MEHFIL

MEHFIL 

The magazine for today’s Indo-Canadian 

May/June 2009 $4.95 

INSIDE 

NannyGate 

Puts Spotlight on 

Care-Givers 

Program 

Perspectives 

South Asian Canadians 

React to a Poll 

That Reveals Most 

Canadians Are Wary 

of Islam and Sikhism 

Nanomania 

Indians Clamour 

for Tata’s New Car 

Profile: 

GAry Dhaliwal 

Built for Business 

mind power 

Sunita Bapooji 

Spreads the Message 

of Sookshma Yoga 

Devina 

Zalesky 

driven to 

make it big 

www.mehfilmagazine.com

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MehfilMay/June 2009 

COVER STORY 

D e pa r t m e n t s 

15 

19 

20 

26 

78 

4 Mehfil May/June 2009 

46 

Devina Zalesky: 

Survivor............. 46 

When Devina Zalesky arrived in 

Canada with her family in 1972, 

they had little more than the clothes 

on their backs. Devina, who barely 

spoke English at the time, routinely 

found herself on the receiving end 

of racist taunts. Today, Devina 

Zalesky is president of an insurance 

company with a staff of more than 

200. The secrets to her success — determination, resilience and a 

survivor’s spirit — are the same qualities helping her to conquer her 

latest life-altering challenge. 

Features 

Perspectives: Attitudes to Religion................. 12 

A recent Angus Reid poll on attitudes towards religion conducted for 

Maclean’s magazine found that only one in three Canadians see Islam 

and Sikhism in a favourable light. Mehfil asks members of the South 

Asian community about their reaction to the results of the poll. 

Nannygate Puts Spotlight on Care-Givers Program..... 32 

Allegations of exploitation levelled at MP Ruby Dhalla by two 

former careworkers have prompted unprecedented scrutiny of 

the federal Live-In Caregiver program. While Dhalla denies any 

wrongdoing, caregivers’ advocates say the real issue is how the 

program leaves foreign nannies vulnerable to mistreatment. 

Indians Clamouring for New ‘People’s Car’........... 34 

Priced at $2,000 US for a base model, the new Nano car has been 

dubbed the “People’s Car” by its manufacturer because it’s putting 

car ownership within reach of families who’ve never been able to 

afford one. Indeed, it could increase India’s car-owning population 

by 65 per cent. 

Gary Dhaliwal: Built for Business .. 36 

A mere four years after starting a oneman 

excavation business, Gary Dhaliwal 

is running a company with almost 60 

employees and major contracts. Oh, and 

did we mention he’s only 22? 

Sookshma Yoga................ 42 

Sunita Bapooji is convinced that she knows the way to a peaceful 

mind and a healthy body. For 25 years, Bapooji, founder of the 

Sunita Centre for Overall Wellbeing, has been teaching that 

Sookshma Yoga is the key to cleansing the body of the negative 

effects of stress — and her many followers agree. 

36 

Photo by RON SANGHA 

Publishers’ Note.............7 

Opinion. .................10 

Clippings. ................14 

Stellar Student............ 15 

Power Player. ............ 19 

Unsung Hero.............. 20 

Life Lessons ...............22 

Cruiser Clippings. ......... 24 

Spotlight ................ 26 

Fashion. ................ 54 

Weddings................ 60 

Beauty .................. 64 

Auto Reviews ..............70 

Local Artist................77 

Reflections............... 78 

Columns 

8 

Guest Column 

by Beau Simpson 

28 

The Inspired Sufi 

by Azim Jamal 

30 

Politics 

by Andy Radia 

66 

Cuisine 

by Gurj Dhaliwal 

68 

Health & Fitness 

by Shefali Raja 

75 

Horoscope 

by Georgia Nicols 

76 

Movie Reviews 

by Ron Ahluwalia

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Mehfil 

May/June 2009 VOLUME 13 ISSUE 2 

Editor 

Minto Vig 

Contributing Writers 

Robin Roberts, Azim Jamal, 

Beau Simpson, Shefali Raja, Ron Ahluwalia, 

Michelle Hopkins, Gurj Dhaliwal 

Moshin Manji, Meena Makkar, Andy Radia 

Photography, Illustrations 

Ron Sangha, Sunny Photo Images, 

Chandra Bodalia 

Production & Design 

Levan Trieu 

Editorial & Event Coordinator 

Anita Rai 

Sales & Marketing 

Rupa Vig 

Mehfil Magazine is published by 

VIG PUBLICATIONS INC. 

Publishers 

Rana Vig, Minto Vig 

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PO Box 338 - 552A Clarke Road, 

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604-588-4660 • Fax 604-588-4665 

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It’s NOT what you 

EARN 

It’s what you 

KEEP! 

Many of our readers will be able to relate 

to the story of Devina Zalesky, the subject 

of this issue’s cover story. Like so many other 

South Asian immigrants in the early 1970s, 

she and her family arrived in Canada with 

little more than a dream for a better life. 

