28 August 2011
Abbotsford, British Columbia
The Gur Sikh Temple – also known as the Abbotsford Sikh Temple – is the longest-standing Sikh temple in North America. The celebration of its 100th anniversary is an opportunity to remember the brave pioneers who built the foundations of the Sikh community in Canada and pay tribute to the enormous contributions that generations of Sikh immigrants and their descendants have made to our country.
The construction of the Abbotsford Sikh Temple was a collective effort by early Sikh settlers in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Sunder Singh Thandi organized the project and, along with Argin Singh, purchased a property. The Trethewey family, owners of the Abbotsford Lumber Company sawmill, donated the lumber, while the community raised the remaining funds for the project. Construction of the Gur Sikh Temple was completed in 1911, and it officially opened in February 1912. It soon became the spiritual and physical centre of the community, with Sikhs purchasing land and building homes nearby.
Designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2002, the temple embodies the courage, hardships and perseverance of Sikh pioneers, as well as their success in retaining their religious beliefs, while adapting to new conditions and integrating into Canadian society. The architecture of the structure is a good example of that adaptation as it respects Sikh traditions while making practical changes to suit local conditions. Like many buildings on the Canadian frontier, the temple has a wooden frame and gabled roof, while its interior reflects Sikh traditions and religious beliefs. The prayer room houses the sacred text, the Guru Granth Sahib and the ground floor contains a kitchen and a dining room where the communal langar meal is prepared and eaten.
To celebrate the centennial of the Gur Sikh Temple, the Government has provided $87,950 to several infrastructure projects and activities through the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage Program. Funding will be used to build a museum within the temple, a mural and monument commemorating its creation, as well as a new gate to the Gurdwara – or temple. A series of artistic and cultural activities will also be held, enabling local residents to celebrate the historic anniversary along with the Sikh community.
