Harwinder Singh, a recent graduate of Durham College, faced a roadblock at his own convocation when he was prevented from attending due to wearing his kirpan, a ceremonial short sword essential to his Sikh faith. Despite explaining the significance of the kirpan as part of his religious attire, venue security at the off-campus convocation venue denied him entry, citing size restrictions.
Singh expressed his disappointment at being excluded from the ceremony. The spokesperson for the venue emphasized their respect for religious beliefs but stated that Singh’s kirpan exceeded the permitted size limit of seven inches. Durham College’s kirpan policy allows for the religious article to be worn under clothing and not visibly displayed.
While Singh is in discussion with the college regarding the incident, the World Sikh Organization (WSO) has intervened on his behalf, condemning the exclusion as discriminatory. The WSO highlighted the Supreme Court of Canada’s stance on accommodating the kirpan, labeling Singh’s situation as unacceptable.
Despite being eligible for graduation and the option to collect his degree later, Singh has yet to receive his diploma, raising questions about the handling of the situation by both the college and the venue.