DESIBUZZbc photographer Sukhi Dhillon reports that this year’s parade had a larger crowd than last year which could be contributed to decent weather even though it turned cloudy later. Also there was a lot of hype as well for the Vancouver parade and let’s not forget that there is a lot of interest from all communities to attend the event due to the atmosphere and FREE FOOD despite it being a Sikh community event celebrating the founding of the Khalsa.

By R. Paul Dhillon

VANCOUVER – The first of the two big annual Vaisakhi parades in the Metro Vancouver area brought out the community and especially politicians like Premier Christy Clark and members of the Opposition NDP as well as civic politicians like host Vancouver city mayor Gregor Robertson as well as South Vancouver riding hero-MP Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan.

DESIBUZZbc photographer Sukhi Dhillon reports that this year’s parade had a larger crowd than last year which could be contributed to decent weather even though it turned cloudy later. Also there was a lot of hype as well for the Vancouver parade and let’s not forget that there is a lot of interest from all communities to attend the event due to the atmosphere and FREE FOOD despite it being a Sikh community event celebrating the founding of the Khalsa.

At this year’s parade, Khalsa Diwan Society (Ross Street) teamed up with Vancity Credit Union to make the Greenest Vaisakhi in Vancouver history.

Vancouver-based Green Chair Recycling has been selected to provide over 30 recycling stations along the parade route between Main Street and Fraser Street, as well as two recycling headquarters and washing stations in Punjabi Market to more effectively divert waste from landfill from the parade, which draws approximately 100,000 people annually.

Next week will see the mother of all Vaisakhi parades – the biggest Vaisakhi parade in North America if not the world – the Surrey Nagar Kirant, which takes place next Saturday, April 23.