Canada: Ontario promotes Sikh heritage with new learning resources
Ottawa, Feb 26 (IBNS): Minister of Education Indira Naidoo-Harris, MPP for Brampton-Springdale and Minister of the Status of Women Harinder Malhi have announced Ontario's new development resources on Sikh history and heritage to familiarise students' understanding of Canada's diverse history and people, media reports said.
"Through these resources students will now have the opportunity to deepen understanding of Sikh heritage and the contributions of the Sikh community to Canada. These tools will help students further their knowledge of global issues and Canadian history,” Naidoo-Harris said.
The agencies and associations reportedly responsible for the voluntary curriculum-linked resources development are the Ontario Elementary Social Studies Teachers Association, the Ontario Art Education Association, the Ontario Association of Geographic and Environmental Educators and the Ontario Library Association in partnership with the Sikh Heritage Museum of Canada (SHMC).
Development of a new voluntary curriculum-linked resource in partnership with the SHMC -located in Mississauga, Ontario- is a Canadian organization which is celebrating the unique history, culture and legacy of Sikh Canadians -- is reportedly being developed to support learning in a variety of subjects and courses for elementary and secondary students.
The resources will reportedly be distributed through the subject associations’ networks in spring 2018 coinciding with the Ontario's designation of April as Sikh Heritage Month in 2013.
“The learning resources related to Canadian Sikh history and heritage are an important first step towards a more equitable, inclusive and representative education system in Ontario. Sikh pioneer contributions towards nation building are over 100 years in Canada and these resources in part will reflect that legacy,” Pardeep Singh Nagra, Executive Director, Sikh Heritage Museum of Canada said.
SHMC has reportedly dedicated itself to advancing and promoting knowledge, understanding and preservation of the cultural and religious life of Sikh people in Canada through quality museum exhibits, lectures and special programs.
“The introduction of this curriculum is vital to understanding part of the Sikh community’s contribution and presence in Canada. These tools are part of our government’s ongoing journey towards providing students the knowledge they need to further navigate the diverse world they live in,” Malhi said.
These learning resources would reportedly cover topics such as Sikh celebrations in Canada, Sikh perspectives on global warming and climate change, History of Sikh pioneers in Canada and human rights.
(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)
Images: Indira Naidoo-Harris/Facebook page
Sikh Heritage Museum of Canada/Facebook page
Pardeep Singh Nagra/Facebook page
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