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
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.
Djokovic needs medical attention after getting knocked on the head by a water bottle at Italian Open
Novak Djokovic needed medical attention after apparently getting knocked on the head by a water bottle after a win at the Italian Open on Friday.