“In 2013, history was made with April proclaimed as Sikh Heritage Month by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario (Bill 52). The first of its kind in the world, Sikh Heritage Month is a celebration of arts, culture and heritage.” (About, 2025)
Sikhism features one of the greatest demographics in organized faith, and originated from the Punjab region of India. With its history dating back to the 15th century, Sikhism is one of the more recently founded religions in the world.
Sikh Heritage Month celebrates “Vaisakhi, the beginning of spring harvest and the start of a new agricultural year” (Vaisakhi, Sikh Heritage Month Celebrated in Nanaimo. – Document – Gale In Context: Canada, 2023.). Traditionally, Vaisakhi is celebrated on the 13th or 14th of the month every year.
It is important for us to recognize the contributions that the Sikh community has made to the framework of our communities and country. With over 500,000 Sikh community members residing in Canada, our nation is proud to have the second largest Sikh population in the world (Branch, 2020).
“The values of equality, selflessness, openness and compassion are the core principles of Sikhism, and these values will be highlighted during Vaisakhi later this month” (Hussen, 2022).
Please stop by our Burnaby Library branch and check out some of the materials we’ve set aside to help you learn more about Sikh history and culture, such as:
This year we recognize that “Anand (ਅਨੰਦ) is the state of absolute inner peace, tranquility, and bliss that is found through connection with the Divine; it is an eternal joy found beyond the struggles of this world. The joys and pleasures of materialism are short-lived, however once true Anand is attained it is unwavering” (Sikh Heritage BC, 2025).
Alexander College invites you to reflect on the meaningfulness of this occasion, and encourages you to attend related events in the community.
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Learn More
About Sikh Heritage Month and the ways that it’s being celebrated across Canada by clicking here.
Find more local events and related celebrations for the month across British Columbia here.
Reference List
About. (2025). Sikh Heritage Month. https://www.sikhheritagemonth.ca/about
Branch, L. S. (2020, January 14). Consolidated federal laws of canada, Sikh Heritage Month Act. https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/annualstatutes/2019_5/page-1.html
Hussen, A. (2022, April 1). Statement by Minister Hussen on Sikh Heritage Month [Statements]. https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2022/03/statement-by-minister-hussen-on-sikh-heritage-month.html
Sikh Heritage BC. (2025). Sikh Heritage BC. https://www.sikhheritagebc.ca
Sikh Heritage Month theme of Saturday exhibition at Royal B.C. Museum—Greater Victoria News. (n.d.). Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://www.vicnews.com/community/sikh-heritage-month-theme-of-saturday-exhibition-at-royal-b-c-museum-99402
Vaisakhi, Sikh Heritage Month celebrated in Nanaimo. – Document—Gale In Context: Canada. (2023). https://go-gale-com.alexandercollege.idm.oclc.org/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=News&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=MultiTab&retrievalId=78b939b8-672c-418f-9a3b-6c6fad1c2f75&hitCount=17&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm¤tPosition=1&docId=GALE%7CA745083153&docType=Brief+article&sort=Relevance&contentSegment=ZXAS-MOD1&prodId=CIC&pageNum=1&contentSet=GALE%7CA745083153&searchId=R1&userGroupName=burn46801&inPS=true
Alexander College acknowledges that the land on which we usually gather is the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work in this territory.
Alexander College acknowledges that the land on which we usually gather is the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work in this territory.
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