We
Are
Hockey
Celebrating South Asian Presence on and off the Ice
On December 6, 2023, Sikh Heritage Manitoba (SHM) proudly launched the We Are Hockey exhibit at Winnipeg’s Hockey For All Centre.
The launch marked an important moment for the city: one that celebrated South Asian contributions to hockey while challenging long-standing assumptions about who belongs in the sport.
Running until March 2024, the exhibit drew large crowds, with over 265,000 visitors during its run. For many vieweres, the experience was deeply personal.
“This exhibit made me emotional. I’ve loved hockey my whole life, but I’ve never seen our stories acknowledged like this before.”
More Than a Moment
Together, the We Are Hockey exhibit and South Asian Heritage Night demonstrated that hockey is more than a game – it is a cultural space where stories are told, identities are shaped, and belonging can be affirmed.
By bringing community history into exhibition spaces, amplifying local voices, and creating room for youth to lead on one of hockey’s biggest stages, Sikh Heritage Manitoba continues to re-imagine what inclusion in sport can look like.
These moments — on panels, in classrooms, and at centre ice — remind us that representation matters, and that when people see themselves reflected in Canada’s most iconic institutions, it changes who feels welcome to step onto the ice.
Originally created by Dr. Satwinder Kaur Bains through the South Asian Research Studies Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley, We Are Hockey documents the experiences, barriers, and resilience of South Asian players, fans, and builders within hockey culture.
Bringing the exhibit to Winnipeg was a collaborative effort between Sikh Heritage Manitoba, True North Sports + Entertainment, and Dr. Bains – grounded in a shared commitment to equity, representation, and community storytelling.
Rooting the Exhibit in Manitoba
While the core exhibit offered a national perspective, Sikh Heritage Manitoba expanded We Are Hockey by adding more panels that centered Manitoba’s own South Asian hockey history. These panels highlighted local players, community milestones, and the evolution of South Asian presence within the province’s hockey landscape, including the Winnipeg Jets’ South Asian Heritage Night.
Created by the SHM team, the panels were presented in both English and Punjabi, ensuring accessibility and affirming language as a vital part of cultural belonging. For many community members, this bilingual approach was especially meaningful. One attendee reflected, “Seeing the panels in both English and Punjabi felt welcoming – like this space was meant for us too.”
The launch at the Hockey For All Centre brought together youth, families, educators, and hockey stakeholders. Parents shared how impactful it was for their children to see themselves reflected in a hockey setting.
“I brought my kids, and for the first time they could point to hockey stories that looked like our family.”
Meet the Team !
Explore the essence of hockey with Sikh Heritage Manitoba! Our devoted team passionately reshaped the We Are Hockey project. Witness the dedication as we meticulously organized this transformative venture, seamlessly merging heritage and passion.
Maheep Rehsia
Parminder Singh Gill
Reenat Sandhu
Ganni Maan
Sargun Rhesia
Subhdeep Sidhu
2. Watch the recap of the exhibit at South Asian Heritage Night hosted at Canada Life Centre!
Sheena Gurm
Jasmine Dhalla
Anmol Singh
Mahekleen Kaur
Recap Videos
Watch the recap of the Exhibit Launch at Hockey for All Centre!
From Exhibit Space to Centre Ice
Just ten days later, We Are Hockey moved from exhibition walls to the arena floor.
On December 16, 2023, the exhibit was featured as part of the Winnipeg Jets South Asian Heritage Night, bringing its message of inclusion to a sold-out crowd at Canada Life Centre. That evening became historic not only for the exhibit’s presence, but for what unfolded at centre ice.
For the first time in NHL history, O Canada was performed in Punjabi.
Social media lit up in real time as fans across the arena and across the country reacted to the moment.
“I never thought I’d hear Punjabi at an NHL game. I had goosebumps the entire anthem.”
Community Collaboration in Action
The Punjabi rendition of O Canada did not come together by chance. It was the result of intentional community collaboration, relationship-building, and a shared commitment to inclusion.
In the lead-up to the Winnipeg Jets South Asian Heritage Night, SHM connected the Jets’ Heritage Night planning team with Amber Trails School, enabling a youth-led anthem performance using Punjabi lyrics carefully crafted by Punjabi scholars to preserve the meaning and spirit of O Canada.
When the choir took to the ice, the response was immediate and emotional.
The intergenerational impact of the moment was felt.
“My parents have lived in Canada for decades. Hearing O Canada in Punjabi made them feel seen in a way they never had before.”
Many highlighted the significance of youth leading such a historic first.
“Watching kids sing O Canada in Punjabi at centre ice gave me so much hope. This is the Canada I want them to grow up in.”
“This is what inclusion looks like. Not just inviting people in but truly honouring who they are.”