Skip to Content Subscribe Our Offers My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Tech Style & Beauty Kitchen & Dining Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription HomeNP CommentAdam Zivo: Canada needs more bhangra dancing in hockey jerseysLast updated 11 hours ago You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.A screenshot of 2017 Global News segment on two friends bhangra dancing in Canadiens jerseys.“There’s no event, city or country they haven’t diluted and conquered throughout Western civilization,” wrote Canadian nationalist influencer Nathan Cooke in a viral X post this week. These words, read by millions, were accompanied by a video supposedly demonstrating the rot of Western civilization, producing an odd flash in the national immigration discourse.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorWhat was in this video? A news clip of two Indian-Canadian men joyfully bhangra dancing in the snow while wearing Montreal Canadiens hockey jerseys. That’s literally it. I’m not exaggerating: just twenty-five seconds of two guys dancing with smiles on their faces, while a news reporter explains that they immigrated to Canada five years ago and love hockey.This newsletter from NP Comment tackles the topics you care about. (Subscriber-exclusive edition on Fridays)By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again“They take advantage of broken government policies that allow them to exploit our system and ride on our coattails,” wrote Cooke in a related post: “In other words, failed governance is being used to maintain power, eroding the foundational fabric of our nation by importing these people at our expense.”But there was no indication from the video that these men, Prateek Saini and Harshjot Singh Nijher, had exploited the Canadian system in any way. On the contrary, their behaviour suggested a desire to constructively assimilate into their adopted home – a fact that many, if not most, respondents on X noted.“Actually, this is awesome. Sorry, but why are people upset about this,” posted Jonathan Kay, a Canadian journalist and editor of Quilette. His sentiment was echoed by Western Standard columnist Cory Morgan, who separately wrote: “I see this as a couple of fellows successfully integrating and celebrating local culture with a mix of their own. Doesn’t bother me a bit,”In a reply which received twenty thousand likes, another X user put things into perspective: “They’re wearing the Habs jersey. They’re doing their dancing for the team. They’re fans. This is what it’s all about. Community. They’re not demanding some separate Indian team. They want to be Canadiens fans. Let’s f–cking go boys.”Although Cooke presented the dancing clip as if it were recently recorded, it actually originally aired on Global News Montreal in 2017. Ergo, the two men arrived in Canada around 2012, during the Harper years, when immigration rates were much lower and admissions were geared towards skilled labour and well-educated applicants.Since the late 2010s, the men (or at least Singh Nijher) have run a choreographic group named Power Bhangra, whose still-active Instagram, when not promoting group classes, provides some insights into their values.In 2018 and 2019, for example, Power Bhangra gave dance performances in support of mental health awareness and the Girl Guides of Canada. In another video, they performed in front of Parliament in Ottawa with the caption: “O CANADA! Thank you for being so WARM, KIND and WELCOMING to all cultures and diversities! More POWER to you!”All of the videos emanate positivity and their classes have evidently been popular with caucasians, too.According to LinkedIn, Singh Nijher, when not dancing, has worked for over a decade in senior managerial roles related to consulting and financial services. Saini, meanwhile, appears to have excelled in the insurance sector. Both men apparently earned their masters degrees in Concordia University in the 2010s, explaining their move to Canada.Putting all these pieces together, the two Indian-Canadians condemned by Cooke arguably represent the model immigrant: keen on integration; well-educated; civic-minded; gainfully employed and respectful of Canadian values. They are the kind of immigrants who genuinely enrich Canada, and whose success fuelled the pro-immigration consensus that dominated this country for decades.Yet, nonetheless, they were subjected to scorn this week – for a near-decade old video, no less – simply because they tried to honour both their own culture and Canada at the same time.There’s something illustrative in this.It’s hard to imagine that such a video would’ve received much negative attention a decade or two ago, outside some fringe circles. If someone had said that Indian-Canadians in hockey jerseys amounted to conquest or cultural dilution, rather than successful integration, they would’ve been condemned as racist or crazy.Things have changed since then, not without reason.Thanks to the Liberals’ reckless post-pandemic immigration policies, Canada stopped focusing on attracting high-skilled workers and allowed a flood of uneducated, bargain-bin labourers to flood into the country. This new wave of immigrants has proven disastrous: their hostility towards integration and propensity for fraud have weakened the nation’s social fabric.In this context, it makes sense that nativist sentiments in Canada are rising, which isn’t necessarily bad. In moderate doses, nativism promotes a healthy sense of self-respect among developed countries, acting as a counterweight to overindulgent cosmopolitanism. Yet, it can get out of hand and lead to unwarranted hostility towards good immigrants – as demonstrated by the “outrage” over this dancing video.It would be much better for everyone if Canada’s anti-immigration backlash were narrowly aimed at bad newcomers, who disrespect and burden the nation, rather than those who wish to assimilate into and uplift it.Maintaining that balance requires a nuanced approach to immigration debates, and a willingness to defend well-integrated immigrants when they are unfairly attacked. On a deeper level, it also requires policy changes that make immigration less corrosive to Canadians’ everyday lives.The federal government should urgently fix its immigration system: less fraud, slashed intake and more focus on attracting valuable people who actually want to become Canadian. Such moves would be good for naive-born Canadians, and protect good immigrants from unwarranted flak.National Post Get the latest from Carson Jerema straight to your inbox Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Adam Zivo: Canada needs more bhangra dancing in hockey jerseys
