“I’ve enjoyed a lot of success and I attribute that to the amount of support I have received,” he said. “I have an amazing team and as a result I’ve enjoyed a lot of success politically, a lot of attention, a lot of accolades, and it’s something I have to credit a lot to the community – my constituents, the riding, my team. But it’s also important that I’ve been lucky that I’ve had all these opportunities. I went to law school and was able to practice law for a number of years. As a team you use this platform to really push beyond these boundaries.

“That leadership resulted in a lot of good coverage. It was a combination of things: having that unique appearance and for me using style as social armour to insulate myself from negative stereotypes also became a platform. It’s been an amazing journey.”

His message of inclusiveness has been gaining traction.

“I think it’s getting across really well,” he said. “One of the things I bring to the table is a team that is really dedicated to using all different mediums of messaging and we have a very robust social media strategy. I’m excited by the results so far.”

A column in the Toronto Star, which has supported him, asked the question of whether Canadians would see the Jagmeet Singh beneath the turban? Although he wears turbans of many colours, Singh wants to be known first and foremost as a Canadian who is a Sikh rather than a Sikh who is Canadian. He is fluent in French and Punjabi.

“One of the cool things about Sikh spirituality is that every day we talk about the betterment of all human beings,” he said. “My Mom taught me this idea that we’re all connected, that we share this journey together, and if someone else around us is suffering then we’re all suffering. We actually have to take care of those around us and we’re only succeeding in life if those around us are succeeding in life.

“It’s a very ingrained idea of my beliefs. It’s a part of why I care about social justice and why I want to work toward making Canada an even better and fairer country.”

There have been other Sikhs that blazed a trail in Canadian politics, including Gurbax Malhi, a Liberal who was voted a MP for the similar riding that Singh represents provincially. When he was elected almost 25 years ago, Malhi prompted a rule change on Parliament Hill allowing headgear to be worn in the House of Commons. Harjit Singh is Canada’s Minister of Defence, the first Sikh to hold that position.

“It’s absolutely created opportunities not just for other Sikhs but other people in general,” he said. “This could be an opportunity for other communities that are less involved in politics to say, ‘hey, maybe I can get involved.’ It’s a shared struggle.

“Being a Sikh is part of me, but I see myself as a product of all people that have come before me. It’s just an ongoing building of a legacy that other people that have challenged society to be better. I’m not just a continuation of one particular community. It’s just a continuation of a broader struggle for a more inclusive society where various people from various backgrounds have broken those barriers.”