Abbotsford Sikh Temple National Historic Site of Canada

Transcription

1 Abbotsford Sikh Temple National Historic Site of Canada Abbotsford, British Columbia Khalsa Diwan Society, 2001 Commemorative Integrity Statement March 2003

2 Abbotsford Sikh Temple National Historic Site of Canada Commemorative Integrity Statement Approved: Christina Cameron, Director General National Historic Sites Parks Canada Date Jim Barlow, Field Unit Superintendent Coastal B.C. Field Unit, Parks Canada Date Nachhattar (Norm) Singh Sangha, President President, Khalsa Diwan Society Abbotsford, British Columbia Date

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION Overview 1.2 National Historic Sites Program Objectives 1.3 Commemorative Integrity Definition of Commemorative Integrity Definition and Purpose of the Commemorative Integrity Statement Uses of the Commemorative Integrity Statement 1.4 Cultural Resource Management Policy 2.0 DESIGNATION AND CONTEXT Designation 2.2 Commemorative Intent Definition Statement of Commemorative Intent for Abbotsford Sikh Temple National Historic Site of Canada 2.3 Designated Place Definition Description of Designated Place 2.4 Historic and Geographic Context Historic Context Geographic Context 3.0 RESOURCES DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE REASONS FOR DESIGNATION AS A NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE Designated Place Description Historic Values 3.2 Buildings and Structures Description Historic Values 3.3 Archaeological Sites Description Historic values 3.4 Objects Description Historic values

4 3.5 Objectives 4.0 EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION OF THE REASONS FOR DESIGNATION AS A NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE Reasons for Designation as a National Historic Site Definition Reasons for Designation 4.2 Context Messages Definition of Context Messages Context Messages 4.3 Objectives 5.0 RESOURCES, VALUES AND MESSAGES NOT RELATED TO THE REASONS FOR DESIGNATION AS A NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE Resources Not Related to the Reasons for Designation as a National Historic Site 5.2 Messages Not Related to the Reasons for Designation as a National Historic Site 5.3 Objectives for Potential Cultural Resources and Messages Not Related to the Reasons for Designation 6.0 APPENDICES Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada Minutes and Plaque Texts 6.2 Map of the ABBOTSFORD SIKH TEMPLE National Historic Site of Canada 6.3 List of Commemorative Integrity Statement Team Members

5 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Overview The Abbotsford Sikh Temple, located at South Fraser Way, Abbotsford, British Columbia, is the oldest surviving example of the temples that played a crucial religious, social and political role in the pioneer phase of Sikh immigration to North America. Owned and managed by the Khalsa Diwan Society of Abbotsford, the temple continues to embody both the fundamental beliefs of the Sikhs and their early immigrant experience in Canada, and its architectural form represents a pragmatic adaptation of Sikh traditions to the Canadian context. The temple was designated a National Historic Site in The extent of the designation is the perimeter of legal lot REM.Q 6568 (See Appendix, section 6.2). 1.2 National Historic Sites Program Objectives The National Historic Site Program Objectives are the objectives of the Government of Canada for the national historic sites program: To foster knowledge and appreciation of Canada s past through a national program of historical commemoration. To ensure the commemorative integrity of national historic sites by protecting and presenting them for the benefit, education and enjoyment of this and future generations, in a manner that respects the significant and irreplaceable legacy represented by these places and their associated resources. To encourage and support owners of national historic sites in their efforts to ensure commemorative integrity. 1.3 Commemorative Integrity Definition of Commemorative Integrity Commemorative integrity describes the health and wholeness of a national historic site. A national historic site possesses commemorative integrity when: the resources directly related to the reasons for designation as a national historic site are not impaired or under threat, the reasons for designation as a national historic site are effectively communicated to the public, and the site s heritage values (including those not related to designation as a 1

6 national historic site) are respected in all decisions and actions affecting the site. Resources directly related to the reasons for the site s designation are Level I resources as defined in Parks Canada s Cultural Resource Management Policy. Resources that are not related to the reasons for the site s designation but which have historic value are defined as Level II in the Cultural Resource Management Policy Definition and Purpose of the Commemorative Integrity Statement A Commemorative Integrity Statement is a document which identifies what is meant by commemorative integrity at a particular national historic site. It provides a baseline for planning, managing, operating, reporting and taking remedial action. The document is divided into six parts: 1. Introduction 2. Designation and Context 3. Resources Directly Related to the Reasons for Designation as a National Historic Site This section of the Commemorative Integrity Statement identifies the resources that relate directly to the reasons for the site s designation. It also describes the historic values of these resources, which can be physical as well as associative or symbolic. These values must be safeguarded and communicated. The Commemorative Integrity Statement provides guidance, through objectives, about the meaning of not impaired or under threat in the context of the site. 4. Reasons for National Historic Significance This section of the Commemorative Integrity Statement identifies the reasons for designation as a national historic site, as well as any additional, essential information required to ensure their understanding. It provides guidance, through objectives, on integrity in presentation and effective communication with audiences. 5. Resources, Values and Messages Not Related to the Reasons for Designation as a National Historic Site This section of the Commemorative Integrity Statement covers resources, messages and values that are not related to the reasons for designation as a national historic site. Objectives provide guidance on the management of these. 2

