A Sikh man with a kirpan was asked to leave a GoodLife gym. Here’s what to know

A TikTok video posted under the name "dreambodygurp" and showing the man's kirpan. Photo by TikTok

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A gym in Windsor, Ont., has become a talking point online after a Sikh man posted a video of an employee asking him to leave for wearing a kirpan. Here’s what to know.

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What was the incident?

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In a video posted to TikTok by a Sikh fitness influencer posting under the name “dreambodygurp,” an unseen female employee at a GoodLife Fitness Centre in Windsor talks with the man, who says: “You’re scared that I’m going to take this religious symbol and kill somebody.”

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The woman replies: “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.” She adds: “We’re a private gym and we’re allowed to deny access.”

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What is a kirpan?

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Although not visible in the video, a kirpan is a ceremonial dagger and an article of faith worn by observant Sikhs. It is one of the “five Ks,” alongside kesh (uncut hair and beard), kangha (a wooden comb), kara (a steel bracelet) and kachhera (an undergarment).

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What does the law say about the kirpan?

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Because it is both a symbol of faith and a potential weapon, the kirpan has been the subject of debate and bans over the years.

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Similarly, a 2012 Ontario Human Rights Commission ruling allowed kirpans to be worn in Toronto courthouses, after complaints from people who arrived for a trial or jury duty and were told to remove it.

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Organizations will sometimes balance these rights with limits, however. As an example, the policy at Humber Polytechnic is to allow students and teachers to wear a kirpan, but notes: they may be asked to present a letter confirming their faith; the kirpan may not be longer than seven inches; and it must be worn under clothing, not visibly.

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The college also notes: “The right to wear the kirpan may be suspended if it is misused by the wearer.”

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The seven-inch rule can be found in other documents. In videos in which the man’s kirpan is visible, it appears to exceed that length.

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What’s the Quebec situation?

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Quebec’s Bill 21 prohibits the wearing of religious symbols by public school teachers and other authority figures while on the job. That includes the kirpan.

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What was GoodLife’s response?

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In an email to National Post, Tracy Matthews, senior vice-president of experience and safety at GoodLife Fitness, said: “Regarding the wearing of the kirpan in businesses, the Ontario government is responsible for drafting and passing human rights laws for the province, which businesses like GoodLife are required to follow.”