Tim Horton’s murder sees focus on “increase in violent attacks against Sikhs in Canada”

Liberal Party MP Sukh Dhaliwal amplified concerns of anti-Sikh hate crimes today, after the murder of a 22-year-old Sikh man in a randomly targeted murder in Edmonton (Alberta) as he worked at his job at a coffee shop.

Jashandeep Singh, an international student in Canada for just eight months, was working at a Tim Horton’s in a parkade in Edmonton downtown,101 Street and 102 Avenue, when delivery driver 40-year-old Edgar Wesker attacked him around midday (4th September) with what is believed to be boxcutters (stanley knife), resulting in the 22-year-old’s death.

Wesker has now been charged with second degree murder. Anyone with information about what happened can call Edmonton Police at 780-423-4567. As of yet, the police have not revealed any motive. The murder is also being investigated by Occupational Health and Safety officials.

However, MP of Surrey-Newton (BC) Sukh Dhaliwal addressed the attack with the statement on anti-Sikh hate crimes in Canada, amid growing beliefs of a serious rise in anti-Sikh hate across the country.

Despite these concerns about anti-Sikh hate crimes, Edmonton Police have stated there are “no additional concerns for public safety at this time”, in a comment which many Sikhs would disagree with. Just two months ago police confirmed a violent anti-Sikh hate crime took place in Peterborough (Ontario).

The arrest of a Chilliwack woman for a hate campaign was also partly focused on Sikhs. Both crimes were driven by white supremacist ideology. Online anti-Sikh hate in general has increased, and anecdotal reports of the sentiment reflecting in real life have also been reported.

In recent months, right-wing pseudo-media figures and news outlets have been accused of demonizing the Canadian Sikh community, capitalizing on an online Indian nationalist bot army which amplifies such rhetoric. Fanatical Hindu extremist Major Gaurav Arya is also leading Indian nationalist calls to influence Canada’s right-wing to become more anti-Sikh, an agenda which is entwined with pushing support for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.

Anti-Sikh hate can be reported to Canadian Sikh advocacy org the World Sikh Org.

Tim Horton’s – one of Canada’s biggest franchises which employs thousands of Sikhs – has yet to release a statement on the murder of one of its employees.