The first Sikh temple in Timmins is expected to open on New Year’s Eve. It’s in the former Gibby’s Tavern on Cedar St. S., just off Algonquin Blvd.
Kanwaljit Bains and her husband bought the building to donate to the local Sikh community. She says students from Northern College and senior members of the community from Mississauga will educate the rest of the city on Sikhism.
“And the local is also by way of social media, by way of the volunteer groups of the students,” Bains outlines, “this is how we’re trying to get the word out.”
Bains says Sikhs follow the word, not a person. They’re all considered volunteers at the temple, which will be open 24 hours a day serving meals to anyone who comes in, but no meat.
Everyone is welcome any time, regardless of religion. In Sikhism, Bains says, there is no caste.
“Everybody is equal, You come here when you will be served langar (a meal), you will sit with everybody else, on the floor and you will have the langar. What everybody else is eating, you will be eating the same thing.”
Here is the full interview that details plans for the temple and explaining the Sikh religion: