Canada Post unveils stamp honouring Sikh Canadian soldiers: ‘We’re celebrating sacrifices, commitment’

The stamp features an evocative illustration: a modern Sikh Canadian soldier saluting at Buckam Singh’s weathered headstone, flanked by Canadian flags. In the background titled “Private Singh” to evoke the shared Sikh surname, it spotlights the 10 pioneering Sikh soldiers who overcame racial barriers to enlist in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I.

Despite thousands of Sikhs volunteering, only these few were accepted, facing rejection with taunts like “this is a white man’s war.”

Private Buckam Singh, just 22 when he enlisted in 1915, embodied their spirit. The youngest of the group and the first to join an Ontario Regiment, he fought with the 20th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry in France and Belgium. Wounded twice in fierce battles, he contracted tuberculosis during recovery, and died in a Kitchener military hospital in 1919 at 26.

Private Buckam Singh, just 22 when he enlisted in 1915, embodied their spirit. (Express)

Buried with full honours, his story faded until Sandeep Singh Brar, curator of SikhMuseum.com, discovered his Victory Medal in a British pawn shop in 2008. That find sparked the annual ceremony, now one of North America’s largest gatherings of Sikh veterans, and revived Private Singh’s legacy as a cornerstone of Canada’s diverse military history.

Maninder Gill, president of the Friends of India and Canada Foundation, said the stamp highlights the resilience of Sikh pioneers in the face of rampant discrimination.

“This stamp does a brilliant job of that dual nature, celebrating Sikh soldiers in the Canadian Armed Forces today, where they serve in all branches, as well as paying homage to our history,” Brar said at the event. He added that the design connects past struggles to present pride. “Our history is a contribution of so many different communities, not only to our general history but also our military as well.”

Balraj Dhillon, Canada Post’s General Manager of Platform and Partnerships, highlighted the stamp’s broader message. “It speaks to the contributions that all Sikhs have made and continue to make in the armed forces.”

Senator Baltej Singh Dhillon, the first Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer allowed to wear a turban, addressed the crowd. “Private Buckam Singh is one of those soldiers whose grave was found. It was never lost, but it was not remembered. We’re celebrating the sacrifices. We’re celebrating the commitment. We’re really celebrating being Canadian,” said Dhillon.

Designed by Larry Burke and Anna Stredulinsky, the stamps are printed in five colours via lithography, with 120,000 booklets and 7,000 panes produced.

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