A Mississauga, Ont., man’s social media post is going viral and sparking conversation.
“You’re kicking me out of the gym right now because you are scared that I’m going to take my religious symbol … and kill somebody?” stated Gurpartap Singh Sangha in the video filmed at the Windsor GoodLife Fitness Dougall Club.
Sangha alleges he was racially profiled and asked to leave the gym after concerns were raised about the kirpan he wears as part of his Sikh faith.
“You have a weapon on your person. A member has brought it to my attention and for the safety of me and everybody else in the gym, I’m asking you to leave,” a GoodLife employee can be heard saying in the video.
A kirpan is a ceremonial dagger or sword that baptised Sikhs wear as a mandatory article of faith. According to the Ontario Human Rights Commission, it must be sheathed and wrapped in a cloth belt next to the body.
A 2006 Supreme Court of Canada ruling recognizes the kirpan as a protected religious article. The Court found it can be accommodated in a wide range of settings, including schools, courthouses and legislatures, provided it remains sheathed and does not exceed 23 centimetres in overall length.
Chris Lewis, CTV News public safety analyst, says the gym has the authority to ask for the kirpan to be taken off and put in the car or locker until the workout is complete to ensure other members feel safe.
“I’m not sure if that’s a safe environment,” said Samar Houad, a GoodLife Fitness gym member.
“Not that the person was going to do anything, but I just felt like maybe that’s not really the safe place to bring something like that.”
Houad notes there is an influx of teenagers during the summer months as GoodLife provides a free membership for teens.
“If I were to see that, I would have been a bit alarmed,” said Houad’s son, Noah.
“It’s not safe to bring in a gym full of teens.”
“I would have let him stay in because he’s just trying to work out,” another minor told CTV News.
“A lot of these things are based out of ignorance,” said Balpreet Singh, spokesperson for the World Sikh Organization of Canada.
“It’s not that a Sikh wearing a kirpan just wears it to the gym. They’re wearing it at all times…at home and bathing even. It’s worn literally at all times. They are treated as a part of your body.”
Singh says the request for Sangha to leave the gym was unacceptable.
“When you go to a gym, you are seeing all kinds of items that potentially could be used to do serious harm, whether it’s dumbbells or barbells or weight plates,” explained Singh.
“But you don’t look at those items and say, ‘Oh my God,’ is someone going to hit me with them? You do what you’re there to do which is exercise.”
In a statement, Tracy Matthews, senior vice-president of experience and safety at GoodLife Fitness, said the company is committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for everyone.
“The interaction shown in the video reflects a situation where our established practices were not applied as intended. We have reached out directly to the individual involved to address this matter,” Matthews said.
“We comply with all applicable government legislation, including Canadian human rights laws.”
Sangha hopes this incident is an opportunity to educate the public.
“GoodLife should also be educating their workers on different faiths. So that’s what I strongly advise,” he added.
“I always believe in people. People make mistakes. You’re human.”
The local GoodLife Fitness issued an apology to Sangha, which he says he has accepted.
