Gur Sikh Temple
| Gur Sikh Temple | |
|---|---|
 Gur Sikh Temple | |
 | |
| 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 |
The Gur Sikh Temple (Gurdwara) (Template:Lang-pa) of Abbotsford in British Columbia is the oldest existing Sikh temple in North America and a National Historic Site Canada.[1] This makes it currently (2010) the only Sikh temple outside of India and Pakistan, that is designated as national historic site. A gurdwara (Template:Lang-pa, gurdu'ārā or ਗੁਰਦਵਾਰਾ, gurdvārā), meaning "the doorway to the Guru", is the Sikh place of worship and may be referred to as a Sikh temple.
History
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The first Sikh pioneers came to the Abbotsford area in 1905 and originally worked on farms and in the lumber industry.[2] First plans to build a temple were made in 1908. After a property situated on a hill was acquired the settlers carried lumber from a local mill on their backs up a hill to construct the gurdwara.[2] When the Gurdwara opened on February 26, 1911 Sikhs and non-Sikhs from across British Columbia attended the ceremony and a local newspaper reported on the event.[3] The temple was a two floor building, that from the outside looked like the contemporary wood houses of seen in local frontier towns.[3] Features and decoration typical for Sikh architecture and design were only used in the interior. The first floor contains the Langar and common dining room for the community, and the second floor contains the prayer hall.[3] The building was extended twice in 1932 and in the 1960s. Until 1975 the gurdawa belonged to the Khalsa Diwan Society Vancouver (founded in 1905), then it was transferred to the local Sikh community of Abbotsford, who wished for a greater autonomy.[4] In 1983, a new, much larger, temple with a completely different architectural style was built on the opposite side of the road.[3] The old temple was designated a National Historic Site in 2002, with the designated declared by prime minister Jean Chrétien at a ceremony on July 26 of 2002.[3] In 2007, the temple was completely renovated and reopened. For 2011, the creation of a small museum in the basement is planned in connection with the temple's 100 years anniversary.[3]
Notes
- ^ Abbotsford Sikh Temple National Historic Site of Canada. Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
- ^ a b Baker, Rochelle (December 13, 2010). "Abbotsford's Gur Sikh Temple celebrates 100 years". Abbotsford Times. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f Satwinder Bains: Gur Sikh Temple at canadiansikhheritage.ca (retrieved 7 April 2011)
- ^ "Budh Singh and Kashmir Kaur Dhahan" (Archive). Carleton University. Retrieved on April 13, 2015.
See also
References
- Rochelle Baker: Abbotsford's Gur Sikh Temple celebrates 100 years. In Abbotsford Times of 2010-12-13
- Canada's 100-Year-Old Temple - report on Al Jazeera English (video,2:10 min.)
- Satwinder Bains: Gur Sikh Temple at canadiansikhheritage.ca
- Oldest Sikh temple reopens. South Fraser Way was transformed into a sea of saris yesterday. at canada.com on 2007-4-2
External links
- 1911 Gurdwara: A National Historic Site - some basic information and pictures on a website of the MSA Museum Society
- Sikh Temples And Societies at abbotsfordtoday.com on 2009-4-1
- Government Supports Grant to Historic Temple
- [1], [2] - images on Flickr
- Abbotsford Sikh Gurdwara Launches Centennial Anniversary With Special Proclamation: 2011 Year of the Gurdwara
- Douglas Todd: B.C. Sikhs have had a long, hard road for 100 years. Website of The Vancouver Sun, 2011-1-10
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