Kirpans

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.

Creator: Federation of Canadian Municipalities

Pamplet providing a brief history of Sikhs in Canada. The pamplet also outlines some important beliefs and traditions in the Sikh faith. The cover of the pamplet is dark blue with saffron writing. There is a khanda, the symbol for Sikh faith, on the cover, as well as a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson. There are pictures of a Sikh boy and a Sikh man on the third page, and a picture of a kara, kirpan, and kangha, on fourth page, representing three of the five Ks of Sikh faith. The pamphlet is written in both English and Punjabi.