The 2025 CIC AGM was special because it was also the occasion for presenting Dr. Harjot Singh with the King Charles III Coronation Medal for Interfaith Service. In accepting the award Dr. Singh offered this reflections.
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
If you all could indulge me for a few minutes, I would like to appreciate those who meant so much to me on this interfaith journey of mine.
Firstly, I am grateful to the Divine Grace of God and the Shabad Guru Siri guru Granth Sahib Ji for being awarded this honor. To be honored in a Gurdwara does mean a great deal to me and particularly this gurdwara. I appreciate the Sikh Society Gurdwara who throughout many decades has supported me in my interfaith endeavors and allowed me to do things such as performing my first Anand Karaj here.
I began my interfaith journey out of necessity being the only Sikh family in Brooks Alberta and my father being the only turbaned Sikh in the town. It was hard being vegetarian in the town which is the home to Lakeside packers and out of necessity I needed to explain myself to my classmates and teachers.
I do appreciate my parents in this as well as my mother would do translations of Punjabi words and Gurmukhi for me while my father would listen to me as I would bounce concepts and ideas of presentations to him and also look up concepts in the resource books and libraries of Sikh teachings that he had. We did not have the internet at that time.
I recognize Yogi ji and Baba Nihal Singh ji for their love, support, education and training, as well as their consistent belief in my abilities and encouragement to persevere regardless of the circumstances. I appreciate my spiritual sister, Shanti Kaur Khalsa, for being a sounding board, reviewer, and co-presenter in various international Sikhism seminars
When I moved to Calgary from Brooks there was even more opportunity for interfaith involvement. After 911, I participated in monthly prayers for peace at the Devonian gardens with the late very Reverend Bill Phipps of the United Church- who continued to encourage me over the years and involve me in more projects. Carolyn Pogue, gave advice on the Chapter on Sikhism in her book. Lecturing at schools and to classes about Sikhism even at the universities was part of this. The Kaleidoscope program, Inclusion and diversity at the workplace with Elyse Brazel, and the University of Calgary Faith and Spirituality Centre with Adrianna.
Lynn Chatozsang founded Women in Spirituality and for many years I participated in presentations about Sikh women and their impact on the Sikh religion. I appreciate Lynn including me in this as well.
At this time, I also would like to appreciate my medical office staff and colleagues who would be willing to reschedule my clinics to make time for this important interfaith work. They often would be hearing me practice my singing at the clinic or listening to me practice my speeches. And to this day they still accommodate me.
I remember being invited to speak on Sikhism to a large room full of Christian Ministers in April in 2012 just before Easter at the Mustard Seed Ministry by Dr. Michael Duggan and I will never forget the question if I believed that Jesus did walk again after his crucifixion. I responded that why not? If Baba deep Singh ji could continue to fight with his severed head in his left hand and sword in his right hand of course Jesus could have risen again. Dr. Duggan was so kind at the end as he thanked me for the lecture saying, “thank you Dr. Singh for teaching us all about God.”
It was Dr. Duggan who actually referred me to Rabbi Oschachey and said, “if you want to start the Interfaith Scholar program with a Sikh, then I have the Sikh for you.” Because of his endorsement, I became the Inaugural Lil Faider Interfaith Scholar in Residence at the Beth Tzedec synagogue for a one-year program in 2013. Rabbi Oschachey did send me a lovely email congratulating me for this award and a rousing Mazel Tov as well.
Then after completing my Chairmanship at the Calgary Foothills PCN, I was approached by Dalton to join the Calgary Interfaith Council Board as I was already participating in CIC events. After serving on the board for two years, I was requested by several colleagues to assume the position of Chair of the CIC. I appreciate all my fellow board members and our Executive director Sarah Arthurs as well and those who nominated me for this award.
I also would like to appreciate my home base- Gurdwara Guru Ram Das Darbar and the executive committee who definitely support me in the interfaith work that I do by participating and being present in many ways in many events. I also appreciate the entire Sikh community that does support me.
It is righteous for a Sikh to inspire others and other religions to embrace their own discipline to their fullest. This was the thinking of Siri Guru Nanak Dev ji Maharaj who was not only the founder of the Sikh faith but also an interfaith pioneer traveling throughout South East Asia with an interfaith posse of a Hindu and also a Muslim. It is this example that has inspired me to continue to work in the interfaith arena and keep going despite differences and challenges. Even such huge challenges as keeping the CIC board together despite the Oct 7 attacks and the Gaza war.
The sacredness of the vibratory frequency of prayer is beautiful and, in my opinion, shared interfaith prayer possesses a meaningful and noteworthy resonance and really should be celebrated.
Working in the Interfaith arena, I have participated in many such prayers often over the years. Many of you may have come to the Opening ceremonies of UNWIHW or most recently the G7 Interfaith prayer service for the people’s forum. Participating in the vibrational frequency of such services are a heartfelt highlight of my interfaith journey.
In conclusion, to receive this medal in recognition of my interfaith work and efforts from across Canada, I am grateful, honored and humbled.
I appreciate Rabbi Glickman, Sarah and Dalton for this presentation and it truly has been a joy working with the CIC. Work that is not over but has just begun!
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
