More than 100 community members gathered to celebrate the historic achievement of Surrey’s own mountaineer and community leader.
SURREY, B.C. (Maheshinder Singh Mangat)– Ajaypal Singh Dhaliwal, the first Canadian Sikh to successfully conquer Mount Everest, was honoured during a special ceremony hosted by Akal Academy Surrey on June 6, 2026.
More than 100 community members, students, parents, and local leaders attended the event to celebrate Dhaliwal’s remarkable achievement and recognize his dedication, perseverance, and commitment to excellence.
Special guests included Surrey North MLA Mandeep Dhaliwal and Surrey-Panorama MLA Bryan Tepper, who congratulated Ajaypal Singh on his historic accomplishment. Both leaders noted that his achievement has brought pride not only to the Sikh community but to all Canadians.
Ajaypal Singh shares a special connection with Akal Academy Surrey. He is both a former student and a current director of the institution. His success has become a source of inspiration for students and young people across the community.
During the ceremony, Giani Sarwan Singh, a leader at Akal Academy Surrey and Guinness World Record holder for the world’s longest beard, presented Dhaliwal with a commemorative award in recognition of his achievement.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Pargat Singh Bhurji described the accomplishment as a victory of hard work, faith, and determination. He stated that the entire Sikh community and the Akal Academy family take great pride in Dhaliwal’s success.
In his acceptance speech, Ajaypal Singh thanked Waheguru for guiding him throughout his journey and emphasized that faith, courage, dedication, and commitment were the foundations of his achievement. He also expressed gratitude to his coach, Gurmukh Singh, and physiotherapist Dr. Raman Grewal for their invaluable support and guidance.
Encouraging youth to pursue their dreams, Dhaliwal said that nothing is impossible for those who possess courage, dedication, and commitment. He urged young people never to give up in the face of challenges.
Akal Academy Surrey Director Avtar Singh Gill congratulated Dhaliwal and described him as an outstanding role model for the younger generation. He highlighted that discipline, hard work, and determination can help individuals achieve even the most ambitious goals.
Gill also encouraged youth to stay away from drugs and gang influences and instead focus on sports, education, and community service.
The ceremony reflected Akal Academy Surrey’s ongoing commitment to promoting leadership, excellence, and community service while honouring individuals who bring pride to the Sikh community and Canada.
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