Life & Etc

Baba Puran Singh Janetpura was one of the student passenger in Komagata Maru when it landed on the shores of Vancouver. Raj Singh Toor, his grandson, recalls his grandfather’s journey and the decedents fight for the long awaited apology The Komagata Maru came in May 23, 1914 with 376 passengers including my grandfather. His name was Baba Puran Singh Janetpura. He was a student …

Bullying — a deliberate attempt from South Asian Kids who are born here to distance themselves from the newly immigrated South Asian children Oftentimes, it’s easy to think of bullying as being something which originates from an individual much different from the target. Unfortunately so, there is a common phenomenon currently occurring for bullies to be targeting individuals who are “one of their …

Pink Shirt Day has become synonymous with anti-bullying.  It has evolved into a global movement that continues to grow.  A “pink shirt” is seen these days to be much more than a wardrobe choice – it symbolizes acceptance, inclusion, understanding, and mutual respect. But pink is not the only colour that is making a fashion – and social – statement …

Canada is the envy of the world. It is a dream accomplished by those who immigrate to this country and do their best to become a part of her. Half a century ago, when I left my motherland, it was not for Canada.  It was for the UK and USA. Destiny added Canada to the list. As soon as I …

Whether you want to explore your spiritual side or go on a soul discovery trip, you can try going to Ladakh, Goa or Ajmer on a wanderlust. Hemis Monastery, Ladakh: Hemis Monastery is the largest and richest Buddhist monastery in the Ladakh region. It features a famous collection of ancient statues, sacred thangkas, and various other artefacts. During the tourist …

One Woman Who’s Always Ready to Assist By Harman S. Pandher The first week of September signifies the start of another school year.  And after two months of trying to keep kids busy, the arrival of the back-to-school season feels like a lifesaver for many adults. But for Surrey School District Educational Assistant Shamseeda Ali, the start of September inevitably …

GB Singh, a Sikh in 1970’s took an off-beat path to join American Army as a dentist and broke the stereotypical image of Sikh Community in the U.S. Who knew that 30 years later his daughter would follow his footsteps. Meet Serene Singh, the 19-year-old, first ever Sikh woman to win Miss Colorado teen pageant. A political science, journalism and …

Website to preserve history of World war I sikh soldiers  As the world marks the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, one of the bloodiest battles in human history, hitherto unknown tales of Sikhs during The Great War (1914-18) are being captured for the first time using the latest in mapping technology and a crowd-sourcing initiative to preserve family …

By Dr. Suresh Kurl I have worked with individuals involved in drug culture. They would barter their grocery bags for drugs, rather than taking them home to feed their hungry children and then would return the next day to plead for money claiming their cash was stolen. As Registrar of an Appeal Board I was once threatened with an injection …

When school year comes to a close, the task of filling long, summer days lies ahead. To keep young minds alert and engaged, parents may be tempted to hand out worksheets and flashcards, but UBC education professors say there are better ways to nurture children’s learning over the summer. Foster literacy skills You can infuse literacy into children’s summer activities, and …