Gur Sikh Temple facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gur Sikh Temple |
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Gur Sikh Temple
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| Location | Abbotsford, British Columbia |
| Website | http://www.canadiansikhheritage.ca/en/node/16 Gur Sikh Temple |
| Official name: Abbotsford Sikh Temple National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated: | 2002 |
| History | |
| Founded | 1908 |
The Gur Sikh Temple (also known as a Gurdwara) in Abbotsford, British Columbia is a very special place. It's the oldest Sikh temple still standing in all of North America! It's also recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada. This means it's an important part of Canada's history, like a national treasure. It's currently the only Sikh temple outside of India and Pakistan that has this special national historic site status.
Contents
A Look Back: The Gur Sikh Temple's Story
Early Days and Building the Temple
The first Sikh people arrived in the Abbotsford area around 1905. They mostly worked on farms and in the lumber industry, cutting down trees for wood. By 1908, they started making plans to build a temple.
They bought some land on top of a hill. Then, the settlers carried wood from a local mill on their backs all the way up the hill. This is how they built their gurdwara.
Opening and Design
The Gurdwara officially opened on February 26, 1911. Many people, both Sikhs and non-Sikhs, came from all over British Columbia for the ceremony. A local newspaper even wrote about the big event!
The temple was a two-story building. From the outside, it looked a lot like the wooden houses common in towns back then. But inside, it had special features and decorations typical of Sikh design. The first floor was for the Langar, which is a common dining room where everyone can eat together. The second floor was the prayer hall.
Changes Over Time
The building was made bigger two times, first in 1932 and again in the 1960s. Until 1975, the gurdwara was part of the Khalsa Diwan Society Vancouver. Then, it was given to the Khalsa Diwan Society Abbotsford, who wanted more control over their local temple.
In 1983, a much larger and very different looking temple was built across the road. The old temple, however, was given a special honor. In 2002, it was named a National Historic Site. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien made this official at a ceremony on July 26, 2002.
Recent Years
After some renovations, the temple reopened in 2007. To celebrate the temple's 100th anniversary (1911-2011), a small museum was planned for the basement. Prime Minister Stephen Harper officially opened the Sikh Heritage Museum on the ground floor of the Temple.
On May 19, 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also visited the Sikh Heritage Museum. He came to see the Canada 150 exhibit, which celebrated Canada's 150th birthday.
