Wednesday, June 19th, 2013
World Sikh Organization of Canada offers support to Sikh Cadet Corps push
Seaforth Highlanders cadet Catherine Chernoff stands guard during Vimy Ridge Day at Vancouver’s Victory Square on April 9. Our editorial yesterday asked, if the Seaforths can wear kilts and link themselves to Scotland, why can’t a cadet unit be the Surrey Sikhs? (Ward Perrin/PNG FILES)
The World Sikh Organization of Canada is offering their full support to the Surrey community in the fight for the Surrey Sikh cadet corps, it announced Tuesday.
“We’ll back up any petition they have put out,” Senior Policy Advisor Gian Singh Sandhu told VancovuerDesi.com. “(We’re) insisting that the government needs to come to the table and discuss with the community.”
In a Sept. 13 meeting, the Department of National Defence and the Army Cadet League of Canada opposed the Surrey cadet corps’ name – the 3300 British Columbian Royal Army Cadet (Surrey Sikhs) – which halted its September 19 launch.
DND opposed the name because they said it would not be inclusive to all youths aged 12 to 18 and it may deter non-Sikhs from joining. Officials insist they are firm in their opposition.
According to Director of the Friends of the Sikh Cadet Corps Society, Parghat Singh Bhurji, numerous community members visited him Monday after the story broke on VancouverDesi.com, The Province newsroom’s new South Asian website.
“The community is really upset,” said Bhurji. “The reason everybody wanted their kids in it was because of the name.”
Bhurji, along with members of Surrey’s South Asian community – including school boards and temples – have united to put together a petition in an effort to fight for the Sikh Cadet Corps.
And according to Sandhu, the WSO is backing them 100 per cent.
But Friends of the Sikh Cadet Corps Society have yet to hear anything from the government.
“We served with distinction in world wars and no one had a concern,” said Sandhu. “If they had a concern they should have at least sat with the committee and discussed it.”
Sikh regiments have served in the British and Indian army since the mid-1800s and have included both Sikh and non-Sikh members, according to the WSO.
“Being called the ‘Surrey Sikhs’ would honour and celebrate the history of Sikh regiments and would be no different than names currently in use honouring other historic regiments such as the Highlanders, Irish or Hussars,” WSO President Prem Singh Vinning said in a release.
The organization is calling for a review of the decision.
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this is just another way to say hey look at us sikh pride this and sikh pride that… its a ego thing
its funny my other post got deleted… however what i said on that one was its typical of this group to bully their way and look they are doing it again… it was done to pass the helmet laws for motorcycles amongst many other things…
regardless of which group is supporting this.. i only hope the forces stay strong and tell them to take a hike!
good on WSO onceagain always standing up for what isgoodfor our country canada….
dont you mean your country within canada
I only hope they tell these idiots to shove it where it doesnt shine…
Answer me this: Where in Canadian history are there Sikh Regiments that are apparently to be recognized? Nowhere. Only in the Indian Army and the former British Imperial Army. Canada is not the British. Also, Sikh is a religious name, Religious names, teachings, and affiliations are a NO-GO in the military and cadet world as the organizations must remain Non-Partisan in both Politics and Religion.
The reason everybody wanted their kids in it was because of the name.”
ONLY BECAUSE OF A NAME? Get over yourselves! This is clearly a “Superior Race/Religion” type deal going on here. Why can’t Sikh youth join the perfectly good existing Cadet units in Surrey that have plenty of other Sikh kids and adult Officers in them? Why further segregate yourselves?
Why do Sikhs have to have their own unit? There are plenty of Sikhs in 2822 in Whalley or the Seaforth Highlanders in Surrey and they have no problem learning and being proud of the history of their unit. Why can’t they join the other units like everyone else? You don’t see Muslims asking for a unit in their name, nor do you see the Catholics, or the Spanish or the Africans or the Croatians etc. So what makes Sikhs so damn special?
The reason there is the “Scottish Regiment/Irish Regiment/Hussars” is because when these units were created – Scottish-Canadian or a Scottish Officer of the British North America (Dominion of Canada) used their money to purchase a military unit, fund it, and create it’s uniforms. Much like how Sir Donald Alexander Smith, Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal has a regiment named after him called Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians). When did a Sikh Canadian military officer open up a full-strength military unit in Canada with battle honours? Never.
Stupidest idea ever. Learn some damn Canadian and Canadian Military history and the Rules and Regulations, History and Traditions of Cadets Canada and the Canadian Forces before you go making a fool of your entire community. Government said no, get over it and compromise.
Selfish fools, get your heads out of your asses, this is not what the true Sikh values would want you to do. True faithful Sikhs are for equality and welcome all walks of life, true faithful Sikhs join other units, learn their history and be proud of it and the uniform they wear while proud of their Sikh heritage and then they can go home and say “I’m the Sikh contribution to better Canada.” There’s no need for all of this foolishness.
when will this stop
no sikh cadets – it is a religous name and doesnt belong in any military name