Former school now serving as Gurdwara

Canada, October 7, 2013 ( Mark Melnychuk)-Sujinder Sahni walks with his family into what used to be Athabasca School's gymnasium. The sound of hymns being sung flows through the room, which has been converted into the prayer hall of Regina's new  Gurudwara. In the centre of the former gym, now redone with carpeting and fresh paint, sits an altar holding the sacred Sikh text, the Guru Granth Sahib.
For Sahni, one of the most important benefits of having the new temple is how it will help Sikh children. "With the growing community and with the kids with this generation coming up in Canada, it's very good that they learn about their culture," says Sahni.
Sahni, who is originally from Punjab (India), is one of many Sikh immigrants who have decided to make Regina their home. Sohan Matharu, president of the Sikh Society of Regina, estimates Regina's Sikh population has gone from 25-35 families in the 1970s, to presently at least 300.
This meant the society's quaint temple at 639 Pasqua St., which it had owned since 1985, wasn't going to do the job any longer. On Aug. 28, 2012, the society purchased the former school for $2.5 million. "I think in the future, the Sikh community doesn't have to go anywhere else because there's lots of land here, this is a big building," says Kuldip Sahota, who is the treasurer of the society. The society began using the school, located on Princess Drive, for prayer services five weeks after acquiring the building, and finished moving in on April 13.
Some of the classrooms in the old school are still used for learning, as the temple has its own Punjabi school. Because of space limitations in the old temple, classes had to be held in the Langar dining hall. "It was quite disturbing at times. So having this classroom, the kids can concentrate more and learn better," says the school's principal, Inderjit Kamboz.
Next year, work will begin on expanding parking space, which was a major issue at the last temple. In a room where donated food is stored, blueprints for a new kitchen hang on the walls. With about 500 people coming to the temple on Sundays, the building is in desperate need of a proper space to cook meals for large crowds.
Due to the skilled worker shortage in Saskatchewan, finding a contractor willing to tackle the $300,000 project has been difficult. "We don't want to start something and then linger on for a while because we need it right away," says Kuldip.
The lawn and playgrounds outside the temple are still open for the neighbourhood to use. And as long as you're willing to cover your head and remove your shoes, Reginans will find they're more than welcome inside the temple. "We don't say you can't come because you're not a Sikh," says Matharu. "Anybody is welcome."