In a historic move, Wainwright in Alberta has become the first municipality in Canada to officially recognise Hinduphobia. Led by Mayor Bruce Pugh, the proclamation saw the Town of Wainwright assuming a firm stand against anti-Hindu hate, especially at a time when vandalism at Hindu temples is at an all-time high.

The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) welcomed the formal condemnation of Hinduphobia, saying, “The @TownWainwright has become Canada’s first municipality to issue a proclamation condemning Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry, recognizing Hinduism’s (Sanatana Dharma’s) values of peace, respect, and contribution to Canadian life.”

CoHNA Canada members welcome Canada’s historic proclamation against Hinduphobia

The grassroots advocacy group representing the Hindu community noted that the Canadian proclamation acknowledged “Hindu contributions across public service, academia, business, medicine, and the Armed Forces—while affirming that anti-Hindu hate has no place in Canada.” Hailing the move as a “true model of civic leadership and inclusion,” CoHNA Canada turned the attention to the rise of Hinduphobia across international borders.

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Roshan Prasad, a CoHNA member from the municipality, said, “Formal recognition is critical in these matters. It ensures that when hate incidents occur—whether against Hindu temples, students, or symbols—they are understood, documented, and addressed,” according to the official release.

Meanwhile, CoHNA Canada President Rishab Saraswat added, “This historic step by Mayor Pugh and the Wainwright Town Council sends a powerful message that anti-Hindu hate has no place in Canadian society,” as per the official statement. “As Hindus continue to face rising bigotry, from online misinformation to temple vandalisations, such formal recognitions are vital to fostering inclusion and safety for our community.”

The major proclamation comes in October, which is celebrated as Hindu Heritage Month in many cities and states of the United States.

Rise of Hinduphobia: Concerning stats and reports draw attention

A 2021 Rutgers University report debunking ‘Anti-Hindu Disinformation’ spoke out against Hinduphobia, and how it was reflected in the rise of anti-Hindu slurs (including “pajeet”), pejoratives and coded language on web communities. The report also highlighted a series of “anti-Hindu genocidal memes,” among other disturbing findings. The same troubling manifestation translated into a slew of vandalism attacks on Hindu temples in Canada.

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On top of that, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) revealed recently that police-reported hate crimes against South Asians in Canada has risen 227% between 2019 and 2023.

In April, pro-Khalistani extremists vandalised a Hindu Laxmi Narayan Temple in Surrey. CoHNA’s official website also sheds light on two men being charged after a Sri Krishna Brundavana Temple was desecrated in Georgetown, Ontario, in March.