[BCMA] CMA Clip Serv: First Sikh museum opens Saturday

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

Preserving this historic structure and having it serve in part as a museum an excellent achievement.

Clicking on the hyperlinking below was a real surprise, too. Rarely do I find so much diverse and solid information in such links. Moreover, the depth afforded by a second tier of hyperlinks is really professional and impressive in both scope and substance. Well done to all who participated in this overall heritage effort!

As a footnote, I'm very pleased to see the emphasis the museum places on the original Mill Lake Sikh workforce. A decade ago I went to both Lake Cowichan (Paldi) and Ocean Falls to do field research for our Canada Hall permanent exhibits on "West Coast Communities" at the Canadian Museum of Civilization. I'd long known of Indo-Canadian participation in the early 20th Century forest industry, but hadn't realized either how specialized or extensive it had been. That, naturally, was the early phase when Sikhs were largely manning the green chains and performing other lumber production jobs. The later, entrepreneurial, phase of South-Asian mill owners is another phase, as is their very large role in the transportation of provincial forest and other products.

I have yet to visit the new Sikh Heritage Museum in Abbotsford, but definitely will do so next time we visit the Lower Mainland.

Dan Gallacher 

  
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv. 
  To: bcma at lists.vvv.com 
  Sent: Friday, December 16, 2011 10:00 AM
  Subject: [BCMA] CMA Clip Serv: First Sikh museum opens Saturday


  First Sikh museum opens Saturday with Lt.-Gov. 
  Point 
  Christina Toth, Abbotsford Times, Thursday, December 15, 2011 




  Lieutenant-Governor Steven Point will be in Abbotsford Dec. 17 to officially open the Sikh Heritage Museum, the first of its kind in Canada, at the historic Gur Sikh Gurdwara on South Fraser Way. 


  "There are no other museums (on Sikh history) in the country. There are exhibits but not a museum in itself that caters to Sikh heritage," said Navneet Sidhu, a project coodinator with the University of the Fraser Valley. 


  The museum will feature photos and artifacts donated by local Indo- Canadian families, including a few who had uncles and grandfathers settle here almost a century ago. The project has been two years in development and is supported by federal government funds, through Canadian Heritage. 


  The temple, or gurdwara, was declared a national historic site by former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and former Heritage Minister Sheila Copps in the summer of 2002. 


  Built in 1911 by immigrant Sikhs who laboured at the nearby sawmill at what is now called Mill Lake, the unique wooden temple was the site of a three-day centennial party this summer. 


  "It's a big deal to local Sikhs because something like this hasn't happened before. Future generations will cherish the museum," said Sidhu. 


  The year of centennial celebration began in January with a proclamation by Abbotsford Mayor George Peary that recognized the historic and cultural significance of the site and the contribution of Indian Sikh pioneers and immigrants in the development of the city. 


  Partnering groups have held a commemorative function each month through the year. For example, The Reach Museum and Gallery currently has a display on Sikh history. Saturday's opening of the Sikh Heritage Museum will close the year of centenary celebrations, with a ceremony, speeches and tea from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the 
  gurdwara. 


  The event will include comments from local dignitaries and it is open to the public. 


  The Gur Sikh Gurdwara is at 33094 South Fraser Way, Abbotsford. You can see more at: www.canadiansikhheritage.ca 


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