Ever since she got her first job at the age of 

13, Zalesky has been impressing her bosses 

wtih her drive, her people skills and her 

willingness to go the extra mile. Today, as 

president of AllWest Insurance, a major 

player in B.C.’s auto-insurance business, 

she’s in the driver’s seat of a business that 

employs more than 200 people. Now, Zalesky 

is drawing on the indomitable will that 

propelled her up the business ladder to face 

an unexpected, life-altering challenge. 

Zalesky is one of several intriguing people 

featured in this issue. We also profile Gary 

Dhaliwal, a 22-year-old who’s making his 

mark in B.C.’s construction industry; Sunita 

Bapooji, who teaches a form of yoga she says 

anyone can practise; Saroj Sood, whose “all 

for one, one for all” philosophy has created 

an invaluable support system for her fellow 

residents at the PICS Assisted Living home. 

Also in this issue, we cover a diverse 

range of topics. Mehfil speaks to several 

British Columbians of South Asian descent 

about their reaction to a recent poll that 

indicates only one-third of Canadians have a 

favourable impression of Muslims and Sikhs. 

In the wake of headline-making allegations 

of mistreatment levelled at Liberal MP 

Ruby Dhalla by former caregivers, we take 

a closer look at the rules in the federal Live- 

In Caregivers program that leave foreign 

caregivers vulnerable to exploitation. From 

India comes a story about the mounting 

waiting lists for India’s new Nano 

automobile, which has put car ownership 

within the reach of a whole new segment of 

the country’s population. 

As always, we welcome your feedback. 

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Mehfil May/June 2009 7

Kwantlen Polytechnic 

University officially 

opened a $31.6 million 

expansion Thursday. 

The provincial government 

put up $21.2 

million while the university 

contributed the 

balance. 

The money was spent 

to upgrade two buildings: 

the library and 

Building C. Both projects 

were built to LEED 

gold standard, or better, 

and will help Kwantlen 

in its goal of reducing 

consumption of natural 

gas by 25 per cent and 

electricity by 45 per cent 

by 2010. 

Bridgeview is getting 

an upgrade to its sewer 

system. 

Transportation 

Minister Kevin Falcon 

announced Monday the 

federal and provincial 

governments are jointly 

providing $5.7 million in 

funding to upgrade the 

Bridgeview sewer. 

The total cost of the 

project is $8.6 million. 

The province, the federal 

government and the 

City of Surrey are sharing 

the cost of the project 

in a three-way split, 

each providing $2.83 

million. 

The project will be 

tendered within the 

coming months and 

construction is expected 

to begin this summer. 

A Surrey man has 

been sentenced to three 

years in jail and fined 

$236,598 for GST fraud. 

Yakim Surani was 

sent to prison Thursday 

after abandoning an 

appeal of his conviction 

for tax evasion in 2008. 

He’d been convicted 

of Goods and Services 

Tax fraud last April 

and was sentenced in 

Vancouver provincial 

court in September but 

launched his appeal and 

was released pending 

the result. 

– Compiled by staff 

Guest Column 

By Beau Simpson 

Vaisakhi: 

Seeing Beyond the Parade 

Photos 

THE FACES OF VAISAKHI 

aturday’s chilly, wet weather A parade of tens of thousands threaded 

couldn’t dampen Surrey’s their way through the streets of Newton 

enthusiasm for its annual behind a float bearing the Sikh holy book. 

S Vaisakhi celebration. 

Along the way, dozens of booths were set 

A huge crowd turned out for a day of free up to offer free delicacies to celebrants. 

food, music, dance and prayer to celebrate The route was also dotted with stages 

the creation of the Sikh identity and the offering music and dance. 

arrival of spring. 

One of those attending Vaisakhi was 

For a slide show of Saturday’s parade: www.thenownewspaper.com 

A man uses his shoe to strike 

a photo of Jagdish Tytler, a 

Delhi politician accused of 

inciting anti-Sikh rioting in 

1984. It’s estimated as many 

as 3,000 Sikhs died during 

the riots triggered by the murder 

of Prime Minister Indira 

Gandhi by two of her Sikh 

bodyguards. Gandhi’s assassination 

was in retaliation for 

Operation Bluestar, an army 

assault on Sikh separatists 

barricaded in the Golden 

Temple of Amritsar. Tytler 

denied inciting the riots and 

has never been charged. 

Above: A woman walks next to 

a float during the parade that 

attracted tens of thousands. 

by: 

BRIAN HOWELL 

Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts. 

“There was a significant number of people 

there even though it rained,” Watts said. 

“People were cooking for days and there 

was plenty of free food. It’s a great celebration, 

especially since the kids and families 

all come out.” 

– Ted Co ley 

DID YOU KNOW? 

The colour orange is 

seen everywhere among 

Vaisakhi celebrants; on 

turbans, head scarves 

and other clothing. 

