Parade float attacked Sikh articles of faith, U of C expert says
An expert at the University of Calgary says a float in a small Alberta town's annual parade made a mockery of some of the symbols the Sikh religion hold sacred.
"We shouldn't be naïve that this is not simply a comment about politics," said Harjeet Singh Grewal, a professor of classics and religion at the institution.
On June 25, in a parade for the Sundre Pro Rodeo, a volunteer dressed up as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was driving a tractor pulling a manure spreader. In the spreader was another volunteer who was supposed to be NDP leader Jagmeet Singh.
The latter was wearing a turban, a fake beard and had long hair.
Those three things, Grewal says, are considered to be articles of faith that are sacred to the Sikh community.
"Bringing up that identity also cycles back to the public sphere and discriminations that Sikhs who are practicing face every day and the immobility that they have."
Grewal said people need to be aware of the symbolism of having a Sikh man sitting where the manure should be and being pulled by a tractor.
“The symbolism goes beyond politics when you generalize to a visible minority or religious minority in Canada through the way that it is portrayed,” he said.
“There are other ways to make comments about politics, why bring in a visible religious minority to do that?”
Grewal said it’s important for people to understand the realities practicing Sikhs are faced with.
“I, as an adult, had somebody try to physically take my turban off. So, I think you know these things happen and we should be aware.”
Lynne Hoff, the woman who created the float, contends it was political satire, adding that she was not attempting to be racist.
However, Hoff's motives are being called into question after several social media posts that have targeted a number of groups, both political and religious.
In a post to the Sundre Facebook group, she asked for volunteers to dress as Trudeau and Singh. In it, she misspells turban and Singh’s name twice, calling him “STingh” and “stinky.”
She denies intentionally writing those things and blames it on autocorrect.
Hoff also made an anti-Muslim tweet to former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi last year over pandemic restrictions. Nenshi commented on it then removed the tweet so people wouldn’t “pile on her.”
"What I said was in anger," Hoff said, brushing off other criticism as "cancel culture."
"Three of my friends had lost businesses in Calgary – one of them had committed suicide."
No matter what her motivations for the parade stunt were, the Alberta MLA whose riding includes the town of Sundre says he doesn't agree.
"I called out Justin Trudeau when he did black face as well," said Alberta Finance Minister and MLA for Rocky Mountain House-Rimbey-Sundre Jason Nixon.
"It certainly came across to the Sikh community inside this province as racist. I would say it was a poor reflection on my community and not an accurate reflection of Sundre."
The Sundre Pro Rodeo and its parade committee have said they did not approve the float to go ahead and will be taking steps to prevent such situations in the future.
(With files from Nicole Di Donato and Tyson Fedor)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Unable to leave Syria, mothers of Canadian children forfeit repatriation to keep their families together
In a choice forced upon them by the Canadian government, four mothers have made the agonizing decision to forfeit an opportunity to repatriate their children from open air prisons in northeast Syria.

MP Han Dong issues libel notice to Global News over China interference reporting
Lawyers representing Toronto MP Han Dong served Global News with a libel notice on Friday over reports that alleged he spoke to a Chinese diplomat in February 2021 about delaying the release of the two Michaels, and that he was a 'witting affiliate' of Chinese interference networks – allegations that Dong denies.
Federal minimum wage, taxes on alcohol: Here's what's changing in Canada April 1
The federal minimum wage is increasing from $15.55 per hour to $16.65, and taxes are going up on gas and alcohol nationwide starting April 1.
Here's what to expect from the Canadian cottage market this year
A recent report from Royal LePage is predicting a drop in prices for Canadian cabins and cottages this year as demand softens from economic uncertainty and low housing stock.
Interim RCMP commissioner would support Criminal Code changes for stricter gun laws
Interim RCMP commissioner Michael Duheme says he would support the Criminal Code changes recommended in the Mass Casualty Commission report to implement stricter gun laws.
Akwesasne: Bodies of two more migrants found, bring total dead to eight
Police say the bodies of eight migrants have been retrieved from the waters off the Mohawk Territory of Akwesasne, straddling the Canada - U.S. border. The people whose bodies were recovered Thursday and Friday consisted of two families of Romanian and Indian origins who were likely trying to enter the U.S. illegally, police said Friday.
Donald Trump facing at least one felony charge in New York case: AP sources
Former U.S. president Donald Trump is facing multiple charges of falsifying business records, including at least one felony offence, in the indictment handed down by a Manhattan grand jury, two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Friday.
A 106-year-old from the Philippines is Vogue's oldest ever cover model
Vogue Philippines has revealed Apo Whang-Od as the cover star of its April issue, a move that makes the 106-year-old tattoo artist from the Philippines the oldest person ever to appear on the front of Vogue.
Trudeau defends appointment of cabinet minister's sister-in-law as interim ethics commissioner
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is defending the appointment of senior Liberal cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc's sister-in-law as Canada's interim ethics commissioner.