People

RCMP Staff Sgt Baltej Singh Dhillon Reminisces at the Sikh Heritage Museum's Turban Exhibit in British Columbia, Canada

LARISSA CAHUTE

 

 

 

Baltej Singh Dhillon had to struggle to maintain his identity when he moved to Canada in 1983.

He chose to continue following his Sikh faith and did not cut his hair or remove his turban. But as the only turbaned student in high school, he was the victim of discrimination -- which only prepared him for what lay ahead.

When he joined the RCMP (the Royal Canadian Mounted Police), it sparked an “unprecedented national debate on the question on whether one could serve Canada without compromising one’s faiths and beliefs,” as Baltej describes it.

But on Sunday, January 20, 2013, he stood before a crowd of Abbotsford community members -- politicians, Sikh and non-Sikh -- as the first turbaned Sikh member of the RCMP.

Baltej Singh, proudly wearing his bright red RCMP uniform and beige turban, shared his story of struggle and triumph as the keynote speaker for the opening of the Sikh Heritage Museum’s exhibit on the turban.

It’s the museum’s third historical exhibit showcasing the history of the Sikh-Canadian community since their arrival to Canada in 1904 and the challenges they faced around the turban and the practice of their faith.

“Folks went through a lot of trouble … saying 'no' to turbans,” Baltej told the crowd about his early RCMP career. “There was a lot of effort, all assigned to do one thing: marginalize one group of people … so it would be easier to hate them.”

The turmoil over his turban followed him into training, he received death threats and a mayor even requested he not be assigned to their city.

“Thankfully there were many who stood up in opposition to this hate mongering,” said Baltej. “It took time, but it always does.”

“We’re definitely maturing as a country.”

Abbotsford Mayor Bruce Banman came out for the exhibit and was a testament to how far the country has come: gurdwara members helped tie a bright yellow turban around his head before he entered the temple and addressed the crowd.

“Right now we have an opportunity,” he told the crowd. “(To) come in here and ask (questions), so (we) can understand the importance and the significance of what the turban means.”

“It’s important that we share our religion and share our stories and share our culture with one another,” he added. “The Sikh-Canadian community is a vital part of Abbotsford … Sikh-Canadians helped build this province, they helped build Abbotsford.”

Twenty years ago, a mayor or MP would never be seen in a gurdwara wearing a turban, said Baltej.

“It’s steps forward,” he said. “I’ve seen us mature as a country -- we have come a long way. We no longer settle for tolerance, that’s the language of the old. We need to get rid of that word, we now demand acceptance of each other.”

 

Staff Sergeant Baltej Singh Dhillon is currently head of the British Columbia RCMP Provincial Intelligence Centre, which is composed of Regular RCMP Members, Canadian Security Intelligence Service members, Municipal police service members and civilian staff. He still participates in Major Crimes and Polygraph as they were his previous area of expertise.

The exhibit is expected to run until September 2013 at the Sikh Heritage Museum, located at 33094 South Fraser Way in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, directly across from the Khalsa Diwan Society.

 

[Courtesy: The Province. Edited for sikhchic.com]

January 23, 2013

 

read other articles in People