The latest Heritage Minute by non-profit organization Historica Canada features a South Asian community established over a century ago in British Columbia’s Cowichan Valley. The minute-long film showcases the story of Palidi, B.C. through the eyes of Punjabi immigrant Bishan Kaur, who transformed into a community leader. Palidi, located west of Duncan, was founded by Mayo Singh in 1917 and is recognized as an early example of Canada’s multiculturalism, welcoming immigrants from South Asia, Japan, China, and Europe.
According to Satwinder Kaur Bains, the director of the South Asian Studies Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley, Palidi is “probably the first multicultural settlement in a designed way.” Mayo Singh, who helped build a school, a post office, and organized community events, was fondly called “Santa Claus” because of his generosity towards the South Asian community and other organizations.
The new Heritage Minute highlights the history of South Asian Canadians, and it is released during Sikh Heritage Month. Bains hopes that the minute-long film will demonstrate the resilience and hope that immigrants have when coming to Canada. She also credits directors Hayley Gray and Anaïsa Visser for finding a way to tell the complex story of Palidi in 60 seconds. The Paldi Gurdwara, built-in 1919, still stands and is a testament to the community’s history. Through efforts to research the history of Canada’s diaspora communities, Bains hopes to provide a more robust picture of Canadian history.