Skip to main content

Handshaking

Description
Photograph of an unidentified man shaking hands with another man at the Khalsa Diwan Society's Annual Sports Day 2006, hosted at the Khalsa Diwan Society Gurdwara in Vancouver, B.C.

The Khalsa Diwan Society is a pioneer Sikh society, one of the oldest in Vancouver, formed on July 22, 1902 in British Columbia, Canada, formally established in 1906. In 1908, the Society purchased and built the first Sikh temple in Vancouver, which was located on West 2nd Avenue. This is believed to be the first Sikh temple in the whole of the American continent. This temple served the Sikh community until a new temple was occupied on April 25, 1970. The original temple was sold to build a bigger (present) temple located on Ross Street. The Khalsa Diwan Society has been a pioneer in raising Sikhi related issues and getting recognition for Sikhs in Canada. It continues to build a strong community based on Sikhi values and principles. Every year the society organizes sports activities, including soccer and wrestling tournaments.
Description
Photograph of an unidentified man shaking hands with another man at the Khalsa Diwan Society's Annual Sports Day 2006, hosted at the Khalsa Diwan Society Gurdwara in Vancouver, B.C.

The Khalsa Diwan Society is a pioneer Sikh society, one of the oldest in Vancouver, formed on July 22, 1902 in British Columbia, Canada, formally established in 1906. In 1908, the Society purchased and built the first Sikh temple in Vancouver, which was located on West 2nd Avenue. This is believed to be the first Sikh temple in the whole of the American continent. This temple served the Sikh community until a new temple was occupied on April 25, 1970. The original temple was sold to build a bigger (present) temple located on Ross Street. The Khalsa Diwan Society has been a pioneer in raising Sikhi related issues and getting recognition for Sikhs in Canada. It continues to build a strong community based on Sikhi values and principles. Every year the society organizes sports activities, including soccer and wrestling tournaments.
Description
Photograph of a group of unidentified individuals alongside an unidentified speaker at the Massey Theatre, in New Westminster, British Columbia (B.C.). Individuals had gathered at Massey Theatre for a live performance by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and his musical ensemble. Dave Hayer and Rob Nijjar can be seen among the group of individuals.

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (born 1974) is a Pakistani musician and primarily a singer of Qawwali, a devotional music of the Sufis. He is the nephew of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. In addition to Qawwali, he also performs ghazals and other light music. He has toured extensively and performed in Pakistan, India, and all around the world. Rahat was born in 1974 in Faisalabad, Punjab, into a family of traditional musicians.

Dave Hayer is a former MLA for Surrey-Tynehead, first elected in 2001. He has held several key roles in the BC Legislature, including Chair of Surrey Caucus and member of multiple government committees. Before entering politics, he was a businessperson, Assistant Publisher of the Indo-Canadian Times, and worked in various industries, including real estate and newspapers. Hayer has been actively involved in community organizations such as the Rotary Club of Surrey and Surrey Chamber of Commerce. He holds a BA in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University and is known for his work on community development and public service.

Born in 1967, Rob Nijjar is a life-long resident of the east side of Vancouver. Nijjar was first elected to the BC Legislature in the 2001 Provincial general election in the riding of Vancouver-Kingsway. Nijjar serves on the Government Caucus Committee on the Economy and sits on the Legislative Standing Committee for Education and Chairs the Sub-Committee on Youth Employment. Before becoming an MLA, Nijjar owned and operated a public relations business which he founded in 1998. As a consultant, Nijjar assisted businesses, societies and organizations throughout the lower mainland establish and maintain strong community relations. He attended school in southeast Vancouver and Langara Community College before earning a Bachelor's Degree in General Studies from Simon Fraser University in 1992. Following graduation, Nijjar spent several years as a business manager for companies such as Jenny Craig Inc., family-run restaurants and other service industry businesses before becoming active in politics. Nijjar has worked at the Municipal, Provincial, and Federal levels of politics, including as a Community Organizer for Leader of the Official Opposition Gordon Campbell and as an Executive Assistant to a Member of Parliament. Nijjar's community involvement includes: Member of the Rotary Club of Vancouver East; and former member of BC Transplant Society Outreach Team; Collingwood Neighbourhood House Outreach Team; and the Vancouver City Planning Commission. Nijjar has also coached the West Vancouver Women's Field Hockey Club and was a Disciplinary Chair of the Vancouver Men's Field Hockey League.

Massey Theatre, located in New Westminster, opened in 1949 as British Columbia's largest theatre. Massey Theatre hosts musical theatre hits, international music and dance forms, children's entertainers, orchestras, choirs, ballets and stars of music. Governed as a registered non-profit charitable society run by an independent board of directors, Massey Theatre is neither a civic nor a school facility but a professional arts organization which works to support the performing arts throughout Metro Vancouver.