Sajjan first Sikh to command Canadian army regiment

Lt-Col Harjit Singh Sajjan has become the first Canadian Sikh to assume command of a Canadian army regiment. 

Lt-Col Sajjan was over the weekend given his charge as the Commanding Officer (Designate) of the British Columbia Regiment in a ceremony held at the Beatty Street Armoury in Vancouver.

In a statement, the World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) offered its congratulations to Lt-Col Sajjan.

Lt-Col. Sajjan joined the British Columbia Regiment as a Trooper in 1989 and was commissioned in the Regiment in 1991.   He was promoted to Captain in 1995 and to Major in 2005.

Lt-Col Sajjan has served in Bosnia-Herzegovina as well as three deployments to Afghanistan.

Most recently, in November 2010, he was requested to serve as the Special Assistant to US Army Major-General James Terry, Commanding General of 10th Mountain Division and Commander of Regional Command South.

Lt-Col Sajjan is also the recipient of the Commander-in-Chief's Commendation and the Deputy Minister of National Defence Award for recruiting in the Sikh community.

He is married to Kuljit Kaur, a medical physician and they reside in Vancouver with their daughter, Jeevut, and son Arjun.

Lt-Col Sajjan's parents Kundan Singh Sajjan and Vidya Kaur Sajjan are long-time members of the WSO and S. Kundan Singh currently serves on WSO's National Executive. 

WSO president Prem Singh Vinning, who attended the Change of Command ceremony, said: "This is a proud moment for all Canadian Sikhs. Lt-Col Sajjan is an inspiration to young Sikhs and he shows just how much a part of Canada Sikhs are today."

with thanks : link above.