Timmins hosts annual Khalsa Day Parade, welcomes future Sikh police officer
The Sikh Sangat of Timmins hosted its second annual Khalsa Day Parade Saturday complete with prayers, tasty vegetarian food and the bridging of cultures.
This year, organizers invited Indigenous singers to help them launch the event.
Timmins hosted its second annual Khalsa Day parade Saturday in a beautiful celebration of Sikh culture. (Image courtesy of the Timmins Downtown BIA/Facebook)Khalsa Day is an opportunity for Sikhs to share their ways of life with a community that's embraced them.
"We believe this is our responsibility to be part of the community and to protect our community and to serve our community as well,” said Kanwaljit Bains, member of the Sikh Sangat of Timmins.
- Download the CTV News app now and get local alerts on your device
- Get local breaking news and updates sent to your email inbox
The parade is the main event and is a feast for the senses. It also gave participants a chance to meet the city's first Sikh police officer.
Cadet Isahn Bhullar from Brampton, Ont. is currently in training at the Ontario Police College.
Cadet Bhullar got one day of paid leave and he chose to come to where he'll be launching his police career.
“Being here today actually gave me a great boost in confidence,” said Cadet Bhullar.
“I met so many people here and that’s a platform that I can make my own connections because I have to deal in this community and that was the reason as to why I chose that one option to use it right now for this beautiful event."
Bhullar has eight more weeks of police college and upon graduation, he'll be officially moving to Timmins to work.
“He’s very personable, he’s very friendly, (has) many questions and you have a true sense that he enjoys the police service and enjoys coming up to Timmins," said Sergeant Lorne Yee, recruitment officer for the Timmins Police Service.
“I think Timmins, the weather is cold, but the people are warm right so that’s what pulls you back, that’s what pulls you right here," said Bhullar.
He said the fact there is a welcoming Gurdwara in Timmins was a major factor in deciding to accept a job in the city.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
BREAKING Police make arrests in grandparent scam that defrauded victims out of $739K
An interprovincial investigation into an 'emergency grandparents scam' that targeted seniors across Canada has led to the arrest of 14 suspects, Ontario Provincial Police say.
Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails
A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.
B.C. child killer's lawyer walks out of review hearing
The lawyer representing child-killer Allan Schoenborn walked out of his client's annual review hearing Wednesday – abruptly ending proceedings marked by tense exchanges and several outbursts.
How to avoid the trap of becoming 'house poor'
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
Calgary man charged with manslaughter in death of toddler
Calgary police say Winston Campbell, 45, has been charged in the death of a two-year-old girl in 2022.
'Wild, wild west.' Families say organs of deceased Alabama inmates have been removed without their consent
The state Department of Corrections and the University of Alabama at Birmingham face disturbing allegations from the families of five inmates whose organs were removed and reportedly kept without consent, according to a series of lawsuits.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Juror dismissed in Trump hush money trial as prosecutors ask for former president to face contempt
Prosecutors in the hush money trial of Donald Trump asked Thursday for the former president to be held in contempt and fined because of seven social media posts that they said violated a judge's gag order barring him from attacking witnesses.