7 6. Appendices Uses of the Commemorative Integrity Statement A Commemorative Integrity Statement guides site management by: identifying what is most important about a site relative to the national historic designation and, for Parks Canada sites, ensuring that matters relating to national significance, including resources and messaging, are the highest management priority. ensuring that there is a focus on the whole, and not just the individual resources. providing the fundamental document to guide management planning and preparation of a conservation and presentation plan (for the National Historic Sites of Canada Cost-Sharing Program), which detail specific actions to be carried out. enunciating a set of heritage values and objectives which can be used in analysing and evaluating the impact of development and adaptive re-use proposals on a site or nearby property. providing the basis for design guidelines for development which may take place within or nearby and which may have an impact on the national historic site. giving direction on heritage messages for marketing plans and programs. providing the foundation for reporting to Canadians on the state of national historic sites. 1.4 Cultural Resource Management Policy Cultural resource management is an integrated and holistic approach to the management of cultural resources. It applies to all activities that affect cultural resources, including the care taken of these resources and the promotion of public understanding and enjoyment of them. The objective is to manage cultural resources in accordance with the principles of value, public benefit, understanding, respect and integrity. Parks Canada s Cultural Resource Management Policy defines cultural resources as places or human works that have been determined to have historic value. Cultural resources include those directly related to the reasons for the site s national significance and those not related but which possess historic value. 3

8 The Policy is the basis for management of cultural resources by Parks Canada. Other owners of national historic sites are encouraged to apply the principles and practice from the Cultural Resource Management Policy. Effective cultural resource management practice is based on: 1. an up-to-date inventory of resources; 2. an evaluation of resources to determine which are to be considered as cultural resources and what it is that constitutes their historic value; 3. consideration of historic value in actions affecting conservation and presentation. Most, if not all, operational activities have an impact on conservation or presentation; 4. monitoring and review to ensure that conservation and presentation objectives continue to be met effectively. A Commemorative Integrity Statement sets out the results of the first two points above in order to facilitate the third and fourth. The objectives in a Commemorative Integrity Statement specify that the site should be managed in accordance with the principles and practice of the Cultural Resource Management Policy. In addition to the principles and practice noted above, management under the Cultural Resource Management Policy means: cultural resources and their values are inventoried and evaluated, and these records are kept up to date; there are no uses or threats that reduce the potential for long-term conservation and future understanding and appreciation of the cultural resources; any modification to the site or its cultural resources is based on sound knowledge and respect for the historic values of the resources and is preceded by adequate research, recording, and investigation; conservation measures are based on direct, rather than indirect evidence, follow the path of least intrusive action, and are clearly recorded; any new work at or adjacent to the site is sensitive in form and scale to the site and its associated resources; monitoring and review systems are in place to ensure the continued survival of the cultural resources with minimum deterioration; reproductions and reconstructions are marked in such a way as not to be confused with the originals they are intended to represent; the historic value of the resources is fully considered and integrated into 4

9 the planning, conservation, presentation and operational programs. 2.0 DESIGNATION AND CONTEXT 2.1 Designation Designation refers to the establishment of a national historic site. It occurs when the Minister approves a recommendation for national historic significance from the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. The Abbotsford Sikh Temple was first considered for designation in At that time, the Board evaluated the architectural merits of this building, but found that it was not of national architectural significance. It is noteworthy that, in 1977, the Board further expressed the view that nevertheless the Sikhs may be of national historic importance for their effect on Canadian immigration policy and as the oldest remaining Sikh Temple this building may well be the appropriate site for a plaque to commemorate the Sikh community. The Board later refined its evaluation criteria for national historic significance and, in 2002, was asked to consider this site under criterion 1b), a place that illustrates or symbolizes in whole or in part a cultural tradition, a way of life, or ideas important in the development of Canada. As a result, the Built Environment Committee of the Board evaluated the Temple at its meeting on April 13, 2002, but found that the building did not meet the benchmark established by national historic sites designated as exceptional or outstanding architecture and referred the Temple to the Cultural Communities Committee. The Cultural Communities Committee, and the full Board after it, recommended the Abbotsford Sikh Temple in Abbotsford, British Columbia, for designation as a National Historic Site to be marked by means of a standard plaque bearing an inscription in both official languages and Punjabi. The Committee and the Board recommended the site name as Lieu historique national du Canada du Temple-Sikh-d Abbotsford In addition, the Cultural Communities Committee received and supported the advice of the Built Environment Committee that the site owners be encouraged to restore the building and to remove intrusive elements such as the interior fluorescent lighting fixtures. 2.2 Commemorative Intent 5

10 2.2.1 Definition Commemorative intent refers to the reasons for a site s designation as a national historic site, as determined by the Ministerially-approved recommendations of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. A Commemorative Integrity Statement contains a Statement of Commemorative Intent which provides the answer to the question When and for what reason was this site designated by the Minister responsible for the Historic Sites and Monuments Act as a national historic site? Statement of Commemorative Intent for Abbotsford Sikh Temple National Historic Site of Canada The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada minutes clearly articulate the reasons for designation. The Abbotsford Sikh Temple was designated a national historic site by the Minister responsible in 2002 because: it is the oldest surviving example of the temples which played a crucial religious, social and political role in the pioneer phase of Sikh immigration to North America; it continues to embody both the fundamental beliefs of the Sikhs and their early immigrant experience in Canada; and, its architectural form represents a pragmatic adaptation of Sikh traditions to the Canadian context. Attendees at the Commemorative Integrity Workshop on January 10, 2003, concurred with the Board s reasoning, re-iterating that the Temple is a physical representation of the roots of the Sikh community in Canada and that its preservation would insure preserving our roots and belongingness. Belongingness refers both to belonging to the Sikh community and to Canada. 2.3 Designated Place Definition Designated place refers to the place designated by the Minister of Canadian Heritage on the recommendation of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. Information on what constitutes the designated place for a particular historic site is drawn from the minutes of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. 6

