VANCOUVER: It has been a long rocky road for Baltej Dhillon-a journey into Canadian history.
Dhillon became the first man to wear a Sikh turban with his RCMP scarlet tunic as he graduates from the force’s training academy in Regina last week.
“It’s going to feel incredible” said the Surrey man recently as he contemplated his graduation ceremony.
“It’s a dream come true for me” said Dhillon 24.
The ceremony with all its pomp and circumstance comes after a swirl of controversy centered on Dhillon’s bid to wear the traditional turban beard and uncut hair of his religion.
It took 5 1/2 months for Dhillon to be allowed into the force after he applied.
The country meanwhile erupted with protests ranging from well-thought-out arguments to blatant racism against the decision by then solicitor-general Pierre Cadieux over whether officially to allow turbans in the RCMP.
A Jawsuil was launched by three ex Mounties 2 210000 name petition against the decision was presented to Parliament a Calgary Tory MP introduced a private member’s bill in an attempt to enshrine the traditional Mountie uniform as 4 symbol of Canada the Refo to preserve the “distinctive heritage of the RCMP” and numerous racist pins “and T-shirts were made.
Dhillon remembers those dark days. “Every time the phone rang I thought it was the force telling me I couldn’t proceed with my training” he said
“A lot of it was just fear that so much was going to change” said Dhillon.
He pointed out that the force like society is constantly undergoing change. Mounties drive cars now instead of riding horses and them often dress in street clothes instead of the red serge.
“This was just another change to the force But the mystique still exists and always will” he said.
The affable soft-spoken Dhillon said his fellow recruits at the academy have supported him through the six months of intense military style training.
“There was an initial shock” he admitted of his arrival in Troop 20.
“It was something new that required adjustment but we got over that very quickly. To be treated like everyone else feels good”.
Living in a dorm with 24 men led to discussions about all sorts of things including religion. Dhillon said some of his troop mates had their own very intense religious views but there was no acrimony.
Nobody has come up to me personally and said ‘I don’t agree with what you’re doing’”” he said.
“They’re having been people who have me on what I’m doing.”
In fact the troop designed its own logo featuring a traditional Stetson and a turban.
Dhillon said the months of training were at times difficult
“It was the most stressful thing I’ve done in my whole life” he said of the 12-0ur days learning everything from fire arms to academics to driver training.
“I’ve never had a moment of regret or doubt” said Dhillon.
“The day I swore to be a peace officer was the day I decided to follow this through I had made a commitment to myself that if I had to leave this place I’d leave in a body bag or with a badge. I’m glad that the latter came true”.
He enjoyed the academics and the firearms training but found the driver testing a strain.
“It’s like taking your driver’s test over 10 times with the instructor sitting next to you saying “Do it again” he said with a laugh
Dhillon immigrated to Canada in 1983 at age 17 with his mother brother and two sisters from Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. He decided to become a cop when he worked as a volunteer in a Block Watch program in Surrey
Dhillon applied to the Vancouver and New Westminster forces as well as the RCMP. Only the RCMP responded.
He completed a two-year criminology course at Kwantlen College and suicide psychology a at Simon Fraser University before applying to the force.
Dhillon speaks five languages-English Punjabi Hindi Urdu and Malayand wants eventually to work in immigration and would like a shot at the famed Musical Ride.
But he’s looking forward to starting his new post in Quesnel in June as a regular constable on the street.
His expectant wife his mother and his young sister will all accompany him to the interior mill town
Dhillon will proudly sport his new turban for daily wear a blue one with a yellow triangle in the middle of the forehead with the RCMP insignia in the center and for the dress uniform a brown/beige one with a darker triangle and the insignia.
“I haven’t had any complaints yet” be said of the tradition making turban.
And yes he expects there will be taunts and maybe the odd threat but Dhillon said he’s used to it all He hopes time and education will ease his journey through the force.
“Like to think I’m a patient man” he: said.(From Canadian newspaper re–PORTS
Article extracted from this publication >> May 17, 1991