Orange represents wisdom, 

sacrifice and also 

honours the Kahlsa 

Panth, Sikhs who demonstrated 

their willingness 

to die for their beliefs 

when called to do so by 

Guru Gobind Singh in 

1699. 

Smiles were the order of 

the day as the route was 

dotted with stages offering 

music and dance. 

A young girl spins a chakra while walking on the parade 

route on Saturday in Surrey. 

BRIEFLY 

NEWS 

Expansion unveiled 

Sewer upgrade 

Jail for tax evasion 

“I see great coverage of 

Vaisakhi, the parade, the 

people, interviews, etc,” 

one Now reader complained. 

“But I believe it 

was Easter – that’s what 

my family celebrated. 

Your newspaper seemed 

to disregard this fact. 

Nothing of Christian 

church-goers. It seems to 

us that they were the ones 

who built this country.” 

Beau Simpson is managing editor of 

the Now newspaper in Surrey, B.C. 


Vaisakhi. To some, it means religion. 

To others, it means celebration, 

culture and community. 

To the Now newspaper, it means all of 

the above – and that’s the philosophy we 

took when we sat down to formulate our 

coverage for Vaisakhi this year. 

We wanted to go big – we decided that 

early on. After all, what other event in our 

community attracts about 100,000 to our 

city streets in a vibrant display of colour, 

food, music and multiculturalism? 

What’s more, we asked ourselves, what 

other event in our community is so misunderstood? 

Indeed, Vaisakhi is a journalist’s dream. 

There’s history. There’s culture. There’s 

faith. There’s pageantry. There’s even a 

little conflict. 

This year, I wanted to know more, not 

just as a journalist but as a relative newcomer 

to Surrey. 

What does it all mean? Where did it 

originate? What are the foods associated 

with Vaisakhi? What about the fashion of 

Vaisakhi? What do the clothes and colours 

signify? 

These questions helped us form our 

strategy for covering this hugely important 

event in the pages of the Now newspaper. 

In the end, our coverage of Vaisakhi is 

something we were all proud of. 

We saw it as a chance to better understand 

our South Asian neighbours and 

their culture, thus bringing our community 

closer together. 

“In Surrey, the celebration means more 

than just the Sikh identity,” wrote Now 

contributor Amy Reid in one of the many 

educational articles that appeared in the 

Now leading up to Vaisakhi. “It showcases 

the culture of the South Asian community, 

and people from all over B.C. come 

to join in the celebration. It is an opportunity 

for the city to show off its diversity 

and multiculturalism.” 

But unfortunately, some readers of the 

Now didn’t see it that way. 

“I see great coverage of Vaisakhi, the 

parade, the people, interviews, etc,” one 

reader complained. “But I believe it was 

Easter – that’s what my family celebrated. 

Your newspaper seemed to disregard this 

fact. Nothing of Christian church-goers. 

It seems to us that they were the ones who 

built this country.” 

Another reader said our coverage wasn’t 

fair. 

“I see “Happy Vaisakhi” in your paper 

and no “Happy Easter” — are we not 

in Canada?” another wrote in the Now’s 

Roses and Rotten Tomatoes feature. “The 

people who are from here celebrate Easter. 

I have no problem with other religions 

and their celebrations, but let’s be fair to 

all. We all have a right to believe.” 

One letter-writer went even further: 

“What an affront to us few remaining 

Christians.” 

Was I surprised by such a response? 

Maybe a little. Was I disappointed? 

Whole-heartedly. 

After all, this isn’t a contest between 

siblings vying for the attention of their 

parents. This is a celebration of a vibrant 

culture that is thriving in our community. 

The Now’s coverage of Vaisakhi wasn’t a 

matter of ‘unfairly’ choosing one religion 

over another – it was an opportunity to 

learn about our neighbours. 

Easter, Good Friday, Christmas, can 

one really make the argument that they 

are ignored? I think not. 

Instead of worrying about newspaper 

coverage, maybe the different faiths in our 

community would be better served learning 

about each other. That, in a nutshell, 

was what the Now tried to facilitate with 

our coverage of Vaisakhi. 

We wanted our non-South Asian readers 

to better understand what Vaisakhi was 

all about, that it’s much more than just a 

parade that forces you to drive a different 

route to the mall. 

A stronger community requires us to 

understand each other better. Maybe then, 

different faiths will stop keeping score 

about media coverage and start celebrating 

our community’s diversity. 

Now that’s something we would love 

to cover. p

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Opinion 

Kids today have so much more “stuff” because too many parents 

feel that they need to over-compensate for what they feel they 

missed out on when they were kids. 

The dictionary defines Generation Y 

as anyone born between 1980 and 

2004. They are also: 

• Tech-savvy 

• Multi taskers 

• Competitive 

• Highly intelligent 

• The future 

• Environmentally conscious 

However, there is something that could 

completely derail the potential of Generation 

Y and that “something” is Generation 

X parents who fail to parent effectively. 

