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Surrey Police issue advisory for Vaisakhi parade
The parade is among the largest Sikh gatherings of its kind outside India.
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Malvika Choudhary - Thu, 02, Apr 2026
- 16:08 EDT
- 29
Representative image / Surrey Police Service
Police in Surrey, British Columbia, have issued safety and travel advisories ahead of the city’s annual Khalsa Day Vaisakhi Parade set for April 18.
The parade, centered around Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar in Surrey’s Newton neighborhood, has grown into one of the city’s biggest annual religious and cultural gatherings, drawing visitors from across Metro Vancouver and beyond.
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The event typically includes floats, community stalls, performances, and free food served by local residents, gurdwaras, and businesses.
“Surrey Police Service officers, employees, and volunteers, as well as officers from a number of other local police agencies and units, look forward to joining families, businesses, and visitors at this year’s Khalsa Day Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey,” said Staff Sergeant Lindsey Houghton, SPS Senior Media Relations Officer.
“As thousands of people attend this parade each year, we encourage everyone to plan ahead with family and friends so they can fully enjoy the celebration,” Houghton said.
The Surrey Police Service (SPS) said it has developed a public safety and traffic management plan in coordination with the City of Surrey and event organizers, based on provincial recommendations for large public gatherings.
According to the authorities, crowd separation remains one of the recurring concerns during the parade, with officers responding in previous years to reports of missing children and elderly persons in the large gathering.
Police urged families and groups to take precautions, including carrying identification, choosing a pre-arranged meeting point, keeping a recent photo of children on hand, and notifying police immediately if someone becomes separated.
Officials also advised attendees to leave pets at home because of the size of the crowds and the noise levels associated with the event.
Traffic restrictions are expected to be extensive. Police said road closures will begin as early as 6:00 a.m., with full closures in place from 7:45 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on parade day. Significant delays are expected in the area between 72 Avenue and 88 Avenue, and from Scott Road to King George Boulevard, with 128 Street among the most affected routes.
Residents living within restricted zones will need to carry a valid driver’s licence showing a current address in order to access their homes through police checkpoints, officials said.
Authorities also said businesses and staff operating within the parade route will require parking passes or access authorization, with vehicle entry permitted only until 7:00 a.m. on the day of the event.
Police said only businesses located within the restricted route area will qualify for those permits, which will allow access to designated “soft closure” zones.
Vaisakhi is one of the most significant observances in the Sikh calendar, marking the creation of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. It is also associated with the spring harvest season in Punjab, India.
In Canada, where British Columbia is home to one of the country’s largest Sikh populations, Surrey’s Khalsa Day parade has become a major public celebration and a prominent expression of Sikh identity and community life.
Police urged the public to review route details and plan travel in advance, saying preparation and cooperation would be critical to ensuring the event remains safe and orderly.
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