Khalsa Elementary School in East Vancouver destroyed by fire!

Khalsa School blaze suspicious, firefighters continue to battle


By Staff reporter, The Province - July 30, 2009
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-news/26059-khalsa-elementary-school-east-vancouver-destroyed.html

A fire that destroyed the Khalsa Elementary School in East Vancouver is being investigated as suspicious.

"We have three buildings instantaneously combusting," said Deputy fire Chief Tim Armstrong. "That's unusual."

Flames have engulfed the buildings in the complex as hundreds of area residents watch from the sidelines and the plumes of smoke could be seen in downtown Vancouver. No injuries are reported.

Armstrong said the buildings are unsafe to enter at this point but accelerants have not been found.

Almost a dozen emergency vehicles are on the scene. The battle is difficult in the record temperature as firefighters must be hydrated and their vital signs frequently checked as they gulp bottled water and have oxygen administered.

One woman, whose two children attend the school, said the temple, which is housed in the complex, contains all the scripts and songs that are used to educate the students, but has been destroyed.

"I can't hold back my tears," says Amarjit Dhillon. "How could someone do this?"

Firefighters have surrounded the area, battling flames from all sides. The concern now is to contain the fire so it doesn't spread to neighbouring buildings and houses, somce of which are about 30 metres away.

The fire started earlier this morning and firefighters arrived on the scene at about 8 a.m.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26059

The following is the major Khalsa School, in Surrey, B.C.:

 
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This is tragic. I remember several years back when I visited Vancouver there was a similar happening -- a Sikh complex, gurdwara and school, set afire with hate messages painted onto the walls. It was covered in the news and we actually drove by the site that day on our way to the university museum. We did not realize until coming back to the hotel that evening that these were the same incident.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26059
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26059

There seems to be no end to hatred. It continues for years. And the danger of the fire-spreading adds to the problem this time of year.

Do they ever apprehend the people who perpetrate this kind of hatred?

It is tragic indeed. My brother Ripudaman Singh Malik has put his heart and soul in building Khalsa Schools in Vancouver from scratch.

This is what I told my brother's daughter in law Sandeep who is devastated and would like to share with you all.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26059

"We will get the blooody culprits. People can burn Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji if they want to but they can never erase, burn, eliminate the message that makes us Sikhs. The teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji makes the sparrows fight with the hawks and the jackals can give the run for the money to the lions. Now the message of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji has become Sava Lakh times stronger."
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26059

Tejwant Singh

Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26059
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26059

Picture and story here:http://www.canada.com/Vancouver+scho...416/story.html

pictures and story here: http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Van...059/story.html
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26059
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26059

-Jaskeerat Kaur

First in Britain and now in Canada... what is happening... Sikhs seem to be a soft target for the extremists... there seems to be a collective and comprehensive conspiracy against Sikhs going on worldwide... and i am far from being sarcastic...

source: http://www.theprovince.com/news/Khalsa+School+fire+under+control+priceless+holy+bo ok+salvaged+from+flames/1844852/story.html
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26059

Khalsa School fire under control, priceless holy book salvaged from flames


By Sam Cooper, The Province - July 30, 2009 - 12:01 PM



A fire that destroyed the Khalsa Elementary School in East Vancouver is under control and firefighters have salvaged a priceless holy book from the charred temple.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26059

"It's an answer to our prayers, God showed us he was there," said Rina Kaur Chawla, a former principal at the school. "It's a miracle in this fire that He could save the book."

Chawla said the same book also had survived a 2004 fire at the school.
Firefighters handed the heavy book to white-cloaked elders, who began to sing a holy song.

Deputy fire chief Tom McEwan said: "It's the first holy book I've ever saved from a fire. "It touches the heart whenever you see people gather around with such emotion," he said of the community's appreciate reaction.

The fire, which had engulfed several buildings when firefighters arrived early this morning, is being investigated.

A devastated Jasbir Bhalia, the school's principal, said: "I have absoutely no idea how it started. It's a big loss. Of course my staff will co-operate with (fire investigators.)"

Bhalia said he has no idea where the 180 students will go now.
Firefighters had surrounded the area, battling flames from all sides for several hours this morning. Plumes of smoke could be seen from downtown Vancouver.

Hundreds of residents and onlookers watched as firefighters battled the flames that engulfed almost all of the buildings in the complex in the 5000-block of Prince Albert Street. Of nine buildings, one single building was saved by firefighters carrying long-length hoses into close range, McEwan said.

Fire investigators now will be able to enter the compound to look around, said McEwan.

"It's very suspicious in nature," he said.

© Copyright (c) The Province

I couldnt agree more.....the evidence is far too overwhelming...such fires cannot be individual work...not when spread over continents..

This was a small elementary school for the local Vancouver kids with lots of portables because the original building was very small.

The main school with 2 buildings from nursery to high school are in Surrey. As more space was needed due to growth and demand. a brand new school was built from scratch whose picture is on the left hand side in the thread.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26059
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26059

As I was telling Sandeep, my nephew's wife that,"Sandeep, Yes.We will rebuilt a bigger and better facility for the kids would crop up with His Kirpa.Phoenix rises from the ashes and thanks to our Gurus he has created us as Phoenixes who have come back from many ashes, much stronger and more determined than before.

Tejwant Singh