Premier David Eby has issued the following statement for Komagata Maru Remembrance Day:

“The steamship Komagata Maru, also known as the Guru Nanak Jahaz, chartered by the Sri Guru Nanak Steamer Company, arrived in Vancouver harbour via Hong Kong and Japan on this date 112 years ago. The ship was chartered to transport 376 people of Sikh, Muslim and Hindu origin from Punjab, India.

“The passengers, who sought to immigrate and contribute to Canada, were met with racist hostility by federal immigration officials and the local population. Most travellers were not allowed to disembark, nor were they allowed to meet with representatives of the local South Asian community. After two gruelling months aboard ship in the harbour, during which conditions became worse by the day, the steamship was forced to return to India from the harbour.

“The incident was soon forgotten by most Canadians, though it remains a dark mark on our history. The Province of British Columbia issued a formal apology in the legislative chamber in 2008 for its role.

“Since long before the ship arrived, people from South Asia have been calling this province home, making untold contributions to building this incredible province. It is our shared responsibility to learn from this incident so we can continue to create the diverse and inclusive British Columbia we know and enjoy today.”