ABSTRACT
Sikhs first arrived in Canada over a century ago, in 1903, as British colonial subjects seeking to benefit from the global reaches of the Empire. They were met with fierce racism from the very start in a country that sought to keep itself white as it moved towards independence. Canadians and their government are increasingly willing to accommodate the 400,000 Sikhs that now live in their midst, but they also recognize the shortcomings of their system. Canada's commitment to multiculturalism has been hotly debated and opposed since the nation's inception. After September 2011, the Canadian courts have ruled consistently with this approach. A 2006 shooting spree in French-speaking Montreal, Canada by an immigrant Sikh challenged Canada's multicultural ideal. Nevertheless, the government position overall has been encouraging to the Sikh community in Canada, and has led to Sikhs being more actively involved as Canadian citizens.
