A conservative estimate of the number people in Timmins who practice the Sikh faith is 2,500, and now they officially have their own temple – or gurdwara.
An opening ceremony was conducted Friday at the location on Cedar St. S.
Mayor George Pirie was on hand to offer congratulations. He says he’s glad the Sikhs are making their home in the city.
“I’ve said many, many times if we’re going to reach our goals, we’re going to need a bigger population,” the Mayor tells My Timmins Now Dot Com, “and that population is coming from immigration.”
(Bob McIntyre, MyTimminsNow.Com staff)
Pirie points out that Sikhism is built on everyone being equal, rejecting the caste system in India.
Gurdwara managing member Balbir Singh notes that the first members of the faith first came to the city from India, for college. He says this is a better place to live for them than Toronto or Brampton, which have large Sikh populations. He says the temple answers their desire to stay here and attend gurdwara at least weekly.
