A Glimpse
"A man succeeds only in two ways, one by reading, and the other by association with seniors and smarter people.”
Before setting out for a genesis of the Sunset Indo-Canadian Seniors’ Society, Vancouver, let us shed some light on the other three landmarks of Indo-Canadian history in British Columbia, popularly known as lower mainland.
Man learns from nature. The idea of migration came to human mind when he saw birds migrating from one place to another to avoid vagaries of weather and to find a greener pasture elsewhere away from their native place. Like migratory birds, man crossed national boundaries in search of a better life. He was unaware of the fact that one day he would forget his old connections and would settle for generations to come into his chosen land of migration. This shows the adventurism and riveting story of the roller-coaster of life. History shows that Indians, mainly from the Punjab (the land of five rivers) came to the Province of British Columbia sometime in the last decade of 19th century. The establishment of the Khalsa Diwan Society in 1906 and Gurdwara in 1908 at the West 2nd Avenue in Vancouver is the evidence that some years before that Sikhs from Punjab migrated in the City of Vancouver. This Society, consisted of the Sikhs as well as the Hindus, fought against the racial discrimination faced by Indian immigrants. The history of Indians in Canada will be incomplete without considering the activities of the Khalsa Diwan Society. In 1970, its premises moved to 8000 Ross Street, Vancouver. The Gurdwara was designed by Canadian architect Arthur Erickson. Recently the Ross Street has been named as ‘Khalsa Diwan Road’. The third landmark is the Vancouver’s first and the largest Punjabi Market in North America. From humble beginnings, Main Street transformed into a cultural hub and is home of the first Punjabi language street signs outside of Asia. At its peak, Punjabi Market, a five-block district along Main Street was home to over hundreds of shops including Indian restaurants serving everything from curries to traditional sweets, specialty stores selling readymade ladies and gents’ garments and makeups. Jewelry shops were an added attraction.
The early settlers, almost semi-literate, had to face stark discrimination on account of their belief, dress, language, and nationality. Though, the European, majority of them the British also immigrants in Canada, but they were in majority. They held political, economic, and social influence. By virtue of their majority, they treated the minority with humiliation. Like in India, the Indians in Canada also were meted with the ‘subjects’ like tendencies. With the independence of India in 1947, the Indian settlers in Canada also saw a ray of hope and the same year they got the Right to Vote.
The migration from India of the Sikhs in particular and other communities in general kept a slow pace until 1970s. After that, the liberal immigration, economic and religious policies of the successive Canadian governments opened a flood gate for immigrants. In contrast to the early immigrants, who were mainly workers in the forestry industry, the new class of immigrants was skilled in professions like doctors, engineers, teachers, business, and tradesmen. After that the Indians have proved ‘history makers’ in Canada. Today, Metro Vancouver has become the primary cultural, social, and religious Centre of Indo-Canadians. It has the largest South Asian Indian-origin population of any city of North America. Most of them are the Punjabi Sikhs. Almost 67% of this population live in the Toronto and Vancouver areas, together making up nearly 30% of the combined population of these cities.
With the passage of time, the number of seniors has increased. Sponsorship by Permanent Residents of their aged parents is one of the main reasons. Today, seniors outnumber children. A recent report of the World Health Organization stated that one in two people holds ageist attitudes that lead to poor health, greater isolation, and reduced quality of life of older persons. The seniors are the repository of experience. That is why seniors have been adored and respected across geographical and religious boundaries. The Bible emphatically says, “Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged.” Similarly, in Sikhism the service and respect for elders has high recognition. If a person does not serve his parents, his service (Sewa) at Gurudwara is not accepted.
