1933 — November 11, 2023

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Tara Singh Dhillon. He passed away peacefully in his home in Kamloops on November 11, 2023 at the age of 90 years old. Born in Pandori Lahda Singh, a small village in Punjab India, Tara Singh made an incredible journey at 16 years old to what would become his new home in British Columbia.  In 1949, at 16, his family spent $1,300 CDN on a flight from India to Vancouver, BC. Still in his youth, he initially enrolled at a school on Vancouver Island. Tara’s principal wrote a letter to seek his father’s approval to leave him in school to study. However, due to the family’s tough financial constraints, his father asked him to get a job instead. He first joined a lumber mill in Youbou, BC and then spent the next decade hopping around BC from mill to mill until Kamloops would become a permanent home. In 1953, Tara Singh would travel by ship back to India to visit his family and to marry his soulmate from a nearby village. Defying his parent’s wishes to marry another woman, he would get married to Gian Kaur with all his conviction. Gian Kaur and their son weren’t able to join him in Canada just yet due to immigration issues. Tara returned to Canada to work and eventually found a career with Tolko lumber mills. Once Gian Kaur and their son, Sukhdev, immigrated to Canada in 1960, family and faith were the pillars of Tara Singh’s life. They made Kamloops, BC their home, raising four children and providing a great life and upbringing for their children and grandchildren. Tara Singh and Gian Kaur enjoyed 68 years of marriage.

When his family was settled, Tara was responsible for the sponsorship of dozens of extended family members’ immigration to Canada. He was immensely proud of this and there are many of his cousins, nephews and nieces who are forever grateful. Upon retirement, Tara Singh traveled back to his home country, to Amritsar, Punjab and became a baptized Sikh. He dedicated his life to his faith, proudly displaying the symbols of Sikhism on him with his uncut hair, turban on his head, a kirpan (a small dagger) by his side, and karha (steel bracelet) on his wrist. He made daily trips to the Kamloops Sikh Temple, actively volunteering to help clean the facilities and managed the gardening outside of it. He was looked up to by so many in our family and around the community. He was a gentle soul, respecting everyone that he met. He always gave back generously to his temple and his local hospital. Tara Singh was predeceased by his wife Gian Kaur, his sisters Pritam Kaur and Chanan Kaur and his granddaughter, Stephanie. He is survived by his brother Sarwan Singh, his sons Sukhdev (Narinder) and Satpaul (Parminder), his daughters Sheila and Kathy, his grandchildren, Charleen, Shauna, Pamela, Brandon, Bryce, Jaspaul and Kacey, and great grandchildren, Angeline, Dylan, Maya and Aria.We will always cherish the memories we have made and love and remember you always.

A Celebration of Tara Singh’s life will be held on Saturday, November 18th at 11:00am in the Kamloops Funeral Home, 285 Fortune Drive. Following the cremation and service, prayers and a reception will be held at the Kamloops Sikh Temple, 700 Cambridge Crescent. In lieu of flowers, if so desired, donations can be made to the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4 in memory of his granddaughter, Stephanie.

Condolences may be sent to the family from
www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com

• Date : 2023-11-11
• Location : Kamloops