Founded in 1906, it is the oldest Sikh society in Greater Vancouver,[1] and its original location was the largest gurdwara in North America.

The current gurdwara is located at the intersection of Southwest Marine Drive and Ross Street,[2] in South Vancouver.

[citation needed] Verne A. Dusenbery, Professor of Anthropology and Chair of the Global Studies Program at Hamline University in Minnesota, wrote that the gurdwara served as "truly a religious, social, political, cultural, and social service center for the entire South-Asian immigrant population of the lower mainland" during its early history.

Raj Hans Kumar stated that in political affairs the KDS represented all "Hindus", which at the time meant all people of East-Indian origin.

[9]: 6 The Society purchased 2.75 acres (11,100 m2) of city land in 1968 at the intersection of Southwest Marine Drive and Ross Street,[2] in South Vancouver.

[15] According to Hugh Johnston, Vancouver Sikhs stated that the political bloc that took charge of the KDS Gurdwara network by 1979 consisted of about 10-15 families.

[14] As part of an initiative by Vancouver City Council to commemorate prominent members of the community, Ross Street was alternatively named Khalsa Diwan Road in 2018.

Additional street signs marking it as Khalsa Diwan Road were added at from the Gurdwara at SW Marine Drive to 57th Avenue in 2019.