Canada: turban-wearing Sikh woman of Indian origin creates history by winning Brampton city council polls

Amid celebrations in India over the elevation of Rishi Sunak as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, news has emerged of another Indian-origin person creating history as a city councillor of Brampton city in Canada.

Navjit Kaur Brar, an Indo-Canadian healthcare worker has reportedly become the first turban-wearing Sikh woman to be elected to public office in Canada. The election took place on 24 October 2022.

Brar, a respiratory therapist, was called a "phenomenal addition to Brampton City Council" by Mayor Patrick Brown, who won a second term in the recent election. Brar had previously run as the Ontario NDP candidate in Brampton West, and had lost to the current Progressive Conservative MPP Amarjot Sandhu.

As many as 40 Punjabis were in the fray for Brampton civic elections, as per reports. Brar focused on three areas in her campaign - building new infrastructure, reducing crime, and improving road safety.