Hamilton Hindu Samaj Temple

Story

Hindu Samaj of Hamilton & Region is a non-profit, religious organization based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, registered with Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. The organization, whose main operation is the Hindu Samaj Temple, has been serving the community in the new city of Hamilton and vicinity (formerly the regional municipality of Hamilton) since 1975.HistoryThe organization was formed in 1975 and received the charter as a charitable religious organization in February 1976. In 1984, the samaj purchased an old church and a began the job of converting it into a temple. The church was gradually converted into a temple and Hindu deities were established, the last being in April 1993. The Temple is a centre of worship and focal point for cultural events for Hindus in the Golden Horseshoe area of Southern Ontario. All major Hindu festivals are organised and celebrated at the temple in accordance with Karma Kand of Sanātana Dharma. The temple also invites and hosts important Hindu religious and spiritual leaders from around the world, including India.The temple was the victim of arson on September 15, 2001 (local media reported on the suspicious nature of this attack, coming as it did just days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks). The temple was eventually rebuilt with the hard work and determination of the local community, assistance from government, and bank loans. The burning down and subsequent rebuilding of the temple attracted national and international sympathy. The event was covered by several international news organisations. The temple was rebuilt and reopened in 2005. To commemorate the event, and to celebrate the coming together of Hamilton’s community, the City of Hamilton recognised the Temple as a site of historic importance and installed a commemorative plaque there. As a direct response to the fire of 2001 the Strengthening Hamilton Community Initiative (SHCI) was developed by the city of Hamilton. Subsequently, Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI) was set up in 2006 to act as a centralized hub to enable all Hamilton citizens access to the knowledge and resources needed to build a strong, racially diverse and welcoming city. After years of investigation, on November 27, 2013, Hamilton Police arrested three men in connection with the arson.