I truly feel that a large majority of Gen 

X parents need to refocus because they 

have really lost the plot when it comes to 

being “good” parents. 

Too many kids seem to be calling all 

the shots and the parents seem to have 

decided that as long as their little Manjit 

or Kiran are happy, then they have done 

their job of being a good parent. 

I disagree! I think some slack Gen X 

parents, and you know who you are, need 

a huge wake-up call! 

Back in the (G)olden Days 

Looking back to when I was a child, 

it seems that parenting was much easier. 

Parents chose what we did, when we did 

it and when what we were doing came to 

an end. TV was controlled by the adults 

and that was not up for negotiation. Kids 

went to bed when their parents said it was 

time to sleep. 

Home, Suite, Home! 

Most Generation X parents grew up in 

the 1970s when the average family was a 

mom, a dad and their kids all living under 

one roof. If you were lucky, your parents 

earned enough to buy all or some of life’s 


Parenthood 

A survivor’s manual for Gen X parents of Gen Y kids 

luxuries, like a TV or a radio. 

Back in the day, most kids that I knew 

did not have a bedroom that resembled 

a hotel suite fitted out with all the latest 

gadgets. My bedroom, which I shared 

with my two younger brothers, had the 

following: three beds, a door, carpet and a 

wardrobe that held our few clothes. 

Compare that with what the average 

Generation Y child has in his/her bedroom: 

a colour TV connected to cable or 

satellite, a games system, PC or lap-top, 

and a wardrobe full of the latest fashions, 

the value of which probably equals that of 

my first car. 

Kids today have so much more “stuff” 

because too many parents feel that they 

need to over-compensate for what they 

feel they missed out on when they were 

kids. 

Gen Y kids have become negotiators 

for everything. They have no issue with 

using your childhood for their own gains. 

“Dad, wouldn’t you have wanted this 

when you were younger?” is a question I 

hear way too often. 

However, in the pursuit of all this 

“stuff” many parents have forgotten that 

children need to feel loved and crave 

boundaries to become valued members of 

the family and society. 

What happened? 

Most Gen X parents were kids in the 

1970s, a time when money was fairly 

scarce and parents spent any free time 

with their kids when they weren’t working 

two or three jobs. 

I grew up in England, and every day after 

school we would play soccer or cricket 

until it got too dark to see the ball. After 

school, aged ten, with my eight- and sixyear-old 

brothers in tow, we walked the 

mile from our school to our house by ourselves. 

We then used our key to open our 

front door that we used to let ourselves in. 

Once we were in the house by ourselves 

we made our own snacks. Then we locked 

the door and walked about half a mile to a 

park that involved us crossing not one but 

two highways by ourselves. 

Now parents drive their kids to school 

for a journey that is, on average, only 800 

yards! 

The future? 

Is life any more dangerous now than 

it was back in the day? Probably yes. We 

have more gangs and guns but that’s the 

whole problem. 

If we don’t give our kids a place to belong 

they’ll find that place in a gang, and 

that sort of life never ends well. Basically 

parents need to stop trying to be their 

kids’ best friend. 

Become your kids’ role models, or else 

a gangster, rap star or reality TV star will 

take that spot. 

I just want to finish with a few words 

of advice to parents: 

• Take control of the relationship. 

Gen Y kids will achieve success 

but they need a helping hand. 

• It’s OK to say no to your kids 

sometimes; they’ll get over it. 

• Stop letting the kids decide the 

direction YOU take because 

YOU are the adult and need to 

act like one! p 

Divinder Singh Purewal, 40, is a human 

resources professional in Surrey, B.C. 

Have something to say? Send us your 

opinion at opinions@mehfilmagazine.com

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P erspectives 

Poll Shows Canadians Lack Tolerance 

In April, Maclean’s magazine reported surprising results 

based on a poll on religion in Canada conducted for 

Maclean’s by Angus Reid Strategies. The poll, which surveyed 

1,002 randomly selected Canadians, showed that fewer than 

1 in 3 Canadians view Islam and Sikhism in a favourable light. 

Overall, reported Maclean’s, Islam scored a favourability rating 

of just 28 per cent and Sikhism just 30 per cent. Angus 

Reid chief researcher officer Andrew Grenveille told Maclean’s 

he was astonished and saddened by the lack of tolerance. “I 

don’t think the findings reflect well on Canada at all,” he said. 

Mehfil Magazine asked several Canadians of South Asian 

origin for their reaction to the results of the poll. 

Kush Uppal, 24, 

Student, Delta, B.C. 

I’m not surprised that the percentage of 

people think the way they do because of 

events that have come to light over recent 

years. Let’s face it: The community has made 

the news for unfortunate reasons, whether it’s 

gang involvement or the slew of murders of 

women (in domestic violence cases) in the 

community. These are all things that build 

thoughts and misconceptions about the 

faith associated with those involved with the 

crimes, be it Sikhism, Islam, Judaism, or any 

other faith. 

