Winnipeg man denied opportunity to write police exam over ceremonial Sikh dagger

A Winnipeg man’s dream of becoming a police officer was shattered due to a restriction tied to a religious item. Daniel Halmarson explains

A Winnipeg man says he was denied the opportunity to write a police recruitment exam because of restrictions tied to a religious item he’s required to wear.

Jaspal Singh Gill wants to become a police officer to serve the greater community.

“My longstanding personal goal was to join a police service because my grandfather and father were police officers back in India,” Singh Gill told CTV News.

Singh Gill moved to New Brunswick from India in 2021, became a permanent resident of Canada in 2024, and moved to Winnipeg last summer.

He said he’s been studying for police recruitment exams since he initially landed in Canada and jumped at the invitation to write the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) recruitment exam at its downtown headquarters in late April.

But Singh Gill said he never put pen to paper.

“The recruitment officer came to me and they told, ‘You have to take off your kirpan in order to take the examination,’” Singh Gill said.

The kirpan, a sheathed dagger, is one of the five articles of faith a Khalsa Sikh must wear at all times. The blade is only unsheathed for religious occasions and for cleaning purposes.

“We wear it to symbolize courage and our responsibility to fight against injustice,” Singh Gill explained.

Singh Gill said he was told by the recruitment officers he wouldn’t be allowed to write the exam unless he handed the kirpan over. Singh Gill said he chose to leave instead.

“My dreams got shattered,” Singh Gill said. “I believe that’s discrimination because all other participants were allowed [to write the exam], but I was not allowed because I was wearing a kirpan.”

In an email, a police spokesperson told CTV News an applicant was offered secure storage options for the kirpan last week for the duration of the exam.

“This option was presented respectfully and with consideration for the individual,” the spokesperson wrote. “The individual declined the accommodation and chose not to proceed with writing the exam.”

The spokesperson explained testing takes place in a secure area of the building where the WPS is responsible for “the security of all candidates as well as our sworn and civilian members.”

They noted the service welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds and religious communities.

“We strive to provide reasonable accommodations wherever possible and have a history of working with individuals to respect their religious practices while maintaining safety requirements,” the spokesperson said.

“The option to securely store a kirpan for the duration of the exam has been accepted by many applicants in the past and has enabled them to complete the testing process.”

However, Singh Gill said police infringed on his Charter rights and pointed to a 2006 Supreme Court of Canada decision that ruled banning Sikhs from carrying kirpans violates one’s freedom of religion.

He added the Supreme Court has ruled kirpans aren’t weapons—they’re articles of faith.

“The Khalsa are allowed to wear kirpan in courthouses, they are allowed to wear kirpan in assembly, and are allowed to wear kirpan in domestic flights,” Singh Gill said.

He said he’s filed a Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) request to gather more information on Winnipeg Police Service policies and may consider filing a complaint with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission.

Neil McArthur, the director of the University of Manitoba’s Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics, said a court would likely rule in Singh Gill’s favour—given the Supreme Court precedent.

“The Supreme Court decision concerned a school, and it decided that it was perfectly safe to have Sikhs wearing their kirpans in a school environment,” McArthur told CTV News. “I must admit, I struggle a little bit with why a testing environment would be less secure.”

He said Singh Gill should have been given the opportunity to sit the exam under reasonable accommodation like being required to wear the kirpan in a more secure manner.

“All of the police services—including the RCMP—recognize that he can wear it in his line of duty,” McArthur said. “So why can’t someone wear a kirpan in their line of duty and not in the test to become an officer?”

Singh Gill said he wants an apology from the police and, despite this experience, the chance to write the exam and fulfill his dream.

“I think they should look into their policy and they should change it,” Singh Gill said.

“I believe many other Sikh applicants will be discouraged from applying for police services.”