Miss Wanda
McDonald
Miss Wanda McDonald, a Canadian born Naval Officer, who got converted as a Sikh and became the
first Sikh Women with a Dastaar on her head. She was born in Halifax and got her education there ending
with a degree as a Graphic Artist. However, as she was in Air Cadets when she was young, she preferred
a Millitary Career, for which she opted for Navy when she got an opportunity to join it. According to
her, this profession suited her as she could see the World and work with high tech equipment and also
participate in thing like humanitarian mission. Her father was a Catholic Priest, who passed away in 2001.
She was inspired by a girl Rupinder Kaur (married to Harjot Singh) living in Halifax and the couple wore
Dastaars on their head. When Wanda read about Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and came to know that he had
created an image for the Sikhs to stand out and women and men were equal in Sikhism, she developed an
inner desire to adopt Sikhism and tie a Dastaar accordingly. She started reading Sri Guru Granth Sahib
in English Translation and became interested in deeper meaning of Gurbani. She found that this was the
scripture which provided a synthesis between Philosophy, Science and Religion. Although, she has not yet
been baptized, she visits Gurdwara, follows the Sikh teachings and is also learning Punjabi with the help of
Books and Apps on the phone. She enjoys listening Gurbani and reading books about Sikhism. She visited
Amritsar also and was all prepared to take Amrit in Sri Nagar, but due to heavy floods in those days, this
could not be done. While describing her experience at Amritsar, she says that when she sat by the Sarovar at
3:00 A.M. and meditated on God’s name, she had a blissful experience. About her future plans, she says that
she plans to be baptized and named as Harkiran Wanda Kaur. She also plans to marry an Amritdhari Sikh
who lives in Sri Nagar. Her latest position is not known, but the facts revealed by her and her continuation
to wear a Dastaar and love for Sikhism make her a role model to motivate many others, mainly Sikh girls, to
wear a Keski on their head.
