While Metro Vancouver's annual Vaisakhi Parades — colourful pageants with dancing, drumming and delicious food — are typically held in Surrey and Vancouver on consecutive weekends, this year both parades are being held on April 11. This arrangement should provide some traffic relief for each community, but could sadden those who in the past have been able to enjoy two weekends of family and community celebrations.

In Surrey, the Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar, on behalf of the greater Vancouver Sikh community, is organizing the annual Khalsa Day Parade, which is expected to draw over 150,000. The focal point of the local Sikh celebration is the birth of the Khalsa, or Sikh faith, founded in 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh Ji. This holiday is one of the most joyous and significant festivals in the Sikh religion.

Surrey's Khalsa Day Parade will start at 9:30 a.m. at Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar, at 12885 85 Ave., and move south on 128th Street, west on 74A Avenue, and north on 124th Street. As is Sikh tradition, free food and beverages will be available for everyone along the parade route.

10:00am: Members arrive at the Khalsa Diwan Society Sikh Temple (8000 Ross Street) and are greeted by Temple President Kashmir Singh Dhaliwal, and speeches begin upon arrival inside temple.

Speaking order is as follows:

Civic Dignitaries (10 mins):

* Mayor Gregor Robertson

Provincial Dignitaries (15 mins):

* BC Government

* Opposition Leader

Federal Dignitaries (15 mins):

* Federal Government

* Liberal Official Opposition

* NDP Opposition

11:15am: Members walk up Main Street from the 52nd block to the 50th block, stopping in on a number of shops and stages.

12:15pm: BC Gov’t members stop at the BC Government Booth at Main Street and 50th Avenue

12:40pm: Members go onto Punjabi Market Stage to provide remarks.

1:00pm: Members depart for Surrey.

MLAs Attending:

Dave Hayer, MLA for Surrey-Tynehead

John Nuraney, MLA for Burnaby-Willingdon

Wally Oppal, Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism and MLA for Vancouver-Fraserview

Linda Reid, Minister of State for Childcare and MLA for Richmond East

Colin Hansen, Minister of Finance and Minister Responsible for the Olympics and MLA for Vancouver-Quilchena

Mike de Jong, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation and MLA for Abbotsford-Mount Lehman

Surrey Khalsa Day Celebration

Starting Address: 128th Street and 80th Avenue Surrey, BC

Event Itinerary

2:00pm: MLAs meet at the corner of 128th street and 80th avenue. And start walking south on 80th Avenue towards 76th Avenue.

3:00pm: Members arrive at 76a Avenue & 128th Street where the Fruiticana Stage is set up

3:30pm: Participation concludes

MLAs Attending:

Mike de Jong, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation and MLA for Abbotsford-Mount Lehman

Dave Hayer, MLA for Surrey-Tynehead

Kevin Falcon, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure and MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale

Vaisakhi is a time of great importance for Canadians of Indian origins. For the second year running, Simon Fraser University and local South Asian community events organizer Ethnicity are co-hosting an annual Vaisakhi Gala Event showcasing South Asian art, entertainment and, of course, exquisite food. The gala this year will include Community ‘Seva’ Awards. Simplified, ‘Seva’ means ‘selfless service’ and is service which is performed without any expectation of result or reward for the person performing it. Seva is an integral part of Vaisakhi, an ancient festival in Punjab, which marks the beginning of a new solar year and new harvest season.

This year more than 600 artists have been asked to enter a competition to paint or sculpt "What is Vaisakhi?" The winners will be awarded cash prizes, and their artwork will be at display and for sale at the Vaisakhi Gala. There is a youth component, with schools participating.

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