Sikh men

Photograph taken at the Akali Temple in Victoria, BC. There are five men standing and one seated behind the Guru Granth Sahib. The men are all wearing formal suits and dress pants. They all are wearing turbans and are carrying swords (kirpans). There is a newspaper clipping taped to the photograph with the title,"The Beard and Turban must stay." The article details a disagreement among Victoria's Sikh community members. A man by the name of Kuldeep Bains had claimed that it would be better if Sikh men in Victoria shaved their beards and wore hats. The six men in the photograph called together a meeting to discuss Bains' claims and decided that his statement was sacrilegious. The article also lists the names of the photographed men. From left to right, Bhan Singh, Bhagat Singh, Bachan Singh, Mohindar Singh, Battan Singh, and Kartar Singh. The photograph was taken by Bill Halkett.

Photograph of two unidentified men and a young girl seated on a couch together. The photograph appears to have been taken inside a home. The two men are dressed in dress pants, white collared shirts, and ties. Both are also wearing turbans. The young girl is seated on the arm of the couch. All are looking forward towards the camera.

Creator: Chow, Yucho

Studio portrait of Ikball Singh Hundal, Vancouver, B.C. Hakam Singh Hundal's family (Hakam's grandmother, Bishan Kaur and children Atma Singh Hundal, Ikball Singh Hundal, Teja Singh Hundal, and Jerry Singh Hundal) originally tried to join Hakam in Canada in 1911. They sailed from Hong Kong to San Francisco but were refused entry in San Francisco and forced to sail back on the three week journey to Hong Kong. They stayed in Hong Kong while Hakam lobbied for permission to bring in his family with the aid of a lawyer. After almost two years of waiting in Hong Kong, the Hundal family was permitted to enter Canada in June 1913 through an Act of Grace issued by the federal government. Hakam's brother purchased Lot 24 in Port Grey in December 1912 and Hakam built a house on the lot shortly after. Hakam's children and his mother, Bishan, settled into their newly built house as soon as they arrived in Canada in June 1913.

Creator: Joe, W. P.

Studio portrait of Hakam Singh Hundal. Hakam Singh Hundal first came to B.C. in October 1906. Hakam and his brother, Jiwan Singh Hundal arrived in North America through San Francisco in 1905. They worked their way up the coast until he entered Canada. Hakam settled in Vancouver, B.C. while his brother Jiwan settled in Astoria, Oregon. Hakam initially worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway. However, strong union activism during the period was committed to excluding South Asians from all union jobs. Thus, Hakam worked at other jobs, including clearing the land for the Vancouver Golf Club in 1910 and later worked at the False Creek Lumber Company as a laborer, circa 1918.

Creator: Thomson, Stuart

Photo of Hakam Singh Hundal (on the top right) with three unidentified men on a locomotive. Hakam Singh Hundal first came to B.C. in October 1906. Hakam and his brother, Jiwan Singh Hundal arrived in North America through San Francisco in 1905. They worked their way up the coast until he entered Canada. Hakam settled in Vancouver, B.C. while his brother Jiwan settled in Astoria, Oregon. Hakam initially worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway. However, strong union activism during the period was committed to excluding South Asians from all union jobs. Thus, Hakam worked at other jobs, including clearing the land for the Vancouver Golf Club in 1910 and later worked at the False Creek Lumber Company as a laborer, circa 1918.

Family photo of Dewa Singh Rai, captured in 1920. Dewa Singh Rai is sitting on the right, sitting beside him on the left is his elder son Surain Singh Rai. His younger son aged 16, Atma Singh Rai is standing behing them.

Portrait of Atma Singh Rai, clean shaven, wearing a formal attire and spectacles, most likely taken in Port Moody, Canada.

Group studio photograph of Harinder Jit Singh (left), Gian Singh seated on a chair (centre), Harinder Jit Kaur (right). This photo was taken sometime after their mother, Kartar Kaur, had passed away.

Group photo of Sikh men, women and children taken in Hillcrest on 1st July, 1929 as they gathered to celebrate Canada Day. They are wearing formal attire. Many of these people, including Atma Singh Rai, worked in various lumber mills on the island.

Passport photo of Atma Singh Rai with a beard wearing formal attire and a turban, taken in 1929.