This was a surprise, however, because on 

a global scale, Canada is one of the most 

multicultural nations in the world, and one 

would think that within this mosaic comes 

acceptance and education about the different 

cultures/religions that are a part of 

Canadians’ lives. 

But in a fast-paced world, people tend to 

pick up bits and pieces of what they hear and 

see – a lot of which is sensationalized by the 

media. I think that if everyone who formed 

an uneducated opinion on the topic took the 

time to stop and do a little research on the 

facts, they may think differently. We are bombarded 

with media images every day, and the 

reality is that the media will show whatever 

they think will bring in the most number 

of viewers — and viewers love to see the 

extreme. If this is all that is being fed to those 

who don’t know better about the religion/culture, 

this is all they will ever see and believe. 

I don’t know that anything can actually 

be done to eliminate this negative stigma 

attached to the community/religion. However, 

community leaders can continue to do what 

they have been doing over the years and 

continue to provide excellent role models for 

youth of all ethnicities and faiths. 

Ashwani Narwani, 22, 

Student, Richmond, B.C. 

The results of the poll concern me. 

As a person belonging to a minority 

group, it is important for me to know 

how Canadians as a whole view other 

religions. The poll results are alarming 

but at the same time prove the need for 

politicians and the government to take 

concrete steps to help immigrants settle 

in their new home. The fact that different 

religions and communities are looked 

at in a less than favourable manner is a 

cause of concern as it affects the ability of 

Canadians to live peacefully with mutual 

respect across all communities. 

I am not terribly surprised by the numbers. 

The Maclean’s article says that 

those who don’t have interaction with 

or friends from a certain community or 

religion have a less favourable view of 

it. This is an important aspect to consider. 

What did surprise me were the 

significantly higher ratios (of intolerance) 

observed in Quebec. 

Intolerance or prejudice towards certain 

religions or communities seems to be 

entrenched among people across the 

board in Canada. This exists due to a 

variety of reasons. Some that come to 

mind are the reporting of conflicts from 

across the world; negative news reporting 

by the media; insufficient knowledge or 

education about different religions. 

Education and interaction are key to 

12 Mehfil May/June 2009

“I’m not surprised at all by the poll’s results. Canada presents itself to the rest 

of the world as a beautiful gift with beautiful wrapping. People flock here. When 

they pull away the gift-wrapping they find what Canada truly is: a friendlier yet 

still closed-minded version of the United States, with much better PR.” 

– Mani Amar 

improving the community’s image. 

Basic education about the major religions 

across Canada is especially important to 

remove or reduce the stereotyping of different 

religions or communities. 

In addition, programs promoting interaction 

among people from different religions 

and backgrounds should be actively 

promoted. Hopefully, we can have many 

“highways to heaven” in the future such 

as the one on No. 5 Road in Richmond 

that features two mosques, a Sikh gurdwara, 

a handful of churches, a Buddhist 

temple and a Hindu mandir. 

Ishwereena Sharma, 25 

Student, Surrey, B.C . 

The results of the poll make me feel 

unsafe. I would have never guessed that 

I would come across such statistics, as 

I always sensed Canada’s spirit towards 

diversity was evident in cultural celebrations 

such as the Chinese New Year and 

Vaisakhi 

Since 9/11 there have been cases of 

racial profiling within the Muslim community. 

A feeling of overall suspicion 

towards Islam has resulted in the religion 

being seen as perpetrating violence and 

hatred towards other communities. This 

is certainly counter intuitive as religion 

teaches respect for all mankind as well as 

love and humility. 

I believe scholars of each religion need to 

present religious texts in a more positive 

light. 

Polly Sidher, 33, 

Social worker/counsellor, Surrey, B.C. 

My sense of pride as a Canadian remains the 

same as before viewing these poll results. 

However, as a woman who belongs to an 

ethnic minority group, I was very surprised 

to see these results. I have always perceived 

Canada is one of the most culturally 

embracing countries and believed that fellow 

Canadians not only tolerant but encouraging 

of diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, 

faiths and religious beliefs. 

It seems we still need to continue working on 

challenging media images, building friendships 

outside of our own comfort levels and 

learning new and important things from other 

cultures, races and religions. 

The average Canadian citizen needs to view 

these poll results as a motivator to continue 

our path towards remaining a country that is 

liberal, tolerant and accepting of differences. 

That all begins with even a small action in 

my opinion: smiling at our neighbour or saying 

hello to someone “different” from us and 

even striking up a conversation with someone 

whom we normally wouldn’t. Baby steps with 

what we have control over is my motto. 

In this economic recession, when tensions 

of all kinds tend to be heightened, we do 

need to make even more of a conscious 

effort as Canadians — an effort to not let our 

economic hardships influence our cultivated 

friendships, relationships, viewpoints, beliefs, 

values and, most importantly, the way we 

interact with each other. 

Mani Amar, 27, 

Artist and activist, Delta, B.C. 

