Sub-Series 1.1 : 75th anniversary

Handwritten notes regarding the planning of the 75th anniversary of the Komagata Maru events in Vancouver, B.C.

Copy of a letter written to Wendy Carter, Regional Director of the Department of Secretary of State. The letter was written on October 2, 1989 and details a request for her approval on the wording for a plaque commemorating the Komagata Maru tragedy, and for a statement regarding financial contribution for the plaque. There is an appendix following the letter detailing the participants in the… more

Copy of a news release from July 21, 1989, from the Province of British Columbia announcing the establishment of July 23 as Komagata Maru Memorial Day. The record also contains a copy of the official proclamation from the Province of British Columbia.

Copy of a letter written to Bikar Singh Dhillon, the president of Khalsa Diwan Society Vancouver from Bill McKnight from the Minister of National Defense. In the letter, McKnight writes that despite feeling compassion, he had to deny the request for a 21 gun salute for the Komagata Maru commemoration event. He explains that salutes are reserved for certain events. He ends the letter by wishing… more

Notice giving details for the historic gathering on July 23, 1989 for the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Komagata Maru tragedy. The notice provides information on the date, time, and location of the event. Through the notice, the Komagata Maru Historical Society calls upon its members to attend the event to bear witness to the gathering and to witness the Vancouver Mayor, Gordon… more

Letter written by Hari Sharma from the Komagata Maru Historical Society inviting organizations to join the Society. The letter outlines some goals of the committee and some of its principles. At the top of the page, written in hand, is the addressee, Kanwal Singh Neel from Khalsa Diwan Society. At the bottom of the page is a handwritten note with an invitation to the Society's next meeting… more

Document detailing the establishment of the Komagata Maru Historical Society. The guiding principles, goals, and objectives of the Society are also outlined.

Notice detailing an event hosted by the Progressive Indo-Canadian Community Services Society, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Komagata Maru tragedy. The notice provides information about the time, date, and place of the event, as well as information regarding the speaker and other event presentations. The notice is printed on yellow paper and is in written in both English and Punjabi.

A colour image taken at the plaque unveiling event at Portal Park, Vancouver, commemorating the Komagata Maru 75th anniversary. There is a crowd of people standing close together, amongst some greenery. On the left, in the crowd, Grace McCarthy, Social Credit M.L.A., is seen speaking at a podium. In the background on the left of the image, there are trains, as well as boats in the water and… more

A colour image taken at the plaque unveiling event at Portal Park, Vancouver, commemorating the Komagata Maru 75th anniversary. There is a crowd of people standing close together. Gordon Campbell, mayor of Vancouver, is seen speaking at a podium. There are reporters holding microphones to the podium. In the background, there are boats in the water and mountains in the scenery. In the foreground,… more

A colour image taken at the plaque unveiling event at Portal Park, Vancouver, commemorating the Komagata Maru 75th anniversary. The plaque is visible, placed in the ground among the greenery. Gordon Campbell, Grace McCarthy, and a third person, are seen helping to remove a sheet off the plaque. Behind them, in the background, there is a group of people watching.

A colour image taken at the plaque unveiling event at Portal Park, Vancouver, commemorating the Komagata Maru 75th anniversary. The plaque is visible, placed in the ground among the greenery. The plaque reads, "Komagata Maru 75th Anniversary - On May 23 1914, 376 British subjects (12 Hindus, 24 Muslims and 340 Sikhs) of Indian origin arrived in Vancouver Harbour aboard the Komagata Maru,… more

A colour image taken at the plaque unveiling event at Portal Park, Vancouver, commemorating the Komagata Maru 75th anniversary. A group of people are seen grouped together, looking forward. In the background there is a crowd of people.

A colour image taken at the plaque unveiling event at Portal Park, Vancouver, commemorating the Komagata Maru 75th anniversary. Kanwal Singh Neel is seen seated on a stone bench in front of the plaque with his family, including his wife Nancy and their two daughters. On the left of the photo are Gurdial Singh and Swarnjit Kaur Neel. In the background there is greenery and some people standing.

A colour image taken at the Ross Street Temple, showing Kanwal Singh Neel speaking at a wooden podium. In front of him, there is a low stage covered in white, with microphone stands on top. Behind him, on the left, Alderman Sandra Wilking is seated. On the right in the background is a table with floral arrangements. On the wall in the background, is a mirror decoration and and khanda, the symbol… more