A nondescript apartment building on Second Avenue belies the well-documented cultural history of the site it sits on, and it's only until passersby notice a commemorative plaque that its true significance is put into focus. The Khalsa Diwan Society, established in 1906, built and operated Canada's first Sikh temple at a quiet corner of Kitsilano, entrenching a spiritual, political and social legacy for Indians of all faiths.

The temple in December 1943, image via City of Vancouver Archives

William Henry Archer designed the gurdwara, which was erected in 1908 at 1866 West 2nd Avenue. Initially serving a population of just over 2,000 people, the temple quickly gained traction and took on numerous social justice causes, including raising funds for famine relief in India. At home, the Khalsa Diwan Society advocated for the admission of passengers on the Komagata Maru, who were seeking immigration to the country. When they were denied, it was widely seen as another black eye in the strained relationship between the government and Canada's Indian population.

Described as an "inter-religious space," both Sikhs and non-Sikhs held executive positions at the gurdwara. The facility was replaced by a new temple at Marine Drive and Ross Street in 1970, featuring a design by famous architect Arthur Erickson. The extant building was sold to help cover the cost of the Ross Street facility. It was then used as a home for Cool Aid, a collective of affordable housing activists, before being demolished and replaced by the current apartment complex. A mosaic tile artwork from the Second Avenue building was preserved and relocated to the Erickson-designed temple.

The existing apartment complex, image retrieved from Google Street View

In 2012, over 100 people attended a plaque unveiling that commemorated the site's significance. The plaque is now mounted on a stand at the west end of the property.

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