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Presenting Our Partners: The World Sikh Organization

September 27th, 2016

"Faith plays an integral part of who we are as Sikhs," says Balpreet Singh Boparai, Legal Counsel for the WSO.  "I engage in the public sphere as a whole person and that includes my faith. Serving the world is serving God. Sikhs are unique in that we wear our faith as our identity and it's impossible to ignore. We support initiatives to show how faith plays a positive and constructive role in Canadian society.  As part of the Faith Alliance, we look forward to learning about how other faith groups are working to make a positive difference and hopefully being inspired to do even more." 

Among other activities on Canada Day, the WSO will be sponsoring an event called 'Turban, Eh!' in which all Canadians are invited to have a turban tied to see what it feels like and to ask any questions they may have about the significance of the turban to Sikhs.  Similar local events were held recently in response to the racist posters that went up in September at the University of Alberta. "We find it creates an opportunity to foster dialogue and ask questions about the Sikh faith and the turban," says Mr. Boparai. This event will take place in cities across Canada.

According to Boparai, the Sikh principle of seva or "selfless services" inspires Sikh Canadians to  engage actively in the public sphere in various ways.  Canadian Blood Services have recognized Sikhs as one of the most active communities in Canada when it comes to blood donation. Sikhs are also taking the concept of langar or free community meals that are traditionally provided at Gurdwaras to the mainstream.  The Seva Food Bank in Mississauga and the Seva Food Truck in Edmonton and Guru Nanak's Free Kitchen in Vancouver all provide food to the needy regardless of their faith.  Whenever there is a national disaster in Canada, Sikh communities mobilize to send supplies, most recently during the Fort McMurray fires.  Sikhs have also donated millions of dollars to local hospitals and as a result we have the Guru Nanak Emergency Services Front Entrance and Mata Tripta Birthing Unit at the Surrey Memorial Hospital, as well as the Guru Nanak Emergency Services Department in Brampton Civic Hospital.

The WSO also provides legal assistance in a vast array of cases involving discrimination against Sikhs. The World Sikh Organization has also intervened in cases at the Supreme Court involving religious freedom threats affecting other faith communities including the precedent-setting Amselem and Loyola cases.  Through its leadership and network of supporters, the WSO has worked tirelessly in promoting human rights for all, including providing information and reports to national and international governments and NGOs, promoting fact finding missions, and lobbying all levels of government. The World Sikh Organization also promotes educational awareness through seminars, events, interfaith work and community outreach programs.

For more information about partnering with Sikh communities in Canada or about the work of the WSO, contact Jaskaran Singh Sandhu at jaskaransandhu@worldsikh.org.  


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