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NRI Calgary Sikhs to raise $1 million for new Alberta Children's Hospital
to honour Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji -- the founder of the Sikh faith.

 

Clagary, May 12, 2005
CalgaryHerald


The idea was spawned less than a year ago from within Calgary's tightly-knit Sikh community.

Members of that community had wondered how they could honour Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji -- the founder of the Sikh faith.

The love of God and the love of his fellow man were at the very core -- the heart and soul -- of the guru's message.

So less than a year ago the Sikh community decided there was no better way to spread that message of love than to embark on an ambitious fundraising initiative for the new Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary. That initiative was announced at the annual Sikh parade last year in late May.

And during last year's Vaisakhi -- the Sikh community's celebration of the birth of its nation -- organizers said they wanted to raise $1 million over the next three years for a vision clinic at the new health-care facility.

On May 28, the community will receive an update this year on how much money has been raised so far in that campaign -- $850,000. It's a phenomenal achievement; a sign of prosperity and generosity in Calgary's Sikh community; and a sign of its love for the community at large.

Manpreet Sidhu, one of the members of the fundraising committee, says new money continues to come in and organizers are busily getting together all the pledges from two radiothons in November.

"I think the Sikh community is a very giving community and they've been blessed with a lot of hard working members," she says. "One of the pillars of our faith is to earn an honest living and then to share your blessings with others.

"Because it's a core principle of the Sikh faith, a lot of people take any kind of charity work or donating to heart. They truly do believe that you should share whatever you've been blessed with in your life. This is just one means to do that."

Within Calgary this has been the biggest fundraising initiative the Sikh community has sunk its teeth into over the years.

The new vision clinic -- which will be the largest in Western Canada -- is a great way of honouring the name of the founder of the Sikh faith. It is a testament to that community's strong belief in the spirit of giving.

The new Alberta Children's Hospital, built on the west campus at the University of Calgary, is scheduled to be completed by August 2006 and opened to the general public in September 2006.

The Calgary Sikh community's fundraising efforts for that state-of-the-art facility is just one of the many ways that community has contributed in significant ways to the city over the years.

"We've always done smaller scale projects and supported the children's hospital, the women's shelter, the Canadian Cancer Society, Red Cross, but we wanted to do a project that would leave a lasting impression and something that would be kind of challenging. It's been amazing," says Sidhu.

But the roughly 30,000 members within Calgary have risen to the challenge. Actually, many family members from beyond the city's boundaries have also chipped in to help out on the campaign with money coming from Edmonton and British Columbia as well to support the million-dollar project.


NRI Calgary Sikh awareness week


Calgary May 20, 2004
Salima Stanley-Bhanji, Gauntlet News


The City of Calgary has officially declared an annual Sikh Awareness Week, which is a city-wide event to be held for the first time, Aug, 29 to Sept., 5.

The proclamation was signed by Mayor Dave Bronconnier and made by Alderman John Schmal on Fri., May 14 at a dinner in celebration of the quad-centennial of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book and teacher. Approximately 400 people attended the event, including Alberta Premier Ralph Klein.

"Sikh Awareness Week started at the university, so we wanted to take that out of campus and put it city-wide, and this was the year to do it," said Manpreet Sidhu, Executive Member of the Sikh youth group Dashmesh Mission.

"Considering there are 30,000 Sikhs in Calgary, I think it is a great opportunity for us to showcase what our faith is about, to overcome stereotypes and foster understanding," said Sidhu.

Alderman Ric McIver was instrumental in the city's adoption of Sikh Awareness Week, echoes Sidhu's sentiments.

"The biggest problem when people don't get along is that they don't know enough about each other," said Alderman McIver. "The more you know about someone who looks different from you, the more you get along with them, and that's what makes our city whole."

Sidhu is already heavily involved in the organization of many Sikh Awareness Week activities.

"The week will include events about spirituality, meditation and yoga, to arts and culture, to food and festivities," described Sidhu.

Sikh Awareness Week will culminate with a fundraising banquet to benefit the Alberta Children's Hospital.

"The proclamation is really an indication that the city welcomes people," said Alderman McIver. "If they want to be here then we want them to be here."

 

 

 

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