Sikh man in Canada says he was denied police exam over kirpan: ‘My dream was shattered’

A Winnipeg man sparked debate over religious freedom after claiming he was prevented from writing a police recruitment exam because he was carrying a Sikh kirpan.

Jaspal Singh Gill said his dream of becoming a police officer was “shattered” after he was allegedly asked to remove the ceremonial dagger before sitting the Winnipeg Police Service recruitment exam.

“A Winnipeg man says his religious rights were violated after he wasn't allowed to bring his ceremonial dagger into a Winnipeg Police Service recruitment exam. He's asking for an apology and says he may file a complaint with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission,” CTV anchor Daniel Halmarson said while introducing the report.

Gill says he comes from a family of police officers in India and joining the force had long been his ambition.

“My goal was to be a police officer like my father and my grandfather. [...] I was told I couldn't bring it [the kirpan] inside. This is a violation of my religious rights,” he said.

According to Gill, recruitment staff told him he would not be allowed to write the exam unless he removed the kirpan, which Sikhs are required to wear as part of their faith.

“My long-standing personal goal was to join police service because my grandfather and father were police officers back in India,” Gill said.

He added: “The recruitment officer came to me and they told me, like, you have to take off your kirpan in order to give the examination.”

The kirpan is one of the Five Ks in Sikhism and is considered a sacred article of faith symbolising courage, justice and the duty to protect others. It resembles a small dagger but Sikhs claim that it is not intended to be used as a weapon.

“We wear it that symbolize courage and our responsibility to fight against injustice,” Gill said.

Gill said he refused to remove the kirpan and chose to leave the examination centre instead.

“I have to, like my dream got shattered at that time. I believe that's discrimination because all other participants were allowed, but I was not allowed just because I was wearing a kirpan, which is an article of faith in Sikhism,” he added.

In a statement to CTV News, the Winnipeg Police Service defended its actions, saying the Sikh applicant had been offered a compromise of keeping the dagger aside until the exam is finished.

“We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and religious communities. The option to securely store a kirpan for the duration of the exam has been accepted by many applicants in the past and has enabled them to complete the testing process,” a police spokesperson said.


But Gill argued that his Charter rights had been violated and pointed to previous Supreme Court of Canada rulings protecting the wearing of kirpans in public spaces.

“The Khalsa are allowed to wear kirpan in courthouse, are allowed to wear kirpan in assembly, are allowed to wear kirpan in domestic flights,” he said.

Legal expert Neil MacArthur, a professor at the University of Manitoba, said Gill may have strong grounds if he pursues legal action.

“Given that we have a Supreme Court precedent that was fairly clear, I think that his odds are probably quite good in a court process,” MacArthur said.

Gill said he has already contacted a local MLA and filed a freedom of information request to learn more about the police service’s policy. Despite the controversy, he insists he has not given up on his goal of becoming a police officer.