11 2.3.2 Description of Designated Place The Board recommended that the boundaries for the Abbotsford Sikh Temple National Historic Site should be defined as: Lot REM.Q 6568 (See Appendix, section 6.2). This is the legal description for South Fraser Way, Abbotsford, British Columbia. The designation includes the temple building and the associated property as set out in the legal description. 2.4 Historic and Geographic Context Historic Context The Abbotsford Sikh Temple has been designated a National Historic Site for being the oldest surviving Sikh temple in Canada, for its role in the early period of Sikh settlement, for embodying the fundamental beliefs of the Sikhs and their early experience in Canada, and for its architectural adaptation of Sikh traditions to the Canadian context. Some 5,000 Sikhs came to Canada from the Punjab, beginning in the last decade of the nineteenth century up to Most were young men who found work in the lumber and agricultural industries in the Fraser Valley, Vancouver, and Vancouver Island. The Khalsa Diwan Society, which was (and remains) the Sikh community s central institution, built a temple in Vancouver in 1908 (no longer extant), the first in British Columbia. The first Sikhs arrived in Abbotsford in Within a few years the community numbered about fifty people, many of them employed at the Trethewey family s Abbotsford Lumber Company on Mill Lake. The Lumber Company provided separate accommodation for its Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and Caucasian workers. Abbotsford s Sikhs initially worshiped in a private house in Maple Grove. Sunder Singh Thandi, a leader of the community who was employed by the Abbotsford Lumber Company, led the drive to build a proper temple, or Gurdwara. He and Arjan Singh purchased a one-acre property on a hilltop near the mill for $3,000 donated for the local branch of the Khalsa Diwan Society, and raised $2,000 from the community. 7

12 The Temple was constructed in The Trethewey family donated the lumber, which was carried by the Sikh mill workers from the mill to the building site where they erected the temple in their spare time. No records survive to tell who designed the Temple and directed its construction. Notices in the Abbotsford Post called for tenders for the steam heating system in 1910 and stated that the building opened in February 1912 and was being painted and decorated by E.O. Brundage of Abbotsford in March The Abbotsford Temple adapted the Sikh religious building structural traditions to Western Canadian vernacular building styles. The wood-frame gable-roofed building with a false front facing the street contains several elements typical of the many commercial buildings being constructed in pioneer communities throughout the province in this period. This common style was adapted to accommodate the various ritual requirements of the Gurdwara: a prayer hall (located on the upper floor), a community kitchen (on the ground floor), and originally doors on all four elevations. A staircase on the south (entrance) façade leads to the prayer hall and to upper-floor balconies serving the other doors along the east and west sides. The Temple became the focus of Abbotsford s Sikh community, many of whom built houses nearby. The Temple was enlarged at the rear in 1932 to extend the prayer hall, and a second addition was built in the late 1960s. A number of other changes have been made inside and out, but overall the building retains much of its original appearance. A new temple was built across the street in The historic Sikh Temple continues to be used for worship, supplementing the new temple. It remains an important community resource Geographic Context Abbotsford is located approximately 53 km east of Vancouver, in the lower Fraser Valley of British Columbia. The temple is located on a prominent knoll on South Fraser Way in the centre of Abbotsford. Nearby, at Mill Lake is the site of the mill where many of the original members of the Temple lived and worked. Until the 1970s, the Sikh community in Abbotsford was concentrated in the neighbourhood of the Temple. The location at the crest of a hill on busy South Fraser Way makes the temple a local landmark. The prominence of the site is reinforced by the presence of a Nishan Sahib, a tall and distinctive flagpole flying the Sikh emblem, a yellow triangular flag with the Sikh symbol (Khanda) in the middle. Across the street is a new, larger, temple constructed in

13 The Abbotsford Sikh Temple along with temples in Vancouver, Victoria and New Westminster served the pioneer Sikh community in British Columbia. Other early temples were located at Paldi and Hillcrest. There was regular interchange of members between these early temples, with members traveling to other temples for holiday celebrations and major events such as weddings and funerals. As a reception centre, the Temple marked the end of the immigrant s journey from India. Until relatively recently, Sikh immigration has been focused on a small area of B.C., encompassing the Lower Mainland, the Fraser Valley, and Vancouver Island, and this formed the nucleus of the Sikh community in Canada. [include a map which shows the position of Abbotsford in relation to the Fraser Valley] 3.0 RESOURCES DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE REASONS FOR DESIGNATION AS A NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE This section contains details on the resources - the whole and the parts of the whole - which are directly related to the reasons for designation. 3.1 Designated Place Description The designated place for Abbotsford Sikh Temple National Historic Site is defined as the one-acre plot of land described as Lot REM.Q 6568 (See Appendix, section 6.2) and the associated cultural resources. The Temple is sited centrally on the lot. The long axis of the Temple and its later additions are oriented northsouth, with the principal axis of approach from the south. The Abbotsford Sikh Temple National Historic Site includes the Temple building with its additions, the present Nishan Sahib (flagpole), and the bases of earlier poles, including the remnants of the base of the original Nishan Sahib. A further element of the designated place is the Temple s siting on a knoll, making it a prominent local landmark. Cultural Resources, including photographs and objects, that may be of national historic significance, are stored off-site at the Ross Street Temple, in Vancouver Historic Values Historic value is a value or values assigned to a resource, whereby it is recognized as a cultural resource. These values can be physical and/or associative. 9

