Happy Canada Day!

Ottawa (July 1, 2011):  The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) wishes all Canadians a very happy Canada Day. 

Canada Day is an opportunity to reflect on the Sikh community’s over 100 years of history here in this great country.  This year, we celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the oldest Gurdwara in Canada, Abbottsford’s Gursikh Temple.  Sikh Canadians have come a long way since they first arrived in the late 1800s and today they are an integral part of Canada’s cultural mosaic, engaged in all facets of Canadian life. 

We are all proud of what Canada stands for in the world today:  freedom, equality and the celebration of multiculturalism.  But incidents like last week’s firing of 15 year old soccer referee Sarah Benkirane by her Montreal-area soccer association because she wears the hijab remind us that our work is never done.   We must continue to tirelessly promote our Canadian values of tolerance and acceptance of diversity. 

On the international stage, Canada’s commitment to human rights is our strength and a shining example to other countries.  As Canada builds trade ties with developing countries, we must continue to pursue a principled approach which encourages others to respect human rights norms.

So on this Canada Day let us remind ourselves how lucky we are to be Canadians.  Let's celebrate the great country Canada is today and the values which we hold so dear. 

 Once again, on behalf of WSO, we wish all Canadians a very happy Canada Day!

The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) is a non-profit organization with a mandate to promote and protect the interests of Canadian Sikhs as well as to promote and advocate for the protection of human rights for all individuals, irrespective of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, and social and economic status.