I’m not surprised at all by the poll’s results. 

Canada presents itself to the rest of the 

world as a beautiful gift with beautiful 

wrapping. People flock here. When they 

pull away the gift-wrapping they find what 

Canada truly is: a friendlier yet still closedminded 

version of the United States, with 

much better PR. 

I believe that most of the population polled 

was from urban communities. These 

numbers would be even less favourable 

to minority religions if rural communities 

were polled. 

Anything new, anything different, anything 

that challenges the norm always finds 

resistance. It is not so much human nature 

(fear of the unknown), but it is more so 

how we continue to create a society of less 

acceptance than a society that embraces 

diversity. 

I think it’s a mistake to focus on how we 

can improve a community’s or religion’s 

image. We need to focus on the root 

issue: How society as a whole should be 

more embracing. The issues we face in 

minority communities can be traced to 

larger issues in society. Humanity exists 

synergistically. p 

Share your comments with Mehfil at 

www.mehfilmagazine.com or email us 

at opinions@mehfilmagazine.com 


Clippings 

Veeno Dewan brings his love of driving and years of experience as an 

automotive journalist to the new series Shifting Gears Automotive TV. 

Shifting Gears Automotive TV Series 

Veeno Dewan loves 

being in the driver’s 

seat — both literally and 

figuratively. He gets to do 

both as host and executive 

producer of the new 

program Shifting Gears 

Automotive TV. 

Dewan’s goal is to 

deliver reviews, consumer 

advice and news in a 

way that entertains and 

enlightens car buffs. Each 

week, the show goes on 

location with Dewan and 

co-hosts Poonam Sandhu 

and Vivek Sharma. 

Dewan brings a wealth 

of experience to Shifting 

Gears. An accredited 

member of AJAC 

(Automotive Journalists 

of Canada) and a longtime 

auto columnist, 

Dewan spent 10 years 

working at BBC television 

in Britain before 

immigrating Canada. 

“One of the reasons 

I joined the BBC was 

to get on the show Top 

Gear, which 30 years later 

is still the best known 

automotive show in the 

world, with six million 

viewers a week,” says 

Dewan. 

After moving to 

Canada, Dewan spent 

four years producing 

and directing Global 

Television’s Drivers 

Seat, and also worked 

on CTV’s Canadian 

Rally series. In February 

2009, Veeno approached 

Shaw Multicultural TV 

in Vancouver with the 

idea for Shifting Gears, 

which he describes as “an 

edgier and more progressive 

show targeted to the 

younger crowd.” 

The network showed 

interest and asked him 

to produce a 30-minute 

pilot with a multicultural 

slant. The show is 

now half-way through a 

12-episode run. 

“We have big plans for 

the show with hopes of 

getting exposure on the 

other cable networks,” 

says Dewan. “At some 

point, a full English version 

of the show will be 

in the works.” 

Shifting Gears airs 

Thursday and Sunday 

nights on Shaw Cable 

Channel 119. p 

Favourite Rides 

Poonam 

Sandhu, co-host 

“First and 

foremost the 

Audi A5. It’s fast, 

sleek, luxurious 

and most importantly 

sexy. The 

car is rare at the 

moment, which 

makes it even more attractive. 

“Second up, the Ford Fusion Hybrid 

— quite a smooth drive and the interactive 

eco-display keeps you from driving 

aggressively in the city. It’s a dependable 

ride.” 

Vivek Sharma, 

co-host 

Vivek says 

his fave car is the 

2009 Mazda RX8 

R3 Mazdaspeed. 

He recently tested 

it and found it 

an exciting, fast 

and very smoothhandling 

car with a unique look. 

Veeno Dewan, 

host and executive 

producer 

“My favourite 

car to drive is the 

Porsche 911 Carrera 

turbo. It is basically a 

true racing car that you can drive on the 

road every day without it ever breaking 

down. The engineering and performance 

are simply amazing and it looks fabulous. 

The handling and steering are racecar 

sharp and the 911 is a complete thrill 

to drive hard and fast.” 

Is this a good time to buy a 

new car? 

Dewan: While all the uncertainty 

and market chaos tends to have 

a negative effect on consumer 

confidence, it also has some real 

benefits for consumers. With dealers 

hungry for sales, vehicle prices 

are at their lowest point in a generation 

in comparable dollars, and you 

can score some great deals. Low 

interest rates and huge financing 

incentives will continue to be the 

norm; it's a great time to be a buyer. 

And that will continue to be the case 

through 2009. 

If you can pay cash or qualify 

for credit, which may be the deciding 

factor, the chances of cutting 

a favourable deal are better than 

good. It will continue to be a 

buyer's market — perhaps the best 

time ever to buy a new car or truck 

— if you can pay cash or qualify 

for credit. 

What are manufacturers 

doing different? 

Dewan: Most major automakers 

are working on some form of 

production vehicle with hybrid or 

electric drive that will come to market 

within the next two to five years. 