14 The participants at the CIS workshop were very clear about the enduring symbolic values of the Abbotsford Sikh Temple as a place that: Was part of a network of temples that represent the pioneering phase of the Sikh community in Canada; Is at the heart of a social and cultural institution that brings people together, promotes the principles of equality and universality, and teaches children how to live according to Sikh precepts; Is where important events in the lives of individuals were and continue to be celebrated; Was and continues to be a place of welcome for newcomers of Indian origin (Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs), and a place for worship, community, and social gathering; Is part of Canadian culture and played a role in the integration of the Sikh community into the Canadian community; Is a gift from the pioneers to current generations to preserve for the future, and a symbol of the struggles and achievements of the pioneers; Demonstrates the enduring character of Sikh roots in Canada; and Represents Sikh history, religion, and culture. Key physical features of the designated place that are valued include: The Temple s site on South Fraser Way, which is visible from a distance and is an important local landmark; The Nishan Sahib which identifies the site as a Sikh Temple and which served as, and continues to be, a beacon of welcome; The Temple building, which contains all of the key features of a Sikh Temple adapted to the historic and Canadian context in which it was constructed. 3.2 Buildings and Structures Description The Temple Building The temple building comprises the main structure, built in and subsequent additions. The two storeys were originally comprised of the community kitchen room for the shared preparation and consumption of the 10

15 Langar, or common meal, on the lower level and the prayer hall on the upper level. The main gabled roof lies behind a false front at the south elevation, lending the Temple the feel of an early B.C. commercial building. A sign on the false front reads Gur Sikh Temple. The siding is lapped softwood boarding painted white and punctuated by doors and double-hung vertical sliding sash windows. The prayer hall is used regularly for reading of the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh Scripture) and special ceremonies. The lower level is still used for Langar. The prayer hall, originally entered by a doorway on each of the four elevations, is now entered by three doorways in the west, south, and east elevations. The north door was obscured by the later extension. The interior decoration is modest, with elaborate detail restricted to the canopied and arcaded altar. The east, south, and west elevations are verandahed on two storeys, with the principal access to the balcony by a flight of concrete steps from the south. The posts and balustrade are plain, although the grand concrete staircase (a recent alteration) which provides access to the verandah from the south, is perforated with decorative square tracery and flanked by concrete lighting posts at its foot. The extension to the north of the main building contains the Granthi s (priest s) suite and the Sukh Aasan, a room for the ceremonial placing of the Guru Granth Sahib. Downstairs there is a small community kitchen and boiler room. The extension is similar in form, but subservient to, the main structure. A single flight of stairs at the west and two flights at the east provide communication between the ground and first floors. At the lower level on the east side, the verandah is now partially occupied by washrooms, and at the upper level on the west by a bathroom. A second extension to the north, built in the late 1960s is flat-roofed, with plain stuccoed walls, pierced by double-glazed casement windows on the first floor. It is understood to have been built as accommodation for the Granthi, but is now used on first floor level as a community meeting room with storage above. The Nishan Sahib The Nishan Sahib is a defining feature of the site. There are three resources associated with the Nishan Sahib. The first is the base of the original Nishan Sahib. This Nishan Sahib, made from a 72- foot (22- metre) log, served the temple from its installation until 1957 when it was cut off at ground level because of 11

16 highway construction. A second Nishan Sahib was subsequently installed on a metal base. The metal supports for the second Nishan Sahib also remain in-situ. This second Nishan Sahib has since been replaced by a third, which is identical to the one in front of the new temple across the street Historic Values The historic values of the Temple Building include the following: The layout and functional spaces adopt the required elements of Sikh Temple and reflect fundamental Sikh beliefs. These include the prayer hall with the Sukh Aasan (the room where the Guru Granth Sahib was kept) and the Granthi s quarters on the second level; and the communal kitchen and dining area on the first level. The layout of the building also reflects the dual function of the Sikh Temple. The prayer hall speaks to the role of the temple as a place of worship and learning. The community kitchen and dining area speaks to the role of the temple as a centre of community life offering welcome support and sustenance to all visitors. The construction and design represents a pragmatic adaptation of the traditional Sikh temple to the Canadian environment. The wood frame construction with false fronted facade mask a simple rectangular building with a gable roof was typical of vernacular commercial building of the period. The verandah running along three sides of the building at the second level was a recurring feature of early Sikh temples in Canada. It allowed for direct access from the outside into the prayer hall originally from four, now three, sides as was required of a Sikh Temple. Original exterior materials and details such as the horizontal wooden siding, door and window mouldings, chimneys, verandah supports, and railings. Interior details such as the wooden arches and ornate canopy defining the altar; the early pendant light fixture and picture rail in the prayer hall, and the tongue and groove wall treatment seen in the prayer hall, the Sukh Aasan, Granthi's room, and the kitchen/dining area on the ground floor. The interior functional layout and modest finishings of the temple and community kitchen are considered Level 1 values of the Temple Building, as is the continuing use of the building as a Sikh Temple. The Temple's key physical elements, both exterior and interior, are features common to other temples of this era, none of which have survived 12

