KOMAGATA MARU

KOMAGATA MARU
75TH ANNIVERSARY
ON MAY 23, 1914, 376 BRITISH SUBJECTS (12 HINDUS, 24
MUSLIMS, AND 340 SIKHS) OF INDIAN ORIGIN ARRIVED
IN VANCOUVER HARBOUR ABOARD THE KOMAGATA
MARU, SEEKING TO ENTER CANADA. 352 PASSENGERS
WERE DENIED ENTRY AND FORCED TO DEPART ON
JULY 23, 1914. THIS PLAQUE COMMEMORATES THE 75TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THAT UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT OF
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, AND REMINDS CANADIANS
OF OUR COMMITMENT TO AN OPEN SOCIETY IN
WHICH MUTUAL RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING ARE
HONOURED, DIFFERENCES ARE RESPECTED AND
TRADITIONS ARE CHERISHED.