A vision for founding the Sunset Community Association (SCA) was conceived as early as 1945. The City of Vancouver donated land between Main and Prince Edward streets at 52nd Avenue. The funding was arranged through community donations. Fund raising by Bing Crosby Radio show was praiseworthy. The Centre was opened in 1950. Over time, the existing building could not host the increasing number of populations. In 2007 it was replaced with a new two-storied State-of-the-art unique structure on the Park Board’s Nursery land along Main Street between 51st and 53rd Avenues. Fortunately, in successive years, with more relaxed and attractive immigration policy, the number of immigrants, especially from India swarmed the city. In July 1977, Mrs. Hemi Dhanoa, a social worker, got the Indian seniors group registered under the name of “ Hindi-Punjabi Senior Men’s Group’. In June 2001, the Group was renamed as “ The Sunset Indo-Canadian Seniors Society, Vancouver, BC” At present, the Centre hosts programs on a daily basis in educational, physical, and cultural fields for all sections and age groups of the Sunset Community. Sunset is the most ethnically diverse neighbourhood in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is located in the south-east quadrant of the city.
Sitting Left to Right: Gurmit Singh Bhattle(Director), Gurpal Singh Pandher(President), Amrik Mann (General Secretary), Jarnail Singh Sahota(Treasurer), Manjit Dhillon (Vice President)
Standing Left to Right: (All Directors) Gurcharan Singh Waraich, Zile Singh, Rughbir Singh Uppal, Sucha Singh Claire, Hardial Singh Gill
Executive Committee for 2022...
The Indo-Canadian Seniors’ Society is a registered body with one hundred plus membership. The purpose of this Society is to promote cross-cultural affinity, to disseminate day-to-day information on welfare measures regarding seniors. The main purpose is to offer the Indo-Canadian seniors a platform of their own to mix with each other and share their day-to-day problems and also reflect on their nostalgic memories back home in Punjab where they have spent prime time of their life. The members gather on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week from 12 noon to 3 pm to talk to each other as a larger family to overcome isolation at home. It gives the seniors a stage to share their life experiences in the form of prose, poetry, religion, culture and self-help texts. Society is apolitical and has ‘no profit’ motive. An Indian national or an Indo-Canadian of 65 years and above can become a member with $10/- annual membership. Society is not a political battle ground. The Executive Committee is elected unanimously. A member can share the stage to express his views on any subject under the sun, provided it doesn’t hurt someone’s personal sentiments. Meaningful jokes lessen the seriousness of other discussions and create a jovial atmosphere. Refreshments are served after the meeting.
The Executive Committee holds its meetings every quarter of the year. Decisions are approved unanimously by the Committee and the General Body. Society works in the best interests of both India and Canada. The fourth landmark in the area will be ready in the near future. Architectural and financial plans are ready for a three-story building of Senior Centre covering 10,000 square feet area.
The prominent members who have served the Society from its inception in various capacities are Mr. Pritam Singh Lidhar, Gurbax Singh Bal, Master Gurnam Singh Ranu, Gurmit Singh Bhattal, Amrik Singh Gosal, Mohinder Singh Rakhra, Joginder Singh Johal, Inder Singh Gill, Jawala Singh Grewal, Dalip Singh Dhillon, Swaran Singh Chahal, Sucha Singh Dhillon, Mohinder Singh Johal. After Gurbax Singh Bal’s demise, Mr. Sucha Singh Claire was elected unanimously as the President in 2015. In August 2022, he voluntarily quit the post. Since then, the composition of the present Executive Committee is – Mr. Gurpal Singh Pandher, President; Manjit Dhillon, Vice President; Amrik Mann, General Secretary; Jarnail Singh Sahota, Treasure. The Directors are Gurmit Singh Bhattal, Raghabir Singh Uppal, Gurcharan Singh Waraich, Hardial Singh Gill, Sucha Singh Claire, Zile Singh and Malkit Singh Dhaliwal.
The voice of the Society to have its own exclusive space from the Sunset Community Centre caught the attention of the City authorities and in 2016, with the recommendation of the Provincial and Federal elected representatives and a hard work of Mr. Bhalwinder Singh Waraich, President of SCA, Mr. Sucha Claire, President, late Sardar Gurnam Singh Ranu, General Secretary, and other volunteers like Manjit Dhillon, Master Gurcharan Singh and others, the City of Vancouver passed unanimously a Motion “Building a Seniors’ Centre in South Vancouver in Sunset Area.” To pursue the project further, the Vancouver City Council ordered a feasibility study. Based on the Feasibility Report, an administrative decision was taken that the new Centre for Seniors will be housed in an adjacent building to the SCA, covering 10,000 sq.ft. space. The cost of construction is estimated to be $13.7 million. The federal government announced 9.2 million in aid. The city has agreed to pay the rest. In this pious endeavor the names of Hon’ble Harjit Sajjan, MP and Michael Lee and George Chow, MLAs and Kennedy Stuart , Mayor of Vancouver demand a mention.