17 intact. The surviving construction of the early Temple provides a direct associative connection with the pioneer Sikhs; Its construction in a simple vernacular style speaks to the pioneer phase of Sikh immigration to Canada, reflecting the limited resources of the builders and their decision/desire to adapt to Canadian ways; The Temple continues to be used for worship, Langar, and other social activities. The historic values of the Nishan Sahib include the following: A Nishan Sahib is used by Sikhs to mark the locations of temples. This makes it clearly identifiable to Sikhs as a temple, and has been described by members of the community as a beacon of welcome; The base of the original Nishan Sahib has been left in place because it is seen as a symbolic and historic artifact from the past; and The ongoing use of a Nishan Sahib to mark the site of the Temple is a symbol of history and continuity. 3.3 Archaeological Sites Description The British Columbia Archaeology and Recreation Inventory Section has indicated that current Archaeology Registry records do not indicate the presence of either a known designated heritage building or a recorded archaeological site on the property of the Abbotsford Sikh Temple National Historic Site, nor is the community aware of such resources. Site managers have indicated an awareness of the possibility of such resources and the need to protect archaeological sites in the event they are discovered Historic values There are no known archaeological resources associated with the Abbotsford Sikh Temple National Historic Site and therefore no historic values have been identified. 3.4 Objects Description 13

18 The Abbotsford Sikh Temple possesses a number of moveable cultural resources, including photographs and objects, that are directly related to the commemorative intent of the site. These resources are currently stored at the Ross Street Temple in Vancouver. A list of photographs held at the Ross Street Temple has been compiled and a copy of this list is in the possession of the Khalsa Diwan Society, Abbotsford. This list is not considered exhaustive. Other community members hold photographs including historian Sohan Surinder Sangha. To be considered Level 1 objects, or objects directly related to the nationallysignificant values of the site an object must have belonged to or been used at the Abbotsford Sikh Temple. Likewise, photographs should have a direct association with the Abbotsford Sikh Temple. Further work is needed with the photograph collection to establish which photographs are Level 1 resources Historic values The photographs identified on the list are directly associated with the pioneer history of the Sikh community in British Columbia. These photographs include portraits of individuals and groups, community events, and political delegations. They provide an important record of the people and activities of the pioneer Sikh community. 3.5 Objectives These objectives are designed to promote the preservation and repair of the physical resource and to encourage the continuing appropriate use of the resource to reinforce its overall meaning. The cultural resources (designated place, landscapes and landscape features, buildings and structures, archaeological sites, objects) directly associated with the commemorated site will not be impaired or under threat when: the resources and their associated values are respected; management decisions are based on adequate and sound information and are made in accordance with the principles and practice of the Cultural Resource Management Policy; the resources and their associated values are not lost, impaired or threatened from natural process, for example erosion and decay, within or outside of the site; 14

19 the resources and their associated values are not lost, impaired or threatened from human actions within or outside of the site; and the historic values of the resources are communicated to visitors and stakeholders Designated Place The Temple building s interior and exterior is conserved; Plans for site development protect the continuing visibility of the site and the prominence of the Temple; Views of the building from South Fraser Way are preserved in cooperation with the responsible authorities; The base of the original Nishan Sahib is preserved in its present location; A Nishan Sahib continues to mark the site; and The Temple continues to be used for worship and social gathering, imbuing it with the authentic spirit that contributes to its overall meaning Building and Structures The form, siting and colour is protected, maintained, and monitored; The layout and the interior and exterior elements identified above are protected, maintained and monitored; Consideration is given to removing intrusive elements, such as the flourescent lighting fixtures; and The Temple continues to embody the fundamental beliefs of the Sikhs and continues to be reflective of their early immigrant experience in Canada. The two historic Nishan Sahib sites are protected, maintained on their original sites, and monitored; and a Nishan Sahib continues to be located at the Temple to act as a beacon (eg. the tradition is maintained) Objects Objects and photographs directly associated with the reasons for commemoration are inventoried, evaluated, protected, and monitored. 15

20 4.0 EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION OF THE REASONS FOR DESIGNATION AS A NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE Protection is only one part of commemorative integrity. As the National Historic Sites Policy states (p. 78), Protection and presentation are fundamental to commemoration, since without protection there can be no historic site to be enjoyed, and without presentation there can be no understanding of why the site is important to our history, and hence, to all Canadians. 4.1 Reasons for Designation as a National Historic Site Definition The reasons for designation as a national historic site express, in the form of messages, why this place was designated a national historic site Reasons for Designation 1. The Abbotsford Sikh Temple is the oldest surviving example of the temples that played a crucial religious, social and political role in the pioneer phase of Sikh immigration to North America. 2. The Abbotsford Sikh Temple continues to embody both the fundamental beliefs of the Sikhs and their early immigrant experience in Canada. 3. The architectural form of the Temple represents a pragmatic adaptation of Sikh traditions to the Canadian context. 4.2 Context Messages Introduction The following brief overview of the Sikh history and beliefs has been prepared to help readers understand the context messages that follow. Sikhism is a relatively recent and dynamic religion with roots in the Punjab region in northern India. 1 Sikhs live according to the teachings of the Sikh Gurus (or 1 The Sikh homeland is the Punjab, a land of flat, fertile valleys surrounded by the high peaks of the Himalayas; it is often called the breadbasket of India. Under British rule, Punjab was a vast territory comprising nearly 350,000 square kilometres; Sikhs represented only 11% of the 16

