Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts and Surrey Council members, including Tom Gill, also turned up in spite of some false reports about Watts boycotting the rally. She and several other politicians all participated in the parade though they avoided the main stage put up by the organizers.

[Full Story]

SIKH YOUTHS SPEAK OUT ABOUT THEIR CONTROVERSIAL T-SHIRTS, WANT FAIR DEBATE AND PROPER REPRESENTATION
With the barrage of reference to the depictions of pictures of Sikh militants and of T-shirts bearing slogans promoting Khalistan, there is no doubt that the influence of the media with its "selective" information can impact on people's perceptions and the current social and political conflict. [Full Story]

SHER-E-PUNJAB HOLDS ANNUAL TURBAN COMPETITION TO EDUCATE CANADIANS
Ajit Singh Badh, Director of Sher-e-Punjab Radio and Chairman of Shiromani Akali Dal of Canada, told The VOICE that before 1699, when Guru Gobind Singh ji, the tenth Guru, created the Khalsa and gave the turban to the Sikhs. [Full Story]

EXHILIRATING, INSPIRING, MOVING MULTICULTURAL VAISAKHI CELEBRATION AT SURREY'S HENRY BOSE SCHOOL
Just the action alone of walking through the gym doors and realizing that this was no longer a school gym, but that it had been transformed into a Punjabi village, complete with ornate brick buildings with intricate designs, as well as sprays of colour wherever possible, was enough to let oneself be transported to another place, and be utterly enveloped in the imminent festivities. [Full Story]

SOUTH ASIAN PROFESSIONALS PROMOTE STEM CELL / BONE MARROW REGISTRY AT VAISAKHI PARADE
The Association of South Asian Professionals of British Columbia (ASAP), are actively raising awareness about the urgent need for South Asians to join the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network operated in BC through Canadian Blood Services. [Full Story]

LIBERALS' VAISAKHI CELEBRATION ON PARLIAMENT HILL
"For Sikhs all over the world, this day commemorates the birth of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh," said Dion. "This is a time when all Canadians can recognize our shared principles of equality, courage, strength and the fight against tyranny and oppression, which the Guru instilled in the Khalsa." [Full Story]

GLOBAL WISH FOUNDATION COMES THROUGH WITH MORE THAN $60,000 FOR CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
They said that everyone had a blast, especially the children who enjoyed a fun-filled evening at the "Kids Zone" created specially by the Global Wish Foundation event co-ordinators and volunteers. This is one of not very many fundraisers which insured the children's happiness and involvement throughout the event. The entertainment is still talked about. [Full Story]

THE LEXBASE "FIVE-POINT PLAN" TO FIX IMMIGRATION SYSTEM
Well-known immigration lawyer Kurland, who is editor-in-chief of Lexbase, Canada's foremost immigration publication and largest information network for Canadian immigration practitioners, has come up with a Five-Point Plan to resolve the immigration controversy in the latest issue of Lexbase. [Full Story]

VOICE MIRROR
#1. SURREY SHOULD ALSO HAVE AN INDIA GATE
#2. DOUBLE STANDARDS: TIBETAN PROTESTORS IN INDIA, KHALISTANI PROTESTORS IN CANADA
#3. PROBLEM OF VISAS FOR PARENTS TO ATTEND FUNERALS
#4. NDP MLA'S GRILL MINISTER ON INDO-CANADIAN VETS' DISCRIMINATION ISSUE
#5. RACISTS WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO KEEP CANADA AS WHITE AS POSSIBLE
#6. RCMP ORDERED TO ADMIT MUSLIM BACK INTO TRAINING PROGRAM [Full Story]

SURREY RCMP VICTIM SERVICES UNIT CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY
This year the Surrey R.C.M.P. Victim Services Unit has reached a very important milestone, celebrating its 25th anniversary. In May, 1983, the Surrey Detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police initiated its own police-based Victim Services Unit. It was the first RCMP Detachment in Canada to start such a program. [Full Story]

'AS CANADA LOOKS TO INDIA, INDIA SHOULD BE LOOKING TO CANADA'
It has been a truly wonderful experience to visit India and see first-hand the incredible evolution this country is going through. It has also been encouraging to see how Canadian companies, expertise and citizens are becoming such a growing part of India's story, as this country becomes one of the world's leading economic forces of the 21st century. [Full Story]

PROVINCE FUNDS ESL PROGRAMS AROUND THE PROVINCE
One of the keys to successful integration of immigrants to a new home is their ability to speak a common language that will assist them in interacting everyday with employers and in the community. That is especially the case for immigrants moving to British Columbia. [Full Story]