News Release – Minister Kenney announces funding for Komagata Maru memorial

Vancouver, December 12, 2010 — Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney today announced funding to the Khalsa Diwan Society for two projects to commemorate the Komagata Maru incident.

In 1914, the Komagata Maru arrived in Vancouver harbour carrying 376 passengers of Indian descent – all subjects of the Crown – and was prevented from docking in the Vancouver port. After a two month standoff in the harbour, the ship went back to India where, in an altercation between the passengers and British soldiers, approximately 20 passengers and a number of soldiers died.

“The story of the Komagata Maru is an event in our history that did not do us proud. Prime Minister Harper was the first Prime Minister in Canadian history to recognize the tragic nature of the Komagata Maru incident. He is also the first Prime Minister to apologize to the Indo-Canadian community for it,” said Minister Kenney.

The Khalsa Diwan Society will receive $82,500 to work with the Vancouver Parks Board to determine a location and design of a monument to commemorate the Komagata Maru.

It will also receive $104,000 to develop the first phase of a museum dedicated to the incident.

“Canadians of South Asian origin have  made enormous contributions to building Canada,” said Minister Kenney. “The Government of Canada is committed to recognizing the experiences of the Indo-Canadian community and other communities affected by immigration restrictions applied in Canada’s past.”

The monument to the Komagata Maru will be a replica of the ship and will include the names of all the passengers, photographs and a descriptive plaque. Its proposed location is in a public park near where the ship was anchored in 1914. The museum, located on the grounds of the Khalsa Diwan Society, will also be accessible to the public.

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For further information (media only), please contact:

Celyeste Power
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca