April is Sikh Heritage Month and April 14 marks Vaisakhi. John Oliver Secondary School (JO) has partnered with the Sikh Heritage Month Vancouver to celebrate!
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What is Vaisakhi?

Happy Vaisakhi to all who observe! Vaisakhi is the time of year where Sikhs from around the globe come together to celebrate the creation of their religion. 

On April 13, 1699, Guru Gobind Singh Ji created the Khalsa. He saw inequality and gathered people together to start a new chapter where everyone was to be treated equally. Sikhs became known as those who defend the weak and innocent, help those in need and give back to the community. 

Learn more from Mya Kooner, a David Thompson student who shared what Vaisakhi means to her last year. 

Sikh Heritage Month and Vaisakhi celebrations at JO

JO’s Sikh Heritage Month celebrations began in 2022 by former student Taj Singh Johal. 

In 2022, Taj and his friends were brainstorming ways to give back to the school. As Vaisakhi was approaching, Taj and his friends wanted to leverage this celebration to bring awareness about Sikh culture and religion and also give back to their community. They went to their principal to get permission to create a display and host an “Orange and Blue Shirt Day.” Orange and blue are important colours to the Sikh community. 

Since then, Sikh Heritage Month celebrations have grown in terms of participating schools and volunteers. With this growth has come a clearer vision for the club at JO. The club aims to teach everyone about the social, economic and cultural values of Sikh Canadians who have contributed to B.C. and Canada, and to share information and learning among Sikh clubs across VSB. 

The Sikh religion is rooted in in service and this is echoed through the work the club chooses to engage in. Since its inception, the JO Sikh Student Club has been giving back to their community through toy drives for families in need, mentorship programs for feeder elementary schools and hosting community events. 

This year, Sikh Heritage Month Vancouver and the JO Sikh Student Club will be continuing to share the rich history, culture and contributions of the Sikh community. Displays have been put up at several VSB schools that showcase the history and culture of Sikhs through the perspective of students. 

JO will also hosting a celebratory event on April 23, from 5:30 p.m.-8:15 p.m. The community is welcome to attend, as the purpose of the event is to bring people of all backgrounds together to learn, appreciate and engage with the vibrant traditions, art, music and stories of Sikh heritage. The event will include art, live performances, Sikh heritage, food and more! Visit this link for a free ticket to attend the celebrations at JO on April 23.