New Westminster, BC, July 22, 2008 - On Sunday, July 20th the Khalsa Diwan Society New Westminster presented Jasveer Singh a cheque on behalf of the congregation and sent him off to the August Beijing Olympics. Jasveer Singh is the same athletic that the Khalsa Diwan Society New Westminster in conjunction with other organizations sponsored from India back in 2002 and since then, the 5 foot 3 Weightlifting Champion has achieved many Gold medals in Canada and throughout North America and is now the first weightlifter from B.C. to go to the Olympics in over 20 years ago.
Some of Singh's recent achievements include the Canadian Gold Medal in 2006, 2007 & 2008, 2007 World Weightlifting Champion and 2008 Pan Am championship in Peru and will compete in the 137 pound category in Beijing. 
Jasveer Singh addressed the congregation of the Temple and reached out to the youth and spoke words of inspiration to the many youth present and that with hard work and dedication any one of them can become a professional athlete and represent a great nation like Canada at the most prestigious Games in the world, the Olympics. Also present was Mr. Harbhajan Singh Lakha, former Member of Parliament from India, who travelled from India to see Jasveer Singh off to the Olympics and also encouraged the youth to become more involved in sporting activities.
The congregation on Sunday presented Jasveer Singh with a cheque for $20,395 which was donated over the last few weeks specifically for Singh’s participation in the Beijing Olympics.
It is with great pride that the Khalsa Diwan Society Turban Education program has gone from strength to strength and community to community in the last year. The past weekend like so many before, had volunteers taking part in community events, which not only explained the history of the turban but also the significance of the fabric, colors and styles. Hundreds of turbans were tied on people from all faiths and backgrounds in Surrey and Burnaby.
On Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th of July Surrey’s Fusion Festival, held at Holland Park Surrey, had many orange, blue and white turbans, tied by 6 volunteers on adults and children, men and women and even some of the organizers and members of Surrey City Council. The turban was such a great hit that people lined up throughout the day waiting patiently for their very own turban.
On Sunday July 20th, the same buzz was a float at the 24th annual Discovery Day festival at the Shadbolt Centre, in Deer Lake Park Burnaby. Many children and adults took part in the Turban discovery booth and in addition to the turban tying, Dr. Kala Singh, a prominent Sikh community activist was on hand presenting an interactive slideshow on the history of the turban and describing different types of turbans throughout the world.
For those that have missed out on these events, don't despair, not only does the Khalsa Diwan Society New Westminster hold free turban tying classes every Sunday at 6pm at Gurdwara Sahib SukhSagar in Queensborough, but are also taking part in the Kensington Community Fair, in Burnaby on August 9th with another turban tying educational event.
For more information please contact Sukhninder Singh Sangha at 604-507-2944