Thousands expected downtown for annual Khalsa Day parade
Posted April 28, 2013 12:08 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – The always celebratory Khalsa Day parade will be held downtown Sunday, with thousands of people expected to attend.
The event celebrates the Sikh New Year.
Celebrations begin at the CNE grounds around 1 p.m., with the parade then set to make its way to Nathan Phillips Square.
Music and prayers were held earlier in the day, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Better Living Centre.
One man at the event told CityNews the parade is not just for Sikh people, but is a celebration of Canada’s diversity.
“I think today is a presentation of what we believe in, what our values are, because we part of the Canadian mosaic, it’s a Canadian celebration, because Canada is a land of immigrants so we have flowered from each garden of the world here,” he said.
The parade also hopes to take in donations of non-perishable food items for the annual food drive by Sikh youth for the Daily Bread Food Bank. Last year 15,000 pounds of food donations were collected at the event.
Started in 1986, the event has grown from 2,000 people to now more than 50,000.
Among the dignitaries attending will be Premier Kathleen Wynne, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair.