21 preceptors), the first of whom was Guru Nanak ( ), a prophetic preceptor, born in a Hindu family, who proposed a new, reformed approach to spirituality, comprised of a whole-life system. 2 Guru Nanak posited the existence of one God and rejected the Hindu pantheon, as well as the restrictions of caste. He called his followers Sikhs, or disciples, and insisted that God could be experienced by all persons, not just by priests or holy men. As Sikhism developed in the 15 th to the 18 th centuries, Guru Nanak was succeeded by nine other Gurus. Each Guru added to the Sikh faith by introducing particular values and practices, based on one basic ideology and theology. They also compiled poetic hymns into the Adi Granth, the Sikh Holy Scripture. The Tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh ( ), proclaimed that the succession of living Gurus had ended and elevated the Holy Scripture to the level of Guru. From then on, the sacred text, called the Guru Granth Sahib, has been understood to be a Guru in its own right; it is the source of authority that governs the life of the Sikh community. Considered to be an eternal, living voice of authority, the Granth is revered by Sikhs and shown tremendous respect. 3 population, with Muslims the majority and Hindus an important minority. When India gained independence in 1947, the country was partitioned along religious lines; two-thirds of historic Punjab fell within Pakistan and one-third within India. Six weeks of riots resulted in a huge transfer of populations, with some four million Hindus and Sikhs fleeing from Pakistan to India, and almost the same number of Muslims escaping from India to Pakistan. Although the Sikhs were now a majority in certain districts, they still made up only 35% of the population of the Punjab. Sikh agitation led to the redrawing of boundaries in 1956 and again in 1966; in the new, reduced, Punjab, Sikhs had, for the first time in their history, a state in which they represented the majority (Figure 18). Sikh nationalism, with an emphasis on creating a territorial homeland, began in the late 19 th century, strengthened after Indian independence, and reached crisis proportions in the 1980s, when Sikh nationalist extremists agitated for an independent Sikh state called Khalistan. In 1984 Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ordered the Indian Army to storm the Golden Temple of Amritsar, where Khalistani militants had taken shelter. Although the attack provoked a decade of terrorism (including the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards) and harsh retaliations, by the mid-1990s moderate views had prevailed in the Punjab. 2 3 This section on Sikh history and beliefs is based primarily on Narindar Singh, Canadian Sikhs: History, Religion, and Culture of Sikhs in North America (Ottawa: Canadian Sikhs Studies Institute, 1994); E. Allen Richardson, East Comes West: Asian Religions and Cultures in North America (New York: Pilgrim Press, 1985); and Hugh Johnston, Sikhs, in Encyclopedia of Canada s Peoples ed. Paul Robert Magocsi (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1999). The term Sahib with Guru Granth Sahib indicates the level of respect accorded to Holy Scripture. The use of the word Guru gives the text equal rank with the historical Gurus as well as Divine Word. Sahib is an honorific suffixed to names or designations. 17

22 A Sikh Temple, or Gurdwara, is designed for the care and regular reading of the Guru Granth Sahib. The Holy Granth defines what is and what is not sacred space, and is the focus of the Gurdwara. Because it is considered to be a living embodiment of the Ten Gurus, it is treated with all the respect and attention that one would accord to royalty. The Guru Granth Sahib is always installed on a cot or dais and covered by a scarf. When not in use, it is kept wrapped and surrounded with embroidered cloths and cushions in a special bedroom. Adherents remove their shoes and cover their heads in its presence; upon entering the Temple, they walk to the Guru Granth Sahib and bow respectfully before it (Mathaa Teknaa). An offering, in the form of money and provisions, is placed on the spreaded sheet or the money is placed in the donation box in front of the Dais. The Granthi acts an officient to the Scriptures doing Chaur (whisking above it with a silver-handled whisk called a Chauri). Worship includes prayers, devotional hymns, learned discourses, and readings from the Guru Granth Sahib. The congregation sits on the carpeted floor, men on one side, women and children on the other. Musicians, often including Harmonium and a pair of one-sided Drums with player, can sit on either side of the dais. After worship, Parshad (Holy Communion) is distributed and the community gathers for a common meal, or Langar. Prepared communally and eaten together, this meal has immense theological significance. Langar affirms the equality of all who partake of it and bestows the blessings of God. It cannot be refused to anyone, Sikh or non-sikh, and a Gurdwara without Langar is incomplete and inconceivable Definition of Context Messages Context messages are those messages that are essential to understanding the reasons for designation of the site. While context messages are essential to understanding the reasons for designation, they are not reasons for national significance Context Messages The Abbotsford Sikh Temple is a national historic site, a place designated by the Government of Canada as a site of importance to all Canadians because of its national historic significance. 18

23 Messages of National Historic Significance 1. The Abbotsford Sikh Temple is the oldest surviving example of the temples that played a crucial religious, social and political role in the pioneer phase of Sikh immigration to North America. Context Messages Built in 1911 and used continuously since then, the Temple is the oldest surviving example of the temples built by early Sikh immigrants to Canada, and the only temple from the first, pioneer phase of Sikh immigration to Canada that has survived intact; Other temples were built in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island; until the 1960s most Indians who came to Canada were Sikh and most Sikhs who came to Canada lived in southwestern British Columbia. The Abbotsford Sikh Temple is therefore a physical manifestation of the fact that the early roots of the Sikh community and of the larger Indo-Canadian community are located in this region of Canada; The Temple provided a place of worship and religious community as well as providing a place for socialization. The social aspect of the Temple was especially important to the pioneer community which was predominantly made up of male sojourners whose families remained in India; The Temple served all newcomers of Indian origin (Hindus, Muslim, Sikh) by providing orientation and assistance with integration into their new community. It also lent practical financial support or even accommodation; The Temple also served as place of political organization. The Temple has always been open to politicians and has served to develop and foster political discussion. This has made it an important point of contact between Canadian society and the Sikh community; The pioneering Sikhs in Canada were discriminated against through restrictive immigration regulations, as highlighted by the refusal in 1914 to allow the 376 Indian (mostly Sikh) immigrants aboard the Kamagata Maru to land in Vancouver, and the loss of the right to vote in 1907; Temple members, through the Khalsa Diwan Society, worked for many years to build relationships with the larger community, to change the regulations governing immigration, and to re-establish the right to vote. This work also helped to build a larger Indo-Canadian community that included Sikhs, Hindus, and Muslims; and 19

