November

In 1943, the Khalsa Diwan Society re-ignited a vigorous fair play campaign for Sikh's voting rights in the province. The society stepped up their efforts and canvassed labour and business organizations to actively support their bid for equitable treatment. In response to mounting pressure from the Khalsa Diwan Society, the BC Government established a committee to review their appeals and make recommendations on changes to the Election Act of British Columbia.

Forming a strong alliance with the International Woodworkers of America - Vancouver (IWA), they made another desperate plea for the franchise to be extended to Sikhs. The IWA labour union was a strong ally which had a vested interest in the democratic rights of its many Sikhs mill workers.

In 1943, the Khalsa Diwan Society and the IWA led an influential delegation of Sikh activists and veterans to the Parliament Building in Victoria, BC to demand voting rights for minorities. They stressed the fact that if Sikhs, who were British subjects, were good enough to serve the country in a military uniform, then they were also deserving of the rights of citizenship.

Their efforts were successful as Mahinder Singh Beadall made history by becoming the first Sikh to cast a vote in Canada in 1947. Thanks to the steadfast efforts of many, Sikhs were finally granted the right to vote and to become Canadian citizens.

This was a monumental step towards changing the restrictive immigration laws and marked the end of the Sikh communities 40-year struggle for civil rights in Canada.