The old Carson fire hall in rural Grand Forks could be turned into the first Sikh temple in the West Kootenay-Boundary.
Arsh Dhaliwal, who is involved with the proposal and whose uncle owns the property on which the building sits, says it would serve the growing Sikh population in the region. On the 2016 census, 110 Sikhs were recorded. On the 2021 census, there were 410, of whom about 100 are in the Grand Forks area.
“A place of worship is really important to us,” Dhaliwal says. “It’s also a community centre. The closest gurdwara to Grand Forks would be Oliver, which is about an hour 30 [away] or Kelowna, which is even further.
“People do go that far, and obviously it’s not that convenient, so they don’t go as often as they would like. This would give them an option to pray more regularly.”
Dhaliwal said establishing a local gurdwara would “set a foundation” where Sikhs can come together. He says they have been looking for a place for the last year and thought the former fire hall, which has been vacant for a few years, could fit the bill.
The Boundary has had a Sikh presence dating back more than 100 years, with many men working in sawmills, on farms, and on railways, but there has never been a temple in the region.
Dhaliwal said the building will require some renovation for their purposes, but is already sectioned off in ways that could be helpful. A gurdwara consists of a main hall to pray and recite hymns in. The former fire truck bays would be repurposed for this use. The other component is a langar hall, where food is served. Dhaliwal said the building’s common areas would be converted into a kitchen and dining area.
Dhaliwal said they are working with the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary and City of Grand Forks on a lease arrangement and to submit a rezoning application to the agricultural land commission, which will have to sign off on the building’s new use.
While the building is owned by local government, Dhaliwal explained the property it sits on was acquired by the Stewart brothers of Kelowna in the 1970s, and leased to the city to build the fire hall. The property has since been acquired by another corporation which is working with the Sri Guru Ram Das Gurdwara and Cultural Society that wants to turn it into a gurdwara.
RDKB director Linda Kay Wiese, who represents the area, said she is “very pleased by the possibility of a temple here. It signifies growth for rural Grand Forks.”
Dhaliwal said more Sikhs are likely to migrate to the Boundary from urban areas, attracted by more affordable agricultural land. Having a place of worship could be a decisive factor, he added.