This memorial marks the 1914 tragedy in which the steamship Guru Nanak Jahaz (Komagata Maru) was denied entry to Vancouver Harbour with 376 passengers aboard after arriving from British India. The memorial, designed by Lees + Associates, was funded through the Historical Recognition Program administered by Citizenship and Immigration Canada and was officially unveiled on July 23, 2012.

In spring 2026, the main panel of the memorial was refurbished following focused community consultation to inform the update. The new metal interpretive panel—replacing the original glass panel that was damaged—features enhanced images and a more detailed historic account in English, Punjabi and Hindi. The updated text recognizes the lives lost and uses both ship names, Guru Nanak Jahaz and Komagata Maru, to reflect the historical and cultural significance of the voyage.

Although Guru Nanak Jahaz wasn’t the officially registered name for the ship, it is cited in published historical accounts and remains an important community-based reference expressing the strong cultural identity and emotional connection to the incident. Both Guru Nanak Jahaz and Komagata Maru are used to refer to this incident.

The City of Vancouver recognizes Guru Nanak Jahaz (Komagata Maru) Remembrance Day each year on May 23. Learn more about Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day