First-ever farm workers’ memorial unveiled in Canada

Monday, 05/10/2015

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VANCOUVER: The Golden Tree, a first-of-its-kind memorial dedicated to farm workers in Canada, was unveiled in Abbotsford near here on Saturday.

Built in memory of three Punjabi women farm workers who died in a road accident in March 2007, the monument was unveiled at Friendship Garden by relatives of the victims.

Amarjit Kaur Bal (52), Sukhwinder Kaur Punia (41) and Sarabjit Kaur Sidhu (31) had died when an overloaded van carrying farm workers overturned near the highway. The monument designed by Dean and Christina Lauze has three faces of women embedded in it.

The relatives of the deceased women were present during the unveiling. Sarabjit’s husband Jagjit Singh Sidhu was among the speakers who addressed the gathering. He announced that his struggle for the improvement of working conditions in the farming industry would continue.

“The monument is the culmination of our struggle for justice. However, this journey isn’t over and I will continue my fight,” he said. Sidhu mentioned how he was often discouraged by others from pursuing justice, but he never gave up.

Sidhu told HT that women working in the farming industry still faced exploitation due to their vulnerability. “Although things have improved with more checks and roadside inspections since the time of my wife’s death, more needs to be done.”

His daughter, Avneet Kaur, also spoke on the occasion.

Following public outcry, a coroner investigation was held into the accident in 2009. The inquest found that the vehicle was unsafe and poorly maintained, even as there were not enough seat belts. The inquiry had resulted in 18 recommendations to improve working conditions of farm workers.

The project was funded by BC Federation of Labour (BCFED), Progressive Intercultural Community Services, Canadian Farmworkers Union (CFU) and Indian Rationalist Society, while the land was given by the City of Abbotsford.

Others who spoke at the event included former BC Federation of Labour president Jim Sinclair and MLA Raj Chouhan, also a former president of the Canadian Farm Workers Union. Among those present were former BC human rights commissioner Harinder Mahil, Indian Rationalist Society leader Avtar Gill, director of Vancity Lily Grewal and MLAs Bruce Ralston and Shane Simpson.

Balbir Singh Paras and his party sang a dhadi waar (ballad) dedicated to the victims.