Cases of the Court: Gurbaj Singh Multani

Live the law.

At this point in the course, take a moment to pause—and step into the lived experience of a Canadian who brought his case to the Supreme Court.

In 2001, 12-year-old Gurbaj Singh Multani accidentally dropped his ceremonial kirpan in a Montreal schoolyard. What seemed like a minor incident quickly escalated into a national legal debate about religious freedom, safety, and secularism in Canada.

This documentary explores Gurbaj’s path to the Supreme Court, through his own words. Behind the headlines and heated debates lies a story that deeply affected him and his family. A dropped kirpan that became a matter of national importance, rallied an entire community, and ignited a conversation that still resonates today.

This documentary vignette is part of a series of short films featured throughout the course, each offering a human perspective on the Canadian justice system and the Supreme Court experience.