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Jagmeet Singh Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 4, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth2 January 1979

Age38 Years (as listed in source)

BirthplaceScarborough, Metropolitan Toronto, Canada

ProfessionLawyer, Politician

NationalityCanadian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseGurkiran Kaur Sidhu

FamilyFather - Jagtaran Singh; Mother - Harmeet Kaur; Brother - Gurratan Singh Dhaliwal; Sister - Manjot Dhaliwal

Jagmeet Singh Biography

Jagmeet Singh is a Canadian lawyer and politician who has led the federal New Democratic Party since 2017. Born in Scarborough and raised across several by

Early life and background

Jagmeet Singh Jimmy Dhaliwal was born on January 2, 1979, in Scarborough in Metropolitan Toronto. He spent parts of his early childhood in Newfoundland and Labrador after his parents moved for work, and later lived in Windsor, Ontario. For several of his school years he attended Detroit Country Day School in Beverly Hills, Michigan.

Singh’s family is of Sikh background. His father, Jagtaran Singh, trained as a doctor and later worked as a psychiatrist; his mother, Harmeet Kaur, worked in banking. He has a brother, Gurratan Singh Dhaliwal, and a sister, Manjot Dhaliwal.

As a child he was sometimes known as “Jimmy” at school. He grew up practicing martial arts and various combat sports, including taekwondo, aikido, wrestling, jiu jitsu and judo, and went on to compete successfully in submission grappling in the Greater Toronto Area. He has spoken about experiencing racism and bullying while growing up and about how those experiences influenced his sensitivity to unfairness.

Education and legal training

Singh completed a Bachelor of Science in biology at the University of Western Ontario and later earned a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University. He was called to the Bar of the Law Society of Upper Canada in 2006 and practiced as a criminal defence lawyer. Early in his legal career he worked with the firm Pinkofskys and later founded Dhaliwal Law with his brother Gurratan. He provided pro bono legal assistance to people and activist groups at times during his practice.

Political career

Singh entered electoral politics in 2011 as a candidate for the New Democratic Party. That year he ran federally in the Bramalea—Gore—Malton riding and was narrowly defeated. He then ran in the 2011 Ontario provincial election for the same geographic area and won, becoming the first turban-wearing Ontario NDP Member of Provincial Parliament to represent the Peel region and the first turbaned Sikh to sit at Queen’s Park.

During his time in provincial politics he served as the party critic for the Attorney General of Ontario and for Consumer Services in the province’s 40th Parliament. In April 2015 he was named Deputy Leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party.

Singh later moved to federal politics. He was chosen as leader of the federal New Democratic Party in October 2017. He won a seat in the House of Commons as the Member of Parliament for Burnaby South on February 25, 2019.

Personal life

Singh is married to Gurkiran Kaur Sidhu, a fashion designer and co‑founder of the Punjabi clothing line Jangiiro. The couple have a daughter, Anhad Kaur. Singh’s given name combines elements of his parents’ names; he has explained its meaning as “friend of the Earth.”

Public profile

Singh has been a prominent public figure within Canadian politics since his provincial election victory in 2011 and his subsequent federal leadership role. His personal history — including his heritage, his experiences with bullying and racism, his background in martial arts, and his legal career — figures regularly in profiles and public remarks.

His public record has included moments of controversy related to international matters. In December 2013 Indian authorities denied a travel document to Singh, an action he later raised in assembly debate. More recently, in September 2023, he posted on social media committing to pursue justice in the case of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, saying he would pursue accountability in that investigation.

Latest updates

Singh led the New Democratic Party through the late 2010s and remains a nationally recognized political leader. He continues to serve as a Member of Parliament and to be active on issues that intersect with human rights, justice and foreign affairs in his public communications.
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Recent Work

Leader of the New Democratic Party

Elected leader of the federal New Democratic Party in October 2017; elected Member of Parliament for Burnaby South on February 25, 2019.

2017-2019
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Career Highlights

  1. Called to the Bar of the Law Society of Upper Canada in 2006.
  2. Elected as an Ontario NDP MPP for Bramalea—Gore—Malton in 2011, the first turbaned Sikh to represent Peel region at Queen's Park.
  3. Appointed Deputy Leader of the Ontario NDP in April 2015.
  4. Elected Leader of the federal New Democratic Party in October 2017.
  5. Elected Member of Parliament for Burnaby South on February 25, 2019.
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Jagmeet Singh born?

2 January 1979

What is Jagmeet Singh known for?

Lawyer, Politician

What is Jagmeet Singh’s marital status?

Married

Who is Jagmeet Singh married to?

Gurkiran Kaur Sidhu