Sikh man ordered to leave Windsor gym for wearing kirpan
· Toronto Sun
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OTTAWA — Reaction is pouring in online in response to a video of a popular Sikh fitness influencer being kicked out of a Windsor gym for wearing his kirpan while working out.
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In the incident widely shared online , Gurpartap Singh Khalsa, who has a significant following on TikTok as “dreambodygurp” for his videos on his faith and fitness, was approached by staff at a GoodLife Fitness.
The employee expressed concern over the safety implications of Khalsa wearing a kirpan — a ceremonial knife worn by initiated and observant Sikhs as an article of faith — while working out.
What is said in the video
“You’re scared that I’m going to take this religious symbol and kill somebody,” Khalsa says in the recording he made of the incident.
“What I’m saying is that you have a weapon on your person, a member has brought it to my attention, and for the safety of me and everybody else in the gym, I’m asking you to leave,” the female staff member is heard telling him.
“We’re a private gym and we’re allowed to deny access, and you’re not allowed to have this.”
Khalsa then challenges the employee for not noticing his kirpan when he walked in, demanding to know what she’s being paid to do.
“They don’t pay you to look around? They don’t pay you to be aware?” he says to her.
“You just let any person into the gym?”
The employee stood her ground.
“You’re also harassing me right now,” the employee says, which Khalsa quickly denies.
“I’m getting kicked out of the gym because these guys are apparently saying that this kirpan is dangerous,” Khalsa says to his camera.
While many comments online claim the employee was fired, the Toronto Sun was not able to independently confirm this.
The Sun has reached out to GoodLife Fitness for comment.
What to know about kirpans
Many of Khalsa’s videos on his TikTok show him wearing a large, sheathed kirpan worn with a gatra, a cross-body sash slung from the shoulder.
Observant Sikhs initiated into the Khalsa — the collective body of observant, religious Sikhs — wear five articles of faith to demonstrate their commitment to their beliefs.
Commonly referred to as the “five Ks,” they consist of kesh (uncut hair and beard), kangha (a wooden comb worn in the hair), kara (a steel bracelet), kachhera, (undergarments), and kirpan, (ceremonial dagger).
The kirpan has historically been the most controversial of these, with many Sikhs being asked to remove or disguise the knife in certain situations.
In 1990, a “zero-tolerance” policy on weapons enacted by the Peel District School Board spurred a complaint that went to the Ontario Human Rights Commission, which ruled that kirpans are articles of faith and permitted to be worn in schools, subject to reasonable conditions.
The landmark 2006 Supreme Court of Canada ruling Multani v. Commission scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys , unanimously ruled total bans on kirpans violated Sec. 2(a) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms , and that Canadian institutions must accommodate unless a non-trivial safety issue exists.
Online reaction to the gym encounter
Reaction to Khalsa’s video has been swift.
“As a Punjabi myself, she is right brother,” commented TikTok user bagsjai on Khalsa’s video.
“Weapon is a weapon.”
Over on Reddit, many of the comments criticizing Khalsa came from those claiming to be fellow Sikhs.
“I am a Sikh. To be fair — that clown is being called upon within Sikh Community as well,” wrote Redditor L6Btown in a post on /r/goodlifefitness.
“Many baptized Sikhs wear Kirpan and you would never see it above the clothing. Its main purpose is for self-defence or deterrent in case someone innocent is being threatened/attacked. Per Canadian law, Kirpan is allowed but have to be concealed. That clown was just showing it off to gather attention.”
Another said they were concerned about how Khalsa’s actions were impacting the entire Sikh community.
“As a Sikh, before people start pointing fingers at the whole community … these fellas are similar to Ultra Orthodox Jews — they’re following their religious rules, but they’re not the majority,” wrote Redditor Samp90.
“However as Sikhs, they should also follow the rules of the establishment they’re in and Sikhs are not supposed to play victim as one of the concepts of Sikhism. Dude needs to chill.”
When another user asked if Sikhs could wear ceremonial kirpans, like a pendant on a necklace, Samp90 said it’s absolutely an option.
“Yes. Absolutely, and a lot do. Like a crucifix,” he replied.