Mr. Premier, Mr. Speaker, fellow MLAs and special guests, thank you all for recognizing this important day. It’s a pleasure to be here with you to celebrate Vaisakhi.

Wahe guruji khalsa. Wahe gurji ke fateh.

Good afternoon. Today we gather to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of the Khalsa the pure. Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa over three hundred years ago, and the faith has grown in strength and purity throughout the years.

When Guru Singh created the Khalsa, he met resistance from the established order, for Guru Gobin Singh in his wisdom noted that the caste system was unjust and that the lowest, in his words, should stand alongside the highest.
But the Guru’s wisdom prevailed, and today virtually all people recognize the truth and the value of equality.

The Guru’s commitment to social equality and the inherent worth of all human beings is emulated by all Sikhs today, as are the other ideals and values of the faith: respect and dignity for all people, protection of human rights, the duty to carry out good deeds, the importance of a positive attitude, veneration of the family, and devotion to logic, charity, kindness, justice, humility and hard work. These are the fundamental values of the Sikh faith, and I believe they are universal human values, shared by Albertans and Canadians.

So today let us share in celebrating those values together, as one people, bound together by our common desire for a better world and our respect and love for our fellow human beings.

Wahe guruji khalsa. Wahe gurji ke fateh.

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