24 Components of the Abbotsford community, including the Tretheway family who owned and operated the Abbotsford Lumber Company on nearby Mill Lake, welcomed the pioneer Sikhs and lent them practical support in the form of the lumber donated for the construction of the Temple. This aspect of the story of the establishment of the Temple is one of tolerance and openness. 2. The Abbotsford Sikh Temple continues to embody both the fundamental beliefs of the Sikhs and their early immigrant experience in Canada Context Messages The form of the Temple building, the nature of its internal subdivision, and its decorative treatment demonstrate a physical response to the beliefs, religious practices, and ceremonies of the pioneer Sikhs and their descendants; and The Abbotsford Sikh Temple continues to be used for worship, continuing a tradition of use begun in It is a link to the past and a symbol of continuity of religious tradition. The Temple is a gift left by the pioneers to future generations. It is also a reminder of the struggles of early members/pioneers. 3. The architectural form of the Temple represents a pragmatic adaptation of Sikh traditions to the Canadian context. Context Messages The Temple design is an expression of Sikh cultural values through adaptation to a Canadian architectural style. Its form represents a pragmatic adaptation to the Canadian environment while still containing all the key elements of a Sikh temple, including the prayer hall, four entrance doors, Sukh Aasan, Granthi s quarters, communal kitchen, and dining area. These architectural features have religious meaning and symbolize fundamental Sikh beliefs. For example, the four doors symbolize the openness of the Temple to all regardless of caste, creed, or colour. The typical temple in India is a single storey high. This Temple has two storeys, with the Langar (communal kitchen) located downstairs. The use of a verandah to provide access to the doors to the prayer hall is the most dramatic feature of this adapted design; 20

25 The false front and the lack of a dome also makes this Temple distinct from temples in India and those constructed later in the twentieth century in Canada; The use of local materials to construct the Temple is significant. In India, temples are typically masonry structures. It also represents their connection to lumber industry and the Tretheway Mill specifically where many of the Temples members worked. The wood was donated by the mill and the Temple was constructed by volunteers; The Temple in Abbotsford in similar, both in form and materials to other temples built in the lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island. It is also similar to the Hong Kong Gurdwara that many of the pioneers visited en route to Canada. These similarities represent the high degree of cooperation in the larger Sikh community and relate back to the value Sikhs place in equality, togetherness, and interaction among community members. This is also expressed in the organizational form. The Abbotsford Sikh Temple was one of four associated partners that made up the Khalsa Diwan Society; and The pragmatic nature of the building also reflects the fact that it was built during the pioneering stage of the Sikh community, when most of its members were labourers struggling to support themselves and families in India 4.3 Objectives The reasons for designation as a national historic site are effectively communicated to the public when: the overall heritage presentation experience conveys the reasons for designation as a national historic site. Visitors and the site stewards understand the reasons for designation as a national historic site. management decisions are based on adequate and sound information and are made in accordance with the principles and practice of the Cultural Resource Management Policy. 21

26 5.0 RESOURCES, MESSAGES AND VALUES NOT RELATED TO THE REASONS FOR DESIGNATION AS A NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE At national historic sites, some resources, values and messages are not related to the reasons for designation. This section contains information on potential resources, as well as messages and other values which are important but not related to the reasons for designation. In applying the first element of commemorative integrity, emphasis is clearly on resources directly relate to the reasons for designation as a national historic site and their values. However, the Cultural Resource Management Policy applies to all cultural resources, as well as significant ecosystem features. A Commemorative Integrity Statement is developed to assist managers or owners in managing all the resources for which they have responsibility. The overall stewardship of a national historic site is called into question and commemorative integrity is threatened if resources not related to the reasons for designation are not managed in accordance with the Cultural Resource Management Policy. 5.1 Resources Not Related to the Reasons for Designation as a National Historic Site No cultural resources unrelated to the reasons for designation of the Abbotsford Sikh Temple were identified by the workshop participants. However, as in the case of potential archaeological resources directly related to the reasons of national historic significance, site managers have indicated an awareness of the possibility of archaeological resources not related to the designation and the need to protect such resources in the event they are discovered. 5.2 Messages Not Related to the Reasons for Designation as a National Historic Site A number of messages of value not directly related to the reasons for the site s designation were identified by the workshop. These included: About 5000 Sikhs migrated to Canada beginning in the last decade of the nineteenth century up to 1908; A restrictive immigration policy limited further Sikh immigration; 22

