Gursikh Sabha Canada, also known as Scarborough Gurdwara, was established in 1979. The first congregation was held at York Mills Collegiate Institute, but later a church building was purchased on Morrish Road in Scarborough in October 1983. Unfortunately, the building was burnt and destroyed in July 1984, but with the grace of Waheguru Ji and the cooperation and participation of the Sadh Sangat, four founding members took charge of the situation and involved a team of new sewadars.
Weekly diwans were started at Ellesmere Staton Public School, which later moved to Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute. In April 1985, a 2-acre parcel of land was purchased on Middlefield Road, and around 40 families shared the mortgage payments of approximately $1444 per month. The Gurdwara Sahib had to go through the rezoning process to build the Gurdwara building, which started construction in 1989.
During the construction process, the Gurdwara Sahib faced multiple issues with contractors, sub-contractors, and financial hardships, but with Guru Sahib's blessing, they overcame them all. The opening ceremony of the present building took place in January 1991, and the entire Sikh community of this part of Ontario was proud of it.
Later, in 1997, a corner lot of about 2 acres was purchased, followed by the purchase of another parcel of 5.2 acres of land in May 2002. The original Gurdwara building was again falling short of fulfilling the needs of the Sadh Sangat, so the sewadars started working on a plan to extend the building. They retained one of Canada's top architects and builders to design and constructed the new building, which was completed at a cost of about $8 million in February 2006.
The new building has 3 large halls and 2 small halls for Akhand Paaths, a special wing for Mata Sahib Kaur Khalsa School in the basement, a multipurpose hall, and new residences for visiting Ragi Jathas. Since 1991, this institution has paid special attention towards children and youth, and as a result, the Youth group of this Gurdwara formed the Guru Gobind Singh Children's Foundation in 1999 to help the less fortunate. Mata Sahib Kaur Khalsa School is also growing, and the volunteers are working hard and committed to the School.
Gursikh Sabha Canada has come a long way, and we pray that it continues to move forward in the future. Let us work together, help and support the sewadars, and be worthy of God's blessings so that our children will be proud of us.