The public is very fickle so auto 

manufacturers now have a hard time 

giving people what they want. For 

example, when gas prices go high 

people want hybrid and smaller 

cars; when gas prices go low people 

want bigger vehicles. When good 

times come, people want sports 

cars or bigger luxury vehicles. 

Generally, the automakers are 

responding to what consumers 

want in terms of fuel economy, 

and warrantees are now very good 

and have been for some time. But 

will the demand for large SUVs, 

pick-ups and sports cars ever go 

away? I think not. The automakers 

also understand the growing 

awareness of being “green” 

amongst consumers, and so all of 

the volume car makers and even the 

luxury and sports car makers such 

as Porsche, Mercedes, BMW and 

Audi are looking at more environmentally 

conscious, fuel- efficient 

vehicles. You will still get people 

with disposable incomes who want 

a Hummer, Porsche, Lamborghini, 

Ferrari or a Rolls Royce. And the 

bottom line is almost everyone who 

lives in the suburbs outside a major 

city or town with no good, fast, efficient 

reliable public transport links 

needs a vehicle, so the car is not 

going away. p 


S tellar Student 


Zorast Gustavsp 

Age: 18 Hometown: Richmond, B.C. 

Academic awards: Principals’ honour roll 

from Grades 8 through 12. 

Academic goals: After high school I will be 

taking computer sciences at Dickinson State 

University in North Dakota. I was fortunate 

enough to receive a golf scholarship, so along 

with doing my bachelors in computer science, 

I will also be golfing competitively in the 

Dakota Athletic Conference. The computer science 

program at DSU is also one of their most 

recognized programs, which is why I decided 

to further pursue my post-secondary education 

there. 

Advice for students: Get involved in extracurricular 

activities. This will introduce you 

to new people, show you your strengths and 

weaknesses, and make high school a whole lot 

more enjoyable. 

Success strategies you swear by: 

Something that I use quite frequently when it 

comes to studying for a test or making a presentation 

is visualization. A while back I had 

found this to work in other facets of my life 

and decided to try and apply it to school. For 

example, before a big test I will sit down for 

five minutes before I begin to study and imagine 

myself finding the answers to all the questions 

that are going to be on the test. I then 

visualize my teacher handing the test back to 

me a week later with the mark on the top that I 

desire. After genuinely believing what my mind 

has fabricated I will open up my text book and 

begin studying. This strategy gets you into the 

right mindset before you study, which is usually 

half the battle. 

How do you de-stress when school 

gets intense? Though this may sound quite 

unorthodox, when I feel like the weight of the 

world is on my shoulders I usually sit down 

and watch CNN or another news channel. I do 

this to get some perspective on what is going 

on in the world, but more so to make myself 

feel juvenile for overreacting to school troubles 

when there are people all over the world fighting 

through real adversity. It is usually at this 

point when I realize my problems are quite 

small in comparison to the big picture, and I 

generally start feeling better about my situation. 

What do you do in your spare time? I 

enjoy music, movies and hanging out with my 

friends. I am also a bit of a geek and am interested 

in anything that encases circuitry. My 

room is the technological hub in my house, 

and if there is ever a problem with electronic 

equipment, I make it my job to try and fix it. 

Golf has also been an important part of my life, 

since it has consumed most of my summers 

since I was the age of eight. 

A quote that inspires you: 

“Do not let the past define who you are, but let 

it shape who you will become.” 

— Anonymous 


Clippings 

No Hollywood Ending Yet for 

Slumdog’s Child Star 

The Oscar-winning box-office hit Slumdog Millionaire has made more 

than $326 million to date, but the film’s success has had little effect 

on the daily lives of two of its youngest stars. In fact one of them was 

left homeless in mid-May after the shanty in which he was living was torn 

down by municipal workers in Mumbai. 

Ten-year-old Azharuddin Mohammed, who played the character Salim 

as a child in Slumdog, told the Associated Press that he and his family 

had no idea that their home in the Garib Nagar slum was slated for demolition. 

He told AP that he was awakened by a police officer who ordered 

them out of their home without giving them a chance to gather their few 

belongings. 

“A police officer took a bamboo stick to hit me, and I was frightened,” 

Azharuddin told AP. “We are homeless, we have nowhere to go.” 

Local government officials — who said the boy’s home and 30 other 

shacks were demolished as part of a pre-monsoon sweep because they 

were built illegally on public land — said he and his family would be provided 

with government housing, but had no details as to when or where 

that would happen. 

Municipal official Uma Shankar Mistry told the BBC that the shacks had 

been built in an area that was meant to be a public garden. 

Slumdog Millionaire’s producers have established a trust fund to 

provide housing and education for Azharuddin and his impoverished 

nine-year-old co-star Rubina Ali, who also lives in a slum. But thus far 

the children’s lives seem to have changed little from before they were 

plucked from Mumbai’s slums to appear in the film that has made a fortune. 