27 The first Sikh immigrants found work in logging, railways, and farming, especially in the vicinity of Vancouver and Victoria, or in the interior of British Columbia or Vancouver Island; The first Sikh temple was built in Vancouver in 1908, and was managed by the Khalsa Diwan Society. The Abbotsford Sikh Temple is one of the family of national historic sites; Fort Langley National Historic Site is located nearby in Fort Langley; Abbotsford s location very close to the border with the United States meant that the red light on top of the Nishan Sahib acted as beacon for people who came to Canada via Mexico and United States marking the last stage of their journey. The Abbotsford Sikh community played a role in Indian independence in encouraging the independence movement in India; The Sikh community played a role in the establishment of the Shromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), an elected management committee created by the British Government in 1925 for the management of Sikh historic temples in pre-partitioned Punjab. The SGPC has subsequently become the central religious institution of Sikhs in India; The location of the Temple near the site of the mill where many of its pioneer members worked and lived is a value of historical importance. This is also the mill that provided the timber that was used to build the Temple; The preservation of the Temple has enabled Sikhs to share their history in Canada between generations and with all Canadians. Its presentation is also linked to efforts to promote the preservation of the community s history, religion, and culture, and to encourage integration and the mixing of cultures; and The Abbotsford Sikh Temple is the first temple to be visited by a sitting Canadian Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Jean Chrétien. 5.3 Objectives for Potential Cultural Resources and Messages Not Related to the Reasons for Designation Potential cultural resources not related to the reasons for designation will be protected when: an inventory of potential resources for this site has been compiled and the resources have been evaluated, identified, historic value is being considered in all actions, and the resources are being monitored. It is understood that when such an inventory and evaluation exercise has been 23

28 carried out, the identified resources will be enumerated in an appendix to this statement. The messages not related to the reasons for designation as a national historic site are effectively communicated to the public when: part of the heritage presentation experience conveys the messages not related to the reasons for designation as a national historic site. the messages not related to the reasons for designation as a national historic site and their presentation do not overwhelm or detract from the presentation and understanding of the site s national historic significance. visitors understand the messages not related to the reasons for designation as a national historic site. management decisions are based on adequate and sound information and are made in accordance with the principles and practice of the Cultural Resource Management Policy. 24

29 6.0 APPENDICES 6.1 Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada Minutes and Plaque Texts Extract from the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada Minutes for the meeting of 13 April 2002: 1.0 PROPOSED STATEMENT OF COMMEMORATIVE INTENT The reasons for national significance, as presented in the HSMBC minutes are as follows; it is the oldest surviving example of the temples which played a crucial religious, social and political role in the pioneer phase of Sikh immigration to North America; it continues to embody both the fundamental beliefs of the Sikhs and their early immigrant experience in Canada; and, its architectural form represents a pragmatic adaptation of Sikh traditions to the Canadian context. 2.0 PROPOSED DESIGNATED PLACE As described in the HSMBC Minutes of April 2002, the boundaries of the designated place for the Abbotsford Sikh Temple are defined as,, Lot REM.Q 6568 (See Fig. 6, p. 703, ). HISTORIC SITES AND MONUMENTS BOARD OF CANADA Excerpt From the Report of the Meeting of the Cultural Communities Committee on April 14,

30 Abbotsford Sikh Temple, South Fraser Way, Abbotsford, British Columbia (ref.: , -19-A, -19-B) Background The owner of the Abbotsford Sikh Temple, the Khalsa Diwan Society, has asked that the Board evaluate the national historic significance of this site. The temple was constructed in 1911 and used as the only temple for the Abbotsford-area Sikh community until a new temple was built in The Abbotsford Sikh Temple speaks both to the fundamental beliefs of the Sikhs and to their early immigration experience in Canada. It is the only temple from the pioneer phase of Sikh immigration to Canada that has survived intact. The Board evaluated the architectural merits of this building in June 1977 but found that it was not of national architectural significance. It is noteworthy that at the time, the Board further expressed the view that Nevertheless the Sikhs may be of national historic importance for their effect on Canadian immigration policy and as the oldest remaining Sikh Temple this building may well be the appropriate site for a plaque to commemorate the Sikh community. The Board has since refined its evaluation criteria for national historic significance and is being asked to consider this site under criterion 1b), a place that illustrates or symbolizes in whole or in part a cultural tradition, a way of life, or ideas important in the development of Canada. The Built Environment Committee evaluated the temple at its meeting on April 13, 2002, but found that the building did not meet the benchmark established by national historic sites designated as exceptional or outstanding architectural examples and referred the matter to the Cultural Communities Committee. Recommendations Designation: The Committee, and the Board after it, recommended the Abbotsford Sikh Temple in Abbotsford, British Columbia, for designation as a National Historic Site to be marked by means of a standard plaque bearing an inscription in both official languages and Punjabi. Site Name: The Committee and the Board recommended the site name as 26

31 Lieu historique national du Canada du Temple-Sikhd Abbotsford Definition of Place: The Committee and the Board recommended that the boundaries for the Abbotsford Sikh Temple should be defined as Lot REM.Q 6568 (See Fig. 6, p. 703, ). Commemorative Intent: The Committee and the Board recommended the Abbotsford Sikh Temple for designation because it is the oldest surviving example of the temples which played a crucial religious, social and political role in the pioneer phase of Sikh immigration to North America; it continues to embody both the fundamental beliefs of the Sikhs and their early immigrant experience in Canada; and, its architectural form represents a pragmatic adaptation of Sikh traditions to the Canadian context. The Committee received and supported the advice of the Built Environment Committee that in the event of a positive recommendation, the site owners be encouraged to restore the building and to remove intrusive elements such as the interior fluorescent lighting fixtures. 27

32 6.2 Map Sho wing Loca tion of Abb otsfo rd Sikh Tem ple Nati onal Histo ric Site of Cana da 28