• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

A small Sikh-owned business in Northern Ontario has unexpectedly found itself at the centre of a social media storm. The newly opened Chardikala Turban Store in Sudbury, believed to be the first of its kind in the region, has triggered a wave of online reactions ranging from praise to hostility.

The store, opened by Indian-origin entrepreneur Gurpreet Singh Broca, offers turbans, Sikh faith accessories, and grooming items. Broca, who arrived in Canada as a student and now works at a Canadian bank, said the idea came from a simple need within the local Sikh community.

“I just didn’t want to do it for myself but also for my friends and community,” Broca told The Sudbury Star. “Many people in Northern Ontario rely on friends or visitors from Brampton to bring turbans and other essentials. I wanted to change that.”

‘Canada First’ Accounts Target Turban Store

Soon after the shop’s opening, photos of the storefront began circulating on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, prompting anger from several “Canada First” users who claimed the region was losing its identity.

One viral post, shared by an account named Jill, said Sudbury “has always been a 95 per cent white city” and accused the government of changing its demographics through immigration. The user wrote, “The fact so many Indians are living there that they need a turban shop is mind-blowing,” calling it part of a “rural immigration program” that would “turn Sudbury into India North.” The post quickly spread, drawing both condemnation and ridicule from other Canadians.

Many users called out the post’s racist undertones, pointing out that Sudbury’s Sikh population remains extremely small, estimated at around 300 people, or roughly 0.3 per cent of the city’s population. “Imagine having a meltdown over a Sikh guy selling turbans, someone making an honest living, in a city that’s still 95 per cent white,” one user wrote. “The low-IQ racists sound every bit as idiotic as the grievance junkies on the woke left.” Another commented, “Imagine being so fragile that a turban shop makes you cry ‘ethnic cleansing.’ That’s not patriotism; that’s paranoia dressed up as nationalism.”

ALSO READ: Indian Influencer's ‘Baby PR Hack’ Goes Wrong, Sparks ‘Parasite Class’ Outrage Among Canadians

Reflection Of Growing Diversity?

Broca’s store, named Chardikala, a Punjabi term symbolising optimism and high spirits, is part of a slow but visible shift in Sudbury’s cultural landscape. While the city remains predominantly white, it has seen a modest rise in immigration through Canada’s Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) program, which encourages newcomers to settle outside major cities.

ALSO READ: 'They Think Everybody Is Indian': Pakistani Influencer Spills Truth, Reveals How Pakistan Lacks Dignity And Trolled Abroad | Watch

Local observers say the reaction online highlights how cultural symbols can become flashpoints in debates over identity and immigration. “It’s a reminder that Canada’s multiculturalism is still a work in progress, especially outside urban centres,” a community leader said to a local media outlet who requested anonymity. Despite the uproar, Broca remains unfazed. “This store isn’t about politics,” he said. “It’s about convenience, culture, and community. Everyone is welcome.”