PHOTOS: A Look at Brampton’s New and Unique Park

Published June 25, 2019 at 2:01 am

Recently, the city celebrated the official opening of a park commemorating the Komagata Maru incident.

Recently, the city celebrated the official opening of a park commemorating the Komagata Maru incident.

The Komagata Maru Park is a tribute to those who were on the SS Komagata Maru ship. The ship departed from Hong Kong in May 1914 and was transporting immigrants to Canada. The ship was met by Canadian officials at the Port of Vancouver and denied entry due to Canada’s Continuous Passage regulation, which was brought into force in 1908 in an effort to curb Indian immigration to Canada.

Located at 10705 Bramalea Road, the Komagata Maru Park is one of the few parks in Ontario dedicated to immigrants and the first Canadian commemoration of the Komagata Maru incident outside of British Columbia.

Many Brampton residents, dignitaries, and descendants of the survivors of the ship attended the official opening.

The event featured a traditional smudging ceremony, remarks from Mayor Patrick Brown and Councillors Paul Vicente, Gurpreet Dhillon and Harkirat Singh, remarks from Cultural Educator Ej Kwandibens and Vice President of the Descendants of Komagata Maru Society Raj Toor, an official ribbon-cutting ceremony and a symbolic tree planting with descendants, the mayor and councillors.

Located next to Springdale Library, the park also boasts a playground, splash pad and picnic area. With the concept of the ‘library in the park,’ the shape of the slides, climbers and park equipment spell out the word “IMAGINE”.

Will you be visiting the park soon?

Photo courtesy of Gurpreet Singh Dhillon.

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