“It was a fun, fulfilling day. We enjoyed the food, it was a bright, sunny day and we got to wear traditional clothing, which I don't normally wear because I live in Timmins.”
The Sikh community shared food, music and faith with the city's residents during their annual celebration.
The Sikh Sangat of Timmins set up food tents and other vendors in the parking lot across from the Gurdwara on Cedar Street South before the parade on Saturday, June 15.
Khalsa Day celebrates the founding of the Sikh community in 1699 and gives Sikhs an opportunity to share their culture, Kanwaljit Bains said.
“We're celebrating the birth of the Khalsa and also bringing awareness to our culture and the Sikh way of life,” Bains said, “and being part of the community here in Timmins.”
The parade included people on motorbikes, people beating drums and local residents walking behind the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book.
Northern College, the Girones Bourdon Kelly law firm and women in crisis from Timmins and area set up booths at the event to support their community and get involved on the day.
“There are so many, I can't keep up,” Bains said. “I'm so happy!”
Northern College has participated in every Kalusa Day event since the first parade three years ago, and volunteers helped out with the parade by driving a truck carrying a large drum.
Mani Kaur, who was driving the truck, said he would still take part in the event even if he wasn't a volunteer.
“It was a fun, fulfilling day, we enjoyed the food, it was a bright sunny day and we got to wear traditional clothing which I don't normally wear because I live in Timmins,” she said.
The parade circled from Cedar Street South in front of the gurdwara and returned to the car park along Algonquin Boulevard. Hundreds of people, including Mayor Michel Boileau and Timmins-James Bay Member of Parliament Charlie Angus, marched with the Guru Granth Sahib.
“We're a big family, so we enjoy being with our family here in Timmins,” Bains said.
The celebrations continued with a concert at Hollinger Park, where Punjabi artists Jazzy B and Miss Pooja entertained the crowd late into the night.
