Canada Calling: Of Vaisakhi with Justin Trudeau and rise in hate crimes

“Today, we recognize the significant contributions of Sikh Canadians in making our country stronger, more prosperous, and more diverse,” he said in a statement.

The month of April is dedicated to celebrating Sikh heritage in Canada, and various cities take out Nagar Kirtan processions to mark the occasion. The Vancouver Vaisakhi parade, one of the oldest in North America, returns this year after a three-year break caused by the pandemic. It is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of people on Saturday.

The Surrey Vaisakhi parade, the largest congregation of Sikhs outside of India, will also resume after a three-year hiatus on April 22. Organizers are expecting a record-setting crowd of 700,000, including people from across Canada and the world, both Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike.

Mosque threatened, Temple vandalised, and ISIS supporter arrested

Canada has seen a disturbing spike in hate-motivated incidents recently, with reports of a man threatening to burn down a mosque, a Hindu temple being vandalized, and an alleged ISIS supporter attacking a passenger on a transit bus.

In one incident, a man, later identified as Sharan Karunakaran, allegedly assaulted worshippers and threatened to burn down the Islamic Society of Markham in the Greater Toronto Area. Witnesses claim that he attempted to drive menacingly towards the worshippers before fleeing the scene. Karunakaran, 28, was later arrested from Toronto and charged with uttering threats, assault with a weapon, and dangerous driving.

In another incident, a Hindu temple in Windsor, Ontario, was vandalized with hateful messages on its walls. Police have requested public assistance in finding the perpetrators, and the Indian consulate in Toronto has condemned the act and taken up the matter with Canadian authorities.

Meanwhile, in a shocking incident in Surrey, British Columbia, a man said to be an ISIS supporter allegedly tried to slit a passenger’s throat on a transit bus. The victim survived the attack, but suffered a 10-inch gash on his neck. The suspect, Abdul Aziz Kawam, was arrested and charged with four counts of terrorism.

(Daksh Panwar is an Ontario-based journalist and broadcaster. Twitter: @Daksh280)