Every April, people of all religions and ethnicities are invited to learn more about and celebrate Sikh history as part of Sikh Heritage Month, with a variety of special events taking place throughout Abbotsford and the rest of the Fraser Valley.
The South Asian Studies Institute (SASI) at the University of the Fraser Valley wants to do its part, which is why it's hosting a unique tour of the local Sikh Heritage Museum.
On April 13, the SASI director, Dr. Satwinder Bains, will be leading a tour of the Gur Sikh Temple, which contains the Sikh Heritage Museum.
This National Historic Site of Canada tells the stories of the Sikh immigrants who travelled to the Fraser Valley as early as 1905, eventually building the Gur Sikh Temple, which remains the oldest Sikh gurdwara (temple) in North America.
Since then, the total Sikh population in the Fraser Valley has surpassed 43,000 people, according to Statistics Canada, making up approximately 15 per cent of the province's total Sikh residents.
The free tour takes place from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Sunday, April 13, at the Abbotsford temple (33089 South Fraser Way).
