QUESNEL: For the first week at the RCMP basic training facility in Regina Baltej Singh Dhillon was more nervous than most.

Like all recruits he adapted to the constant snoring of his dormitory mates the early morning wake-up calls and the repetitive drills.

But he had one added worry He was waiting for the arrival of his kit which would contain his uniform and the first official turban issued by the RCMP.

““My troop mates knew about this so the minute we got back to the «dorm they all said; “Try it on. So l put it on” Dhillon said.

“Then everyone else wanted to try it on Just about the entire troop ended up putting the turban on too. That day was like a release of all the tensions and fears about the turban all that came tumbling down. It was a sign of acceptance and understanding”

Dhillons official RCMP turban is dark blue worn over a gold colored cloth wrapped around his head On the front is the RCMP crest-a bison surrounded by maple leaves and the motto Maintains Le Droit Maintain the Right

Although Dhillon hopes eventually to work in the RCMPs immigration section (he speaks five languages) the 25-yr-old didn’t always have a burning desire be police officer.

He was born and raised in KualaLampur Malaysia. When his father died in 1983hisoldestbrother who was studying in Vancouver sponsored Dhillon his mother and two younger sisters 10 come to Canada He was 15 years old.

The family arrived with lite money and Dhillon spent his first three summers in Canada working 15-hour days seven-day weeks picking fruit on Fraser Valley farms.

After high school he took criminology at Kwantlen College and got involved with the Block watch program with the Surrey RCMP.

“There was this sense you were helping the community. I think that was very important to me helping the community any way I can” Dhillon said.

He applied to the RCMP who was honest and upfront about the situation facing him.” “At the time they said they would still offer me the job But they told me that until the uniform regulations were changed I would have to choose: between wearing the turban and being an RCMP constable” he said.

As Dhillon waited for new uniform regulations a national controversy erupted about the turban

“I was working with the Block watch program in the Surrey detachment. “I was wearing my tribunal the time so it wasn’t even n issue for me” he said during an interview in his Quesnel home

“Most of the arguments (against the turban) are just preposterous. You know I think some individuals are using the turban issue for their own personal biases not only against East Indians but other groups as well.”

Six months into his first RCMP posting he feels the community has grown to accept him and his turban much more quickly than he expected.

“In my dealings with people I think my skin color and what I wear on my head are no longer issues any more for a lot of people. My performance as a police officer is definitely an issue for a lot of people they want me to perform as the RCMP officer. I feel I have been able to do that.”

Article extracted from this publication >> February 7, 1992