism is a world religion with over 35 million followers worldwide, with the majority of their population in Punjab, India. The Legislative Assembly of Ontario celebrates the month of April as Sikh Heritage Month.
All Sikh Gurus since Guru Nanak have worn turbans. However, covering one's hair with a turban was made an official policy by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs. The main reasons to wear a turban is to take care of the hair, promote equality, and preserve the Sikh identity.
The Gurudwara Project
With the grace of Almighty and prayers of Sikh Sangat, Thunder Bay Sikh Society has established the Gurudwara Sahib in Thunder Bay (first one in Nothern Ontario). Eventually, we are going to expand the Gurudwara Sahib for which we require the support of Sangat. Please donate to the project either online or by contacting us at donate@tbaysikhsociety.com.
