Surrey gurdwara volunteers work to protect school children from gangs

After a teen student was stabbed to death at a Surrey high school in November, dozens of volunteers from a local gurdwara are gathering to keep watch in a pilot program aimed at stopping gang activity.

On November 22, Mehakpreet Sethi was stabbed by another teen outside of Tamanawis Secondary School. However, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the stabbing was not believed to be part of the ongoing Lower Mainland gang conflict.

Now, dozens of volunteers from Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara are taking time to watch over the school.

Volunteers from a local gurdwara are helping keep school children safe outside of the Tamanawis Secondary School. (Kier Junos/CityNews)

Donning vests that read “Parents School Watch,” one volunteer says that nearly 40 people have been taking turns to watch for people who are not part of the school community, or who attempt to talk to students.

“What we’re hearing from various gang programs, they always say one thing…gangs recruit children in the lunchtime,” volunteer Gagan Singh explained.

Singh says the group felt like it was necessary to take action to protect the children in the school.

“Nothing, no single step has been taken yet from anyone, not the police,” Singh says.

But according to Const. Sarbjit Sangha with the Surrey RCMP, she says kids have the option to speak up.

“Our goal is to have officers present in school and have a positive relationship with children – so that if they have a concern, they can come to our youth officer, and share their concerns,” Sangha said.

Related Articles: 

• Controversial school liaison officer program returning to Vancouver schools

• Questions over whether school inflation relief fund helps B.C. families most in need

He says that gang related problems often come from people not in the school, and the group hopes that watching over the school will be a preventable measure.

“The problem begins from outsiders, their elder brothers, or someone from the gangs. They know that we’re standing here,” Singh said.

He says the idea comes after weeks of talking with concerned parents, and based off of the ‘Dads on Duty’ program that happens in Louisiana.

Although the volunteers have been keeping a watchful eye, Ritinder Matthew with the Surrey Schools says a formal program hasn’t been established.

Two volunteers stand outside of the Tamanawis Secondary School in Surrey. (Kier Junos/CityNews)

“Parents have been coming to the school and staying in the parking lot, and so we haven’t discussed a formal program or what these parents have in mind for this program yet,” Matthew said.

Surrey School Trustee Gary Thind adds that if the program is to continue, additional protections need to be put into place, like background checks for volunteers.

“To me, it looks like a desperate attempt from the parents because they want to bring things into their hands now…if they want to volunteer, they’re welcome to do so, but there are certain guidelines and protocols that parents need to follow,” he explained.

A gurdwara volunteer speaks with a group of people. (Kier Junos/CityNews)

Singh says that volunteers will report back after this week, and the group is waiting for school leadership to take over and expand the program.

“If governments are a failure, [if police fail] to support the community, then obviously gurdwaras have to step up, and we do,” Singh said.

“All children in this school know that we’re standing here, and we’re watching them.”