News & Update

Metro Vancouver, B.C. – The RCMP officer credited with increasing acceptance and equality among Canada’s national police force will receive an honorary degree from Kwantlen Polytechnic University this spring.

Staff Sgt. Baltej Dhillon, who is the Non Commissioned Officer in charge of the RCMP’s Federal and Serious Organized Crime intelligence unit, is a KPU criminology alumnus who never anticipated the media firestorm and subsequent federal policy change that would ensue when he initially told an RCMP recruiting officer he wished to wear his turban while on duty.

It was a trying time for the young Sikh, but he looks back now without a single regret.

“It was definitely not anything I saw coming, and nor was it something I thought I would have to overcome to serve as a police officer in Canada,” says Dhillon, a Surrey resident.

KPU president and vice-chancellor Alan Davis lauded Dhillon for the courage he’s shown in both his personal and professional lives.

“Baltej has given other Sikhs in Canada the opportunity to achieve their dreams without compromise, and for that reason and many others, he is an exemplary recipient of our honorary degree.”

Born and raised in Malaysia, Dhillon lost his father to complications from the flu when he was just 16. The tragedy prompted his family’s move to Canada on a winter day in 1983 with only $400 between Dhillon, his mother and two sisters.

In his early twenties, Dhillon enrolled in the criminology program at Kwantlen and started volunteering with his local RCMP detachment.

Although he initially wanted to become a lawyer, even back then Dhillon demonstrated a particular aptitude for police work and applied to the RCMP instead. His refusal to remove his turban in favour of the traditional RCMP Stetson divided the country, but on March 16, 1990 the Canadian government announced policy changes that would allow Sikh members to wear their turban will on active duty in the RCMP, and Dhillon became the force’s first turbaned cadet. And later, he had tears in his eyes when he was presented with his badge.

“It was a long journey and in some ways a very hard journey,” he recalls. “It was a very powerful moment for me and I will never forget it.”

In his RCMP Red Serge and turban, Dhillon became a symbol for equality, acceptance, the changing face of the RCMP and Canadians in general. It wasn’t a role he asked for, so when the RCMP recruited the next turbaned Sikh cadet seven years later, Dhillon phoned the young man to offer a warm welcome.

“I said, ‘I’ve been waiting on you, so now we can share the load.’”

Dhillon’s aptitude as an investigator landed him on the Air India task force and the Robert Pickton serial murder investigation. Dhillon received a Commanding Officer’s Commendation in October for his work on the Pickton case.

Dhillon is reluctant to take credit for his many successes without acknowledging his faith, and his late father, Nachattar Singh Dhillon.

“My father was a humble man who moved through life with great integrity and nobility. He gave me the anchors I needed and relied on when I came face to face with the dark parts of my journey to becoming a police officer.”

He adds, “I was a young boy who wanted to be a police officer and I certainly had the opportunity to do much more than that.”

– www.kpu.ca

Promotes Right To Vote across 28 States, Riding Bike!

Sikh Boy Jaspreet Singh Monty from Bidar is the first and the only Sikh representative joining this sensational Bike Ride Campaign from South India. His association is being hailed as a moment of proud for the entire Sikh Youth and the Community. Checkout the details of their high-spirit sensational tour and the nationalist objective behind!

Moment Vande Maataram

It is the first and the biggest ever movement organized by the bikers to create awareness and motivate youth to VOTE. A large group of bikers rode to all the State Capitals of India meeting youth along the way. The movement was spearheaded by Bharadwaj Dayala, the first Indian to go around the world on motorcycle.

The Ride

Large group of riders rode to all the 29 State Capitals of India spanning 15,000 kms. They are not supported by anyone but the people of this country. No politics, no parties, no persons. It’s just the bikers and Call of duty! The ride started from Mumbai on 15th March 2014, and 470 bikers came to support the core team of riders. The rally ended at Mumbai on 27th April 2014.

Why This Ride?

This time, the average voting age in our country is 23 years which means young people will play the key role in upcoming elections. Unfortunately, most of our youth takes voting casually and don’t take the pain to go on a booth and vote. Currently, our country is at crossroads and a strong participation will only lead to better future. It is the responsibility of young people to take charge in moving the country forward. So, we are just appealing to the youth of India to exercise their power, go out and Just Vote!

Also, most of the people think, bikers are reckless and careless people but, it’s not like that. No doubt, we are passionate about bikes and rides but we also understand our social responsibilities.

Know more about us or Connect with us at –

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vandemaataram2014

Twitter: @getspotted2014

Chandigarh/ Punjab (May 14, 2014): A four-day ‘Gurbani Impact Study Programme’ concluded at Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh Campus. This was an exclusive program to establish the teachings enshrined in the Sikh Scripture – Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

The programme was organized under the Major Project sanctioned by the University Grants Commission with Prof. Jaspal Kaur Kaang, Chairperson of Department of Guru Nanak Sikh Studies, PU as its Principal Investigator.

The main objective of the Project was to establish that teachings enshrined in the Sikh scripture Guru Granth Sahib Ji can play a very significant role in treating ailments and solving all the other problems being faced by human beings in the modern age at the personal, social and global levels.

As many as 150 participants attended the program regularly on all the four days. The participants, male and female, included people from all walks of life and different age groups. At the Valedictory Function Prof. Kaang thanked S. Hardial Singh and his team, all the participants and volunteers, PU and U.G.C authorities and the Gurdwara Management for their association with the programme. She hoped that the achievements made through this programme will go a long way in making the U.G.C Project a highly successful and fruitful venture.

The programme was held at the Gurdwara Sahib of Sector 14, Chandigarh in collaboration with ‘Sarb Rog Ka Aukhad Naam Mission’, Chandigarh with S. Hardial Singh, a former I.A.S officer as its Head.

The mission has been active for the last three decades and has been organizing camps for healing through Gurbaani, regularly.

The daily programme, was divided into two sessions i.e. 8.30 AM to 11.30 AM and 5 PM to 8 PM.

Each session was devoted to Gurbaani- Keertan led by expert Raagis, Gurbaani Recitation, elaboration of Gurbaani teachings highlighting the healing effect of Gurbaani in diverse ways, Kirtan by Sangat, discourses inspiring adoption of teachings of Gurbaani for moral and spiritual upliftment.

Lively interaction also made part of each session Religious literature was distributed among participants and interviews were held.

Data was collected at the beginning and on the conclusion of the programme to assess the progress made vis-a-vis the impact of the experience gained by the participants.

~ Source: http://www.sikhsiyasat.net/

SACRAMENTO, USA (May 12, 2014)—The Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 147 (ACR 147) was introduced on May 11 by Member of assembly of California Roger Dickinson to establish November as “Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month” in the state.

The resolution demands that Californians should be given an opportunity to better understand, recognize, and appreciate the splendid history, and shared principles of US based Sikhs.

Dickinson said, “The Sikh American community is an integral chapter of California history. California’s Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month calls attention to the many contributions to California by Sikh Americans, and denounces discrimination against Sikhs.”

The Sikhs entered California in 1899, but it was not until 1946 that a legislation was enacted to authorize Sikhs to become US citizens. The Sikh diaspora in US has excelled in a various fields such as cultivation, and social service.

– Sikh24.com