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I put together a brief overview of some of the major Sikh gurdwaras in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland, including their origins, notable events, and contributions to the Sikh community. This is intended as a general historical reference and community resource. If you notice any errors or have additional information, feel free to comment.

- Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara
This gurdwara was originally established in a small house in North Delta in the early 1970s. As the congregation increased, it was decided to establish a Gurdwara on Scott Road and 72 Avenue near the Surrey-Delta border. White Delta residents opposed a Sikh temple being established in their city, so the City of Delta requested the society to build on the Surrey side of the property in exchange for access to the water system. This was the only Gurdwara situated in Surrey for a long time. The temple served as a centre for the diaspora-led Sikh struggle. In the late 80s, the WSO lost control of this temple to the moderates. The tables and chairs debate originated from this gurdwara, and it eventually culminated in a violent brawl in 1997. The Akal Takht excommunicated the President of this temple alongside the Presidents of the Akali Singh Gurdwara and the Ross Street Gurdwara. In 2010, the orthodox Sikhs took control of this gurdwara from the moderates and removed the chairs. This gurdwara was recently brought back into the news after the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023. 

- Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar 
This gurdwara was established in 1998 by the original WSO-led committee at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey. The society runs an elementary school and hosts the largest Nagar Kirtan in the world outside India. An annual Shaheedi Samagam is organized in June to commemorate Operation Blue Star, which sees the bhog of twenty-five simultaneous Akhand Paths. This gurdwara has the largest congregation in all of North America.

- York Gurdwara Sahib Society
This gurdwara operates inside the York Centre plaza and was established by Balwant Singh Gill, the President of the ousted moderate committee that ran the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey. 

- Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib
This gurdwara was established by Giani Narinder Singh Walia in 2007 after a split from the Dasmesh Darbar Gurdwara in Surrey. The society runs the Guru Nanak Food Bank and provides food and clothing to those in need. The gurdwara was at the centre of a relief-aid operation during the 2021 Fraser Valley Floods and chartered a helicopter to deliver food to those stranded during the disaster. An annual Nagar Kirtan is held in November to commemorate the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. 

- Gurdwara Amrit Parkash Sahib 
This gurdwara was established in 2003 by Sant Baba Thakur Singh Ji. The management of this gurdwara is under the Jathedar of the Damdami Taksal, Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma. The building was renovated a few years ago, and a large divan hall was built to accommodate the growing sangat. The Gurdwara also runs a smaller temple in Aldergrove near the border crossing. The annual Nagar Kirtan is held in January and commemorates the Shaheedi of the Chaar Sahibzade.

- Sri Guru Singh Sabha Surrey 
This gurdwara was established in the early 2000s after a split from the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara. This gurdwara follows a reformist-missionary view of Sikhism and is known to host controversial Sikh preachers such as Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwala and Sarbjit Singh Dhunda.

- Gurdwara Nanaksar Thath Surrey 
This Gurdwara was established by Sant Baba Gurdev Singh Ji Samadh Bhai and follows the strict maryada of the Nanaksar sect. This gurdwara used to be located in Cloverdale until it sold the building a few years ago. The temple purchased a property at the site of the former Gurdwara Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Sikh Society on 88 Avenue in Surrey. The new building was inaugurated in 2022 by the Bhog of a Maha Sampat Path on the Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Nanak Dev JI. A weekly Chaupehra Sahib is organized each Sunday at this Gurdwara, which draws in over 1500 members of the sangat. 

- Gurdwara Sahib Brookside Surrey 
This gurdwara is located near Bear Creek Park and is managed by the Canadian Ramgarhia Society. The society gained notoriety after the President of the temple murdered his wife and is currently serving a prison sentence. 

- Darbar Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Surrey
This gurdwara was established by Baba Baldev Singh and is managed by the Bulandpuri sect, a splinter of the Nanaksar movement. The gurdwara runs a K-12 school on its grounds. The temple holds an annual multi-faith samagam each summer.

- Khalsa Diwan Society Vancouver
The Khalsa Diwan Society is the first Sikh institution in Canada, which also ran the first Sikh temple. The society was at the forefront of the Ghadar Movement and produced figures such as Bhai Mewa Singh Lopoke. The Gurdwara used to be located in the Kitsilano neighbourhood until it moved to the intersection of Ross Street and Marine Drive in the late 1960s. The building burned down almost a decade ago and was rebuilt soon after. This gurdwara is one of the only two in the Lower Mainland that conduct elections to choose its management committee. An annual Nagar Kirtan is held in April to commemorate the birth of the Khalsa.

- Akali Singh Sikh Society 
This gurdwara is located right off of Highway 1 on Skeena Street in Vancouver. The society split from the Ross Street Gurdwara during the 1950s. The old Gurdwara building used to be located on 11th Avenue until they sold it to the Shri Mahalakshmi Hindu Temple. The new building was inaugurated in 1981 by Sant Baba Nihal Singh Ji Harianbela. The white population of Vancouver was opposed to the opening of this temple, and someone fired a bullet towards the building as an act of intimidation. It is a moderate-led gurdwara and has chairs in the langar hall. 

- Khalsa Darbar Society Vancouver
This Gurdwara was established in 1998 by former members of the Khalsa Diwan Society. The Gurdwara split from the Ross Street Gurdwara after the 1998 Hukamnama from the Akal Takht against tables and chairs. The society also runs a smaller temple located in Pitt Meadows.

- Gurdwara Sahib Sukh Sagar 
This was also one of the early gurdwaras in the Lower Mainland. The Gurdwara was established by Bhai Bishan Singh Ji, an early Sikh pioneer. This gurdwara is located in New Westminster and is very youth-oriented. The management committee organizes samagams and has katha done in English to bring the youth towards Sikhi. The annual Nagar Kirtan is held in June to commemorate the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji.

- Nanaksar Gursikh Temple Richmond
This gurdwara is run by the Nanaksar sect and was founded by Sant Baba Mihan Singh Ji in the late 1970s. Baba Mihan Singh was responsible for doing Amrit Parchar in BC and brought many new immigrant families towards Sikhi. In 1994, Baba Mihan Singh went to Sachkhand at this Asthan, and the room where he left his earthly body is set up as a memorial.

- Gurdwara Nanak Niwas Richmond 
This gurdwara was established by Sikh millionaire Asa Singh Johal in the 1980s. This gurdwara was a point of contention in those days as he was rumoured to have links with the Congress-led government of India. Tables and chairs are kept inside the langar hall. 

- Khalsa Diwan Society Abbotsford 
This Gurdwara was established in 1970 by the growing Sikh congregation of Abbotsford. It is situated across from the Gur Sikh Temple, the oldest standing Sikh temple in North America.  The society was granted autonomy from the Vancouver-based Khalsa Diwan Society in the 1970s. 

- Gurdwara Sahib Kalgidhar Darbar Abbotsford
This Gurdwara was established in 2001 and was inaugurated by Sant Baba Thakur Singh Ji. The Gurdwara runs the Gurmat Centre, a Punjabi school which serves to teach Sikh children the Punjabi language and history of Sikhism. The society also runs a smaller temple located in Langley. An annual Nagar Kirtan is held in September, which commemorates the Pehla Parkash of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.