OTTAWA (Diya TV) — Baltej Singh Dhillon, known as the first turbaned Sikh RCMP officer, has become the first turbaned Sikh appointed to the Canadian Senate. The appointment was announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
In 1991, Dhillon made history by becoming the first RCMP officer permitted to wear a turban, advocating for religious freedom. Over his 30-year career, he played pivotal roles in high-profile investigations, including the Air India Flight 182 aviation terror attack and the Robert Pickton case. Since retiring in 2019, Dhillon has worked with British Columbia’s anti-gang agency and remained active as a youth leader.
Dhillon was born in Malaysia but migrated to Canada in 1983. He stood as a recent candidate for the British Columbia New Democratic Party for the Surrey-Serpentine River riding in the 2024 provincial election but lost.
Gratefully expressing his feelings, Dhillon said, “I am deeply humbled to share that I have been appointed as a Senator. This great honor fills me with tremendous gratitude, and I am immensely grateful for the chance to serve our country in such a high office.”
Prime Minister Trudeau praised the appointees, stating, “Their wide variety of experience will be a big asset to the Senate, and I am sure they will remain strong advocates for their communities.”
The Senate is the Upper Chamber in Canada’s parliamentary system of government, in which senators study and amend legislation, study issues of national concern, and stand for regional and minority representation. The Governor General appoints, on the advice of the Prime Minister, by the recommendations of the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments.
