Explainer: How the Sikh migration to Canada began

On Friday, September 22, Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada, claimed that his country had given India proof of "credible allegations" that Indian operatives had killed pro-Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar some weeks before.

Tuesday, September 19, saw the start of a diplomatic standoff between Canada and India when Trudeau suggested there may have been a "potential link" between the Indian government and the killing of Nijjar in Canada earlier this year. Ottawa was accused of harboring "Khalistani terrorists and extremists" by New Delhi in reaction.

Following the diplomatic instability brought on by Canada's repeated charges surrounding the assassination of the Khalistani terrorist, both nations have since taken a number of actions. Due to Ottawa's passivity in addressing threats against terrorist groups, the Indian government has immediately suspended all visas, including electronic visas, for Canadian citizens.

The Sikh diaspora in Canada has once again come under the limelight as a result of the rising tensions between India and the Western country. According to the Canadian census of 2021, Sikhs make up 2.1% of the population. Let's examine the history to learn how the Sikh migration to the western country started and what difficulties they have encountered since Canada is home to the largest Sikh population outside of India.

After 1991, the number of Sikhs in Canada began to increase. Economic and employment concerns, which are still regarded as the main causes of emigration from the Indian state of Punjab, increased. Initially, Punjab's militancy and the growth of the Sikh population were related.

What Year Did Sikhs First Arrive In Canada?

According to Sardar Harjeet Singh Grewal, a professor in the Department of Classics and Religion at the University of Calgary, the first significant wave of Sikh immigrants to Canada arrived in the 1900s, largely to work as laborers in British Columbia and Ontario, according to The Washington Post. In addition, he asserted that partition, the 1947 division of India and Pakistan after the end of the British colonial rule, increased the emigration of Sikhs from Punjab.

Tens of thousands of Sikhs with skills and some with advanced degrees settled across Canada in the 1960s and 1970s, particularly in the urban corridor from Toronto to Windsor. As their numbers increased, Sikhs built temporary gurdwaras in every significant city, and it is thought that the community's tremendous growth in Canada is largely due to the networking of gurdwaras.

The First Sikhs To Enter Canada

Sikhs first arrived in Canada in 1897, the year of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. The first Sikh immigrant to the nation is regarded as Kesur Singh, a Risaldar Major in the British India Army who arrived in 1897. As a member of the Hong Kong Regiment, which also included Chinese and Japanese soldiers traveling to celebrate the jubilee, he was one of the first Sikh soldiers to arrive in Vancouver.

Sikhs were employed by the Canadian Pacific Railway, in timber mills, and in mines during Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Despite having lower wages than white employees, they were nonetheless able to send money to India and sponsor their relatives' immigration to Canada. Sikh immigrants to Canada have also been driven by employment.

What Obstacles Did Sikhs Face Upon Arrival?

The migrants had no trouble obtaining work, but they ran into antagonism because it was thought that they were stealing locals' jobs. Due to their race and culture, the Sikhs also faced racism. The situation grew worse as more Sikhs immigrated to the country.

Sikhs' current situation in Canada

Sikhs currently have a big impact on politics and society in Canada. The New Democratic Party's leader, Jagmeet Singh, is Sikh. He has been outspoken against how Sikhs are treated in India, and he was reportedly denied a visa to enter the country in 2013 because of his opinions.