Premier David Eby issued the following statement on the 109th anniversary of the Komagata Maru’s arrival in British Columbia:
“Today marks the 109th anniversary of the steamship Komagata Maru dropping anchor in Vancouver harbour. The 376 Sikh, Muslim and Hindu passengers sought a better life in Canada. They shared an ideal of creating a new life here for themselves and their families".
“When they should have been welcomed, they were instead met by hostility and prejudice. Canadian immigration officials refused to let them leave the boat. The passengers were confined to the ship for two months, during which supplies of food and even water were restricted, making conditions intolerable. After two months, the Komagata Maru departed for Asia under escort of a naval cruiser.
109 yrs ago, Sikhs, Muslims & Hindus aboard the #KomagataMaru arrived in BC in search of a better life. They were met with hostility and turned away. Today reminds us to work together to right past wrongs and create a safer, more equitable BC. https://t.co/GSPjgnagrH pic.twitter.com/hPA464ENT3
— David Eby (@Dave_Eby) May 23, 2023
“Among the passengers were students, labourers and former soldiers. The lives they hoped to build in this land and their contributions to our society will go forever unknown.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also expressed his grief over the incident.
On this sombre anniversary, we honour the victims of the Komagata Maru incident, and we take a stand against racism and discrimination. Let’s embrace and celebrate our diversity to make sure Canada remains a welcoming place for all: https://t.co/KtSClqpGbw pic.twitter.com/oBGHyNBiqk
— CanadianPM (@CanadianPM) May 23, 2023
“The Province of British Columbia formally apologized for its role in discriminating against the Komagata Maru passengers in 2008.
“Last year, the government funded the South Asian Canadian Legacy Project to raise awareness about the contributions of South Asian Canadians to our province’s culture, history and economy. Meanwhile, consultations are ongoing for the creation of a museum to share and preserve the stories, artifacts and documents of South Asian Canadians.
“Our government introduced an Anti-Racism Data Act last year, the first of its kind in Canada. It is yet another important step toward dismantling systemic racism as we build a more equitable, inclusive and welcoming province for everyone.”
