This Heritage Week I share a piece of Canadian History incident that took place in 1914. We all know the discriminatory policies in the past by the Canadian Government towards early immigrants. The Komagata Maru Ship was denied entry to Canada due to these policies at the time. Komagata Maru carried 376 Punjabi passengers who were landing in Canada after a 62 day court battle while stranded on board. On the 100th Anniversary of the ship’s arrival at Vancouver’s Burrard inlet, Canada Post released a stamp to remember this incident. It was the proudest moment in my life that the incident's historical status was shared with all Canadians. Until the release of the stamp, it was difficult to tell our Komagata Maru story to Canadians.

Upon release of the Stamp, the younger generation was informed of the story through social media; our youths took over and began sharing news of the incident to their elders at home and abroad as this was International incident. We released this stamp in Ottawa in the Parliament Building with Prime Minister Harper and all members of the Parliament. This picture was taken at the events that took place in Vancouver on the 100th anniversary. My Grandfather Rattan Singh came to Canada in 1906 and was a Vancouver resident at the time Komagata Maru was forced to stay in Vancouver for two months without proper food and medical supplies. Local Canadian residents with Sikh Temple leadership helped the passengers get food supplies for two months. I am so proud and thankful to Canada Post and Komagata Heritage Foundation for issuing this stamp, because two years later the Canadian Government issued an apology in Canadian Parliament in 2016.