Canada Post Unveils Private Singh Stamp Honoring Sikh Canadian Soldiers

Canada Post has unveiled a commemorative "Private Singh" stamp honoring the bravery and sacrifices of Sikh Canadian soldiers, particularly highlighting those who served starting from World War I. The stamp was revealed during the 18th annual Sikh Remembrance Day ceremony at Mount Hope Cemetery in Kitchener, Ontario, the site of Private Buckam Singh's grave—the only known military grave of a Sikh soldier from the world wars in Canada. Despite widespread discrimination that limited Sikh enlistment to just ten soldiers in World War I, these pioneering soldiers fought valiantly, with Private Buckam Singh serving in the 20th Canadian Infantry Battalion, wounded twice before dying from tuberculosis in 1919. The stamp’s illustration shows a modern Sikh Canadian soldier saluting Singh’s headstone, symbolizing the ongoing contributions of Sikh soldiers in the Canadian Armed Forces. This tribute also serves to educate Canadians about the overlooked history of Sikh military service and celebrates the resilience and inclusivity that Sikh soldiers helped foster in Canada. The annual Remembrance Day ceremony at Singh’s grave has become one of North America’s largest gatherings of Sikh veterans, reinforcing the community’s enduring legacy.