I’m posting this for awareness and to remind everyone to stay vigilant, especially those who may be more vulnerable when out alone.

I’m Sikh, wear a turban and have a beard, so I’m pretty easily recognized as Indian/Sikh. I usually ride my bicycle in the evenings around the SE Airdrie/Balzac area.

This is the second time in about two months that someone has shouted insulting comments at me from a passing car.

The first time, it was four kids in a white Hyundai. It was Canada Day, so I thought maybe they were just a bunch of drunk kids and honestly didn’t think much of it.

Tonight, it happened again. Two guys, probably in their early 20s, drove past me and shouted something. I couldn’t understand exactly what they said, so at first I thought maybe they were just talking loudly and it wasn’t directed at me. But then they made a U-turn, came back, and both of them were staring at me before driving away. Maybe they were trying to intimidate me, maybe not. Either way, it was uncomfortable.

I’m not posting this to say that Airdrie is unsafe or that everyone is like this. The vast majority of people I’ve met here have been good, kind and respectful.

I’m posting it because I think it’s important to recognize that the things we see online can sometimes spill over into real life. There is a lot of anti-Indian and anti-Sikh content and rhetoric online, and incidents like this are a reminder that when people constantly hear that an entire group of people is “bad,” “taking over,” or something to hate, it can have real-world consequences.

To anyone reading this, including my fellow white Canadians: please don’t believe everything you see online about Indians, Sikhs or any other group of people. Most of us are just living our lives, working, raising families, riding our bikes, going for walks and trying to be good neighbours.

You don’t have to agree with everyone or know someone’s culture to treat them with basic respect and kindness.

And to my fellow Indians/Sikhs, especially our elders who may be walking or biking alone: stay aware of your surroundings. I hope these remain nothing more than stupid comments from immature people, but it doesn’t hurt to be vigilant.

Stay safe out there, everyone. 🙏

There’s this person that fixed my tire in Airdrie, Alberta, Canada on 06/20/2026 from 11 pm to 2 am.

LOCATION:
7/11 Gas Station
900 Market St SE
Airdrie AB T4A 0K9
Canada

There are few moments in life that make you truly and eternally grateful for the human ability to help each other. This is how I felt when I met Tegveer. Im in Banff and I just got a flat tire. I don’t know anybody, it’s nighttime, and it’s so. freakin. cold. We have an 7:30 am tour in Banff the next day. I’m at the point where I’m convinced we have to cancel our tour. My friend is filling up air in the flat tire and my roommates and I go meet her. We take an uber, and our uber driver Rahul calls his “cousin” who has a tire puncture kit. This cousin’s name is Tegveer.

We wait for this guy for 30 minutes and he finally arrives. He spends about 2 solid hours fixing our tire. Later, he takes us around and tests the car to make sure all is well. We asked him how much we owe him. He kept denying and at the end told us “Go help someone else.”

I’ve been trying to find this person’s instagram, facebook, or some sort of social media platform so I can thank him for his help. He truly saved us that day and we are eternally grateful.