AI Generated Summary
- The stamp, designed and produced by Canada Post, will be officially released during the 18th Annual Sikh Remembrance Day Ceremony on November 2, an event organized by the Sikh community to pay tribute to soldiers who served alongside Canadian and Allied forces in the World Wars.
- “This stamp honours the legacy of Sikh Canadian soldiers who have served this country for over 100 years — from the ten Sikh men accepted into the military during the First World War to those who continue to serve with pride today,” Singh said.
- The annual Sikh Remembrance Day ceremony is held at the grave of Private Bukkan Singh, the only known Sikh soldier from the World Wars to be buried in Canada.
The Canadian government is set to unveil a new commemorative stamp this Sunday to honour more than a century of service by Sikh soldiers in the nation’s military history.
The stamp, designed and produced by Canada Post, will be officially released during the 18th Annual Sikh Remembrance Day Ceremony on November 2, an event organized by the Sikh community to pay tribute to soldiers who served alongside Canadian and Allied forces in the World Wars.
Former MP Tarlochan Singh praised the government’s initiative, calling it a “significant and long-overdue recognition” of Sikh contributions to Canada’s military heritage. “This stamp honours the legacy of Sikh Canadian soldiers who have served this country for over 100 years — from the ten Sikh men accepted into the military during the First World War to those who continue to serve with pride today,” Singh said.
A Symbol of Courage and Commitment
The annual Sikh Remembrance Day ceremony is held at the grave of Private Bukkan Singh, the only known Sikh soldier from the World Wars to be buried in Canada. Singh fought valiantly with the 20th Canadian Infantry Battalion in France and Belgium before succumbing to his injuries in 1919 at a military hospital in Kitchener, Ontario. His gravesite now stands as a national symbol of sacrifice and remembrance.
Historical records indicate that despite thousands of Sikhs expressing interest in joining the Canadian army at the outbreak of the First World War, only ten were accepted. Private Singh’s story has since come to represent both the struggles and triumphs of early Sikh soldiers in Canada’s armed forces.
Continuing a Legacy of Honour
This will be the third commemorative stamp issued by Canada Post in recognition of Sikh heritage. The first, released in 1999, marked the 300th anniversary of Baisakhi and featured the Khanda, the emblem of the Sikh faith symbolizing divine knowledge and justice. The second, issued in 2014, commemorated the Komagata Maru incident — a defining moment in Canada’s history that reflected the challenges faced by Sikh and Indian immigrants denied entry to the country in 1914.
The latest stamp, celebrating Sikh military service, stands as a testament to the enduring bond between Canada and its Sikh community — one built on courage, equality, and service.
As the nation prepares to observe Remembrance Day, the release of this stamp adds a powerful new chapter to Canada’s ongoing story of diversity and sacrifice.
