Paldi, a former sawmill town, is located on Vancouver Island, in between Lake Cowichan and Duncan. The town was named after a village in Punjab, India, from which one of the founders, Mayo Singh originated from. The establishment of the sawmill in 1917, owned by Mayo Singh, drew people in, and the town became home to many individuals and families. Paldi soon became a unique site that welcomed communities of all backgrounds. During a time in Canada when people of colour often faced significant racism from government and locals, in Paldi, people of South Asian, Chinese, Japanese, and white European descent all lived and worked together, recognizing and accepting each other as neighbours, friends, and family. Originally constructed in 1919, the gurdwara in Paldi became a central location for community building, particularly for the Sikh community. July 1, the opening day for the gurdwara, would become Paldi's Jor Malla festival day, an annual day for celebration and gathering. Many of the sawmill workers also worked and performed seva at the gurdwara. Bacint Singh was the first Granthi for the gurdwara. The gurdwara was rebuilt in 1959, and the second Sikh Temple was built on the same site, facing the same direction. The gurdwara became a central place of gathering for Paldi’s community where people came to meet friends, family, and neighbours. Currently, it is the only building that remains in the town and is recognized as a historic heritage site. The photographs in this collection are a sample of the ones that are held in the Paldi gurdwara. Many were hung carefully and respectfully on the walls of the gurdwara, accumulating over time, reflecting not only the gurdwara’s history but that of the town and its people. In 2023, Historica Canada released a Heritage Minute depicting the story of Paldi through the eyes of Bishan Kaur as she joins her husband Mayo Singh, in Canada. The Paldi Heritage Minute can be viewed here: https://www.historicacanada.ca/productions/minutes/paldi