They Persevered and Built a Community

The Paldi Project seeks the lost history of a once vibrant town in the Cowichan Valley

South Asian Studies Institute

Originally named Mayo Siding, this mill town just west of Duncan was founded by Mayo Singh in 1917. It flourished for two decades, then struggled after the mill closed in the 1940s. People gather each summer to remember the meaning of this place, and in 2017 people came from all over the world to celebrate the centenary of the Paldi Sikh Temple, once the heart of the community. Today only this temple remains as evidence of the town’s built heritage, and the life stories of the many thousands of people who called this place home are just beginning to be gathered. Satwinder Bains reflects on the importance of Paldi history and the urgency she feels to safeguard its stories. Paldi is one of those small towns in BC where even the name…

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British Columbia History (Digital) - 1 Issue, 53.4 Winter 2020

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