Arriving more than a century ago, determined Sikh pioneers from Punjab, India came together against many odds to establish a community in Abbotsford, anchoring it with one of the first Sikh temples in North America – the Khalsa Diwan Society Sikh Temple (built 1908 – 1911) in Abbotsford, BC.
This significant temple has been designated as a National Historic Site by the Canadian Government and is the only one of its kind in the Americas to be bestowed with this honour.
As the only early Sikh temple that has survived intact through the 1st century of settlement, the Gur Sikh Temple is imbued with historic cultural symbolism. It signifies the Sikh pioneers’ personal sacrifices, their perseverance against many odds and their resilience to carve out a place for themselves and their families in a very hostile environment. The temple is an important touchstone to their past; its restoration also represents one of the first steps in preserving the century plus long history of Sikhs in Canada.
Historic photos that document the establishment of Abbotsford’s Sikh community, family artefacts that illustrate the stories told by pioneers and a glimpse into the Sikh faith provide a fascinating background for the community-wide temple Centennial celebrations.
This exhibition is organized in collaboration with the Khalsa Diwan Society and Centre for Indo Canadian Studies at the University of the Fraser Valley.
