Apostle on mission

Baldev Singh Vij, a Sikh from Punjab, who migrated to Canada more than four decades ago, was recently honoured for his contribution to the inter-faith community, writes Sheeba Singh`A0from Ottawa

In a community and country which prides itself in its multicultural assets, changes continue to be made. Where the aftershock tremors are there in our lives even today, the world continues its efforts to sink differences. Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson declared June 12, 2011, as Inter-Faith Day. Another small effort with big hopes.

In a small ceremony held in the City Hall presided over by the Mayor, Father Jacques, and attended by members and representatives of different faith communities as well as recipients of the inter-faith award, among those honoured was Baldev Singh Vij, a Sikh from Punjab, who migrated to Canada more than four decades ago.`A0

The ceremony represents municipal efforts to strive towards a city of tolerance and multiculturalism by bringing communities together. Mayor Jim Watson began the ceremony and regretted the rise of hate crimes in Ottawa, most of which were graffiti and not violence-based. This shows need to promote knowledge and acceptance amongst the younger Canadian generation, the Mayor said. `A0

In the Q&A session following an introduction, representatives of different communities stood up to voice their concerns. Those who spoke included members from the Bahaii, Islamic, Christian and Sikh communities. Member of Parliament for Orleans, Ottawa, an eastern region of the city, spoke of creating partnership between the city of Ottawa and inter-faith communities. Baldev Vij, one of the two recipients of the award, said: "The presence of those in the room represents a desire to foster brotherhood within different backgrounds universally." `A0

Dr Lal, president of Ottawa Sikh Society, claimed such meetings should be held more often. After all, he said: "We all have different paths to the same creator."`A0A representative from the Church of Jesus Christ claimed: " We should take advantage of our accessibilities and push for representation of multiculturalism at a federal level."`A0

The ceremony concluded with an award ceremony. First recipient, Bob Chiarelli, born and raised in Ottawa and former mayoral candidate, is now Ottawa’s Minister of Infrastructure. "Everyone remembers 9/11," he said. "People were in shock and there was blame. We tried to get the right people in the right room at the same time. That became the inter-faith community." The country is becoming organic, he said. People are starting from the scratch; they are starting off as partners. Canada is unlike any other country. It welcomes newcomers.

Baldev Vij was called to the podium to honour his work and contribution to the inter-faith community in Ottawa. He was born in Pakistan, raised in Ludhiana. He started his work in foreign affairs, was associated with the American Embassy for about 15 years and met representatives of educational departments and UNESO in Paris.

After moving to Canada and settling in Ottawa, Vij became a Broker of Record, running his own company and promoting fundamentals of the Sikh faith. For more than a decade, Baldev has been an avid volunteer for Ottawa Sikh Society, serving as the Sikh representative on All-Party Inter-Faith Parliamentary Friendship Group. He has also been co-chairman with the Mayor (2010) of the Ottawa inter-faith steering committee and president (2010) of the capital region inter-faith council.

He opened with a brief introduction to the foundation of Sikhism — a knowhow of how the`A0Gurus came together to form the faith which embraces every human. Attendees nodded and listened intently with interest. He stated hatred was the result of ignorance and misunderstanding. He put forth the suggestion that on Inter-faith Day, religious cultures should come on one podium and speak and educate others about their faiths.

"Where there is a will, there is a way," he concluded. "God will help us because we are doing this for His people. That is the real service to God. Members of our community have become an integral part of this nation."

While the ceremony confined itself to the walls of the City Hall in the capital city, its effects resonate in the hearts of those who have been educated and made aware through the selfless efforts of individuals such as Bob Chiarelli and Baldev Vij and every other participating member of the event. `A0