Who We Are
Founded in 1993, Gurmat Center is a non-profit school committed to helping Sikh youth grow with a sense of belonging. We strive to instill strong values in the future of tomorrow: our children. Through Gurmukhi (Punjabi alphabet), Gurbani Santhia, Sikh Studies, Kirtan, Gatka, Dastar tying, and more, students strengthen their Sikh identity in a community where they feel connected and supported.
What We Offer
Gurmat Center offers a dynamic mix of engaging activities and a thoughtfully developed curriculum designed by experienced, certified educators. Our teachers are skilled in how to truly reach the hearts and minds of our future generation. We continually work toward our goals by welcoming and applying feedback from students, parents, teachers, and the wider community.
Our Mission Statements
- To provide students with an uplifting environment that supports religious development while participating in a wide range of activities.
- To inspire students to build pride, self-awareness, and a strong sense of responsibility toward the Sikh nation.
- To serve as a trusted resource and central hub for Sikh students and the Abbotsford community.
A Sikh Center Committed to Sikh Youth
Life is a journey filled with uncertainty. The best decisions are made when an individual is supported by the resources and knowledge of Sikh philosophy. The Sikh faith describes human life in three stages: childhood, adulthood, and old age.
Although Sikh scriptures encourage us to walk the path of God throughout our lives, there is no greater gift than receiving the knowledge of Gurmat from a very young age. Gurmat is “the Guru’s way.” It means keeping the Guru in mind in every moment and in every decision. Gurmat guides the follower to hear, speak, see, and act as the Guru did. Childhood is the first and most crucial stage of life.
It is during this stage that a child forms habits and moral values that stay with them for life. The philosophy of Sikh faith, and the mission of Gurmat Center, is to nurture the seed of Gurmat in young children so they grow into responsible and productive members of the Sikh nation.
This responsibility ultimately belongs to parents. Religious institutions provide support, but the true foundation for good character and moral values is the home. Parents must also embrace the ideals of the Sikh faith, and only then will they have the tools to face life’s obstacles with strength. We all dedicate ourselves to different duties and responsibilities; Gurmat Center has dedicated itself to Sikh youth.
The original name of the organization is “Maharaja Dalip Singh Gurmat Education Center.” The founders felt it was appropriate to name the school after Maharaja Dalip Singh because his tragic life story serves as a reminder of what can happen when children are taken from, or distanced from, their natural environment. While Sikh youth today are not in the same situation Maharaja Dalip Singh faced, negative influences in society and a lack of religious training at home can lead to similar outcomes: loss of identity, lack of knowledge, absence of pride, and a willingness to follow the latest cultural trends. Gurmat Center was established to do its part by helping students recognize their responsibility to themselves and to the Sikh nation: to learn, to maintain the Sikh lifestyle, and then to teach others.
