TH April 22, 1990) News 985-2131 SUNDAY E VOCE OF HOF ae ‘ , ive ¥ VANCOUVER Classified 986-6222 : Celebrate the Earth Turban decision troubles N. SHORE DEBATE RAGES OVER RCMP UNIFORM RULING A NORTH Vanccuver photographer who has earn- ed his professional reputation shocting pictures of the Canadian Rockies and Mounties says turbans have no place on the heads of members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Bill Gibbons, 75, made his comments following the recent motion by North Vancouver District Council opposing the federal government's decision in March to allow Sikh RCMP officers to wear turbans with their police uniforms because of their religious beliefs. For years, Gibbons operated a studio, camera shop and exhibition gallery in Banff, Alberta, and the Brit- ish expatriate recently com- pleted 20 years as a photographer at the House of Commons in Ottawa. But while in Banff in 1953, Gibbons snapped a shot which sold millions of copies across the country as a postcard. The image shows Stoney Band Chief Tom Kaquitts shaking hands with a Mountie dressed in traditional RCMP stetson hat and red tunic. **Since | grew up in England, Canada was aiways to me Mounties and Indians. So I believe that this is the thinking of all of the visitors who come here looking for Canadiana,’’ Gibbons said. **The silly little photograph of this here is bought because it says Canada. And I! cannot see how it would work out as well, I don't think it would be as popular to visitors here, if you took the Mountie’s hat off and put a table cloth around his head. The image of the Mountie is universal.” Gibbons, a self-described ‘traditionalist’? and monar- chist, is quick to qualify that he’s not a racist. “Tm not anti- and I'm not racist in the true sense of the word. But you take a London bobbie who is known the world over — can you imagine the British people accepting a London bobbie with a turban on? My point is this (the photo) is Canada — to the kids that are growing up in the country, to foreigners, to me. To play around with that tm- uge is just like knocking the bloody parliament buildings down," he said. But said North Vancouver resident and SFU history pro- By MICHAEL News Reporter fessor Hugh Johnston, an ac- ademic who specializes in immigration and ethnic groups including the Sikhs, “The Mountie uniform has of course changed over the years. The Northwest Mountie wore the pillbox (hat). Things change. “And for a Sika, who has been initiated into the Sikh fellowship, it is absolutely essential that he have his hair uncut and then covered with the turban. So it’s a real com- promise of his conscience and faith to insist that he not wear a turban. To do that would keep those people out,’’ Johnson said. And he points io turban- incorporating precedents. “It was done in the British India Army, done in police forces in the Far East. The issue was taken up in Britain as far as the conductors in the transit system, and of course airline pilots and so on. It’s been resolved a great many times in favor of the turvan,”’ he said. According to North Van- couver RCMP Supt. Jack Morton, the local detachment has not yet had to ceal with the turban issue among. its membership. Said Morton, “Of course the position | take is that I follow the instruction my commissioner makes. There can’t be any deviation from that.”” But he added, ‘‘The general feeling around the office is that the traditional uniform is one that we all respect. And I feel the members derive a cer- tain sense of well-being in wearing it and attempt to wear it properly. There's a general feeling thar it is a signtficant uniform and that it shouldn't be altered as a result of a per- son's religious oeliefs, The traditional uniform is non- teligious.”" But said Neel, past Sikh Rass Street Gurdiaf Singh president of the Temple in NORTH VANCOUVER photographer Bill Gibbons shows a large print of a shot he took in Banff of a Stoney Band chief and a Mountie. Gibbons says the image is quintessential Canadiana and argues the RCMP uniform should not include a Sikh turban. They knew if the Sith main- tained traditions and religious symbols, he will be very loyal."* Vancouver: *'The uncut hair World War, the Sikhs fought and turban is a symbol of the alongside the British and wore Sikh's dedication, In the First the turban. The (British) aro. World War and the Second ed forces have accepted it.