Members of British Columbia’s Sikh community are coming together to grieve for the victims of the U.S. Sikh temple shooting that took place Sunday.
Gunman Wade Michael Page killed six people after opening fire during a service at The Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek. The U.S. Army veteran and white supremacist was shot dead by police after carrying out his murderous rampage.
The Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara temple in Surrey is inviting people of all faiths to join in prayers for peace.
“Everyone is obviously deeply shocked by what has transpired and everyone is looking for answers in terms of why this happened,” Sukhminder Virk of the temple said.
The attack in Wisconsin has hit this B.C. community hard.
“This wasn't just an attack on a Sikh Gurdwara, it was an attack on people of all faith. And the ignorance and hatred is something that we must battle,” Virk said.
The Surrey temple experienced a racist attack in January 1998 when caretaker Nirmal Singh Gill was beaten by five neo-Nazis. He later died in hospital.
On Monday, the temple invited the public to remember the victims of the U.S. shooting. People there will also be holding a candlelight vigil Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Organizers believe understanding other faiths is the best way to bring a community together and prevent further racist attacks.
With a report from CTV British Columbia’s Julia Foy and CTVNews.ca