Skip to Content Subscribe Our Offers My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Tech Style & Beauty Kitchen & Dining Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription HomeNP CommentAdam Zivo: Canada needs more bhangra dancing in hockey jerseysLast updated 11 hours ago You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.A screenshot of 2017 Global News segment on two friends bhangra dancing in Canadiens jerseys.“There’s no event, city or country they haven’t diluted and conquered throughout Western civilization,” wrote Canadian nationalist influencer Nathan Cooke in a viral X post this week. These words, read by millions, were accompanied by a video supposedly demonstrating the rot of Western civilization, producing an odd flash in the national immigration discourse.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorWhat was in this video? A news clip of two Indian-Canadian men joyfully bhangra dancing in the snow while wearing Montreal Canadiens hockey jerseys. That’s literally it. I’m not exaggerating: just twenty-five seconds of two guys dancing with smiles on their faces, while a news reporter explains that they immigrated to Canada five years ago and love hockey.This newsletter from NP Comment tackles the topics you care about. (Subscriber-exclusive edition on Fridays)By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again“They take advantage of broken government policies that allow them to exploit our system and ride on our coattails,” wrote Cooke in a related post: “In other words, failed governance is being used to maintain power, eroding the foundational fabric of our nation by importing these people at our expense.”But there was no indication from the video that these men, Prateek Saini and Harshjot Singh Nijher, had exploited the Canadian system in any way. On the contrary, their behaviour suggested a desire to constructively assimilate into their adopted home – a fact that many, if not most, respondents on X noted.“Actually, this is awesome. Sorry, but why are people upset about this,” posted Jonathan Kay, a Canadian journalist and editor of Quilette. His sentiment was echoed by Western Standard columnist Cory Morgan, who separately wrote: “I see this as a couple of fellows successfully integrating and celebrating local culture with a mix of their own. Doesn’t bother me a bit,”In a reply which received twenty thousand likes, another X user put things into perspective: “They’re wearing the Habs jersey. They’re doing their dancing for the team. They’re fans. This is what it’s all about. Community. They’re not demanding some separate Indian team. They want to be Canadiens fans. Let’s f–cking go boys.”Although Cooke presented the dancing clip as if it were recently recorded, it actually originally aired on Global News Montreal in 2017. Ergo, the two men arrived in Canada around 2012, during the Harper years, when immigration rates were much lower and admissions were geared towards skilled labour and well-educated applicants.Since the late 2010s, the men (or at least Singh Nijher) have run a choreographic group named Power Bhangra, whose still-active Instagram, when not promoting group classes, provides some insights into their values.In 2018 and 2019, for example, Power Bhangra gave dance performances in support of mental health awareness and the Girl Guides of Canada. In another video, they performed in front of Parliament in Ottawa with the caption: “O CANADA! Thank you for being so WARM, KIND and WELCOMING to all cultures and diversities! More POWER to you!”All of the videos emanate positivity and their classes have evidently been popular with caucasians, too.According to LinkedIn, Singh Nijher, when not dancing, has worked for over a decade in senior managerial roles related to consulting and financial services. Saini, meanwhile, appears to have excelled in the insurance sector. Both men apparently earned their masters degrees in Concordia University in the 2010s, explaining their move to Canada.Putting all these pieces together, the two Indian-Canadians condemned by Cooke arguably represent the model immigrant: keen on integration; well-educated; civic-minded; gainfully employed and respectful of Canadian values. They are the kind of immigrants who genuinely enrich Canada, and whose success fuelled the pro-immigration consensus that dominated this country for decades.Yet, nonetheless, they were subjected to scorn this week – for a near-decade old video, no less – simply because they tried to honour both their own culture and Canada at the same time.There’s something illustrative in this.It’s hard to imagine that such a video would’ve received much negative attention a decade or two ago, outside some fringe circles. If someone had said that Indian-Canadians in hockey jerseys amounted to conquest or cultural dilution, rather than successful integration, they would’ve been condemned as racist or crazy.Things have changed since then, not without reason.Thanks to the Liberals’ reckless post-pandemic immigration policies, Canada stopped focusing on attracting high-skilled workers and allowed a flood of uneducated, bargain-bin labourers to flood into the country. This new wave of immigrants has proven disastrous: their hostility towards integration and propensity for fraud have weakened the nation’s social fabric.In this context, it makes sense that nativist sentiments in Canada are rising, which isn’t necessarily bad. In moderate doses, nativism promotes a healthy sense of self-respect among developed countries, acting as a counterweight to overindulgent cosmopolitanism. Yet, it can get out of hand and lead to unwarranted hostility towards good immigrants – as demonstrated by the “outrage” over this dancing video.It would be much better for everyone if Canada’s anti-immigration backlash were narrowly aimed at bad newcomers, who disrespect and burden the nation, rather than those who wish to assimilate into and uplift it.Maintaining that balance requires a nuanced approach to immigration debates, and a willingness to defend well-integrated immigrants when they are unfairly attacked. On a deeper level, it also requires policy changes that make immigration less corrosive to Canadians’ everyday lives.The federal government should urgently fix its immigration system: less fraud, slashed intake and more focus on attracting valuable people who actually want to become Canadian. Such moves would be good for naive-born Canadians, and protect good immigrants from unwarranted flak.National Post Get the latest from Carson Jerema straight to your inbox Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