The Society invites VIPs on special occasions. Canadian politicians at municipal, provincial and federal levels have been guests of honor at various functions. The guests have been across party lines. The politicians of all hues make it a point not to miss an opportunity to canvass during elections times. The members of the Society have instructions from the Executive Committee to listen to different views and vote according to their own judgment for a particular party or a candidate of his choice. The Society also invites distinguished personalities to give talk for the benefit of the seniors on matters like health and happiness, family matters, matters relating to property like Personal Will, Power of Attorney and matters relating to passports and visas etc.
Since its inception, the Consulate General of India had kept close relations with the Society. The successive Consul Generals have marked their presence at Society’s celebrations of Republic and Independence Days. It will not be out of place to mention that Mr. Zile Singh, who was Deputy Consul General from 2004-07, has played an intimate role. After getting his Permanent Residence and now a Canadian citizen, he is a regular member. Since 2022, he has been on the Society’s Executive Board. Mr. Sucha Singh Claire and Mr. Singh are performing their duties to get the Society’s important activities published in the Punjabi and English print media.
Besides the politicians and officials, the Society has honored Sardar Fauja Singh, a centenarian marathon runner, literary personalities like Professor Gurbhajan Gill, Jaswant Singh Zaffar, Gurmit Palahi, Rajya Sabha Member, Balbir Singh Seechewal from India, Darshan Singh Kingra from California. The local invitees include Mr. Mohan Gill, Harchand Singh Bagri, Darshan Sangha, Surjit Madhopuri, Gill Moranwalli, Pritpal Gill, Balwant Singh Sanghera of PLEA, Sukhi Bath of Sukhi Motors, Jarnail Singh Sekha and Sikh scholars Gian Singh Kotli and Dr. Kala Singh.
Society’s activities are not just indoors. In the past, several excursion tours have been organized. One such memorable tour was arranged in May 2007 to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Victoria. More than 60 members of the Society were received by Hon’ble Premier Gordon Campbell, Attorney General, Wally Oppal, Finance Minister Carole Taylor, Parliamentary Secretary, Dave Hayer, and other senior members of the Legislative Assembly. A tour of the Legislative Building, constructed in 1898, took place led by Ms. Kimberlee, Late; Mr. Gurnam Singh Ranu, General Secretary of the Society expressed his thanks for the nice reception given to them. The following also accompanied the members of the Society: Mr. Gurdeep Singh Gill, the then President of Khalsa Diwan Society, Mr. Daljit Singh Sidhu, President Punjabi Market Association, and late Mr. Chandra Bodalia, photographer.
It is an honor for the Society that one of its esteemed members, Mr. Daljit Singh Dhillon will be a centenarian in September 2023. At this age, he enthralls the audience with his patriotic poems. Society will celebrate his Centenary in a befitting manner. We cannot miss Mr. Harchand Dhaliwal, distinguished father of former Federal Minister Harb Dhaliwal. Despite total loss of his vision, he sees the members of the Society sitting under his sight and on occasions he entertains the members with his life experiences in Canada and back home in Punjab. His oratory and memory are praiseworthy.
“Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much” – Helen Keller.
Contributor
Zile Singh
May, 2023
Sitting Left to Right: Joginder Singh Johal(Assistant Secretary), Gurnam Singh Ranu (General Secretary), Sucha Singh Claire (President), Manjit Singh Dhillon (Vice President), Amrik Mann (Director), Gurmit Singh Bhattle (Treasurer)
Standing Left to Right: (All Directors) Malkiat Singh Dhaliwal, Hardial Singh Gill, Rughbir Singh Uppal, Mohinder Singh Johal, Jarnail Singh Sahota, Ranjit Singh Shoker.
Executive Committee for 2015 to 2022
