Today, on the 111th anniversary of the Komagata Maru incident, we honour the memory of the 376 passengers who were denied entry into Canada upon arriving in Vancouver. The Japanese steamship, which sailed from Hong Kong carrying primarily Punjabi Sikh passengers, was denied entry into the country – an injustice driven by the discriminatory immigration laws of that era. Upon arrival in Calcutta, numerous passengers of the steamship would be killed by British Indian authorities.
Prime Minister Mark Carney stated “The Komagata Maru tragedy is a stark reminder of how, in moments of our history, Canada fell short of the values we hold dear. We cannot rewrite the past, but we must confront it; to act with purpose, to ensure that such injustices are never repeated, and to build a stronger future where inclusion is not a slogan, but a reality – lived, practised, and defended.”