Director Danny Boyle and producer Christian Colson have said the 

trust fund is significant but won’t disclose the amount (even the children’s 

parents don’t know how much it is) because they fear the youngsters 

would be vulnerable to exploitation. 

Azharuddin’s parents have said that Boyle and Colson have promised 

$30,000 for a permanent home for the family, but the boy’s mother says 

that’s not enough for a decent apartment in expensive Mumbai. A trustee 

of the trust fund established by Boyle and Colson wrote to them requesting 

more money for a new home and were awaiting a response. 

Bullet-Proof Turban 

Sikh police officers want special bulletproof 

turbans to be developed so they 

can serve in firearms units, according to 

the new British Police Sikh Association. 

Inspector Gian Singh Chahal, vicechairman 

of the British Police Sikh Association, 

said the government needs to make 

a provision for Sikhs so they can safely 

serve on firearms units. Existing police 

safety helmets do not fit over turbans. 

“There has been some research done 

into producing a ballistic material [for 

turbans]. We would like to follow any 

opportunity where we could manufacture 

a ballistic product, made out of a synthetic 

fibre, that would ensure a certain degree 

of protection, so Sikh police officers could 

take part in these roles.” 

The association was launched last 

month to represent an estimated 2,000 

Sikhs who serve in the police. 

Indo-Canadian Farmworkers 

in the Spotlight 

new photo exhibition is putting a 

A spotlight on the lives and struggles of 

B.C. farmworkers. The exhibition — called 

“A Time to Change” and made possible by 

the efforts of the Abbotsford community, 

Vancouver-based media artist and photographer 

Craig Berggold 

and the Reach Gallery 

Museum — features 

30 photographs of 

farmworkers in the 

early 1980s. According 

to a pamphlet 

produced by the Reach 

Gallery: “For these 

workers in this landscape, 

today little has 

changed.” It also notes 

that in 2007 three women were killed in the 

crash of an over-crowded van transporting 

them to work, and in 2008, five farmworkers 

died after exposure to lethal gases at a 

mushroom farm in Langley. 

A 2008 study on farmworkers by the 

Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives 

found that B.C. farmworkers are a particularly 

vulnerable group of low-wage workers. 

It recommended that the B.C. government: 

establish piece rates that are equivalent 

to the minimum wage; raise the minimum 

wage and index it to inflation; strengthen 

inspections at farm sites; review the farm 

labour contracting system. 


Clippings 

Shiamak Davar has designed a new collection of 

dance wear, called Have Feet Will Dance, for Reebok. 

Shiamak Teams Up With Reebok 

In a campaign designed to make fitness 

fun, Reebok India has teamed 

up with top Bollywood choreographer 

Shiamak Davar. 

Reebok officially launched the 

SHIAMAK brand of dance and fitness 

attire in a star-studded fashion show attended 

by celebrities including Amitabh 

Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and 

Diya Mirza. The event featured Slumdog 

Millionaire’s Tanay Chheda, stars 

from Shiamak’s Victory Arts Foundation 

and performances by the Shiamak 

Davar Dance Company. 

The brand’s namesake was front-row 

centre at the event, sporting a white 

Reebok tracksuit. 

Beginning with comfortable and 

trendy dance wear designed by Davar, 

Reebok’s SHIAMAK brand will also 

include a variety of dance workout videos 

created by the choreographer. The 

first in the series will be the Bollywood 

Dance Workout. 

“Contemporary India is a young 

nation with fitness being a necessary 

stimulant for a young mind and body,” 

said Subhinder Singh Prem, managing 

director of Reebok India. “Bollywood is 

an incredible part of the Indian heritage 

and is like an elixir for the youth. We’ve 

partnered with the one man in the 

industry who can merge these two key 

ingredients for the youth seamlessly: 

Shiamak Davar. We’re happy to announce 

that he has successfully fused 

the intricacies of Bollywood moves and 

music with fitness techniques to arrive 

at a fun-filled Bollywood workout. The 

result of our association is an Indian 

fun-packed workout and the dazzling 

apparel collection inspired from the 

moods of dance.” 

Described as hip and funky, the 

Have Feet, Will Dance collection 

includes dance pants, tanks, sweats, 

shrugs, warmers and accessories like 

dance caps. 

“My collaboration with Reebok in 

crafting an exclusive dance wear collection 

has been a long time coming,” 

said Davar. “It has always been my 

dream to create high-quality dance 

wear that celebrates the spirit of Have 

Feet, Will Dance, meaning that the 

magical joy of dance is for all to enjoy. 

At Shiamak Davar’s Institute for the 

Performing Arts (SDIPA), we believe 

in making people stronger and fitter 

through a fun yet structured program. 

We find that Reebok shares this vision, 

and I feel they are the best to partner 

with on our Bollywood Workout as well. 

To all the budding fitness enthusiasts 

out there, I say, be yourself, no matter 

what they say. Stay fit. Dance!” 

Lawyer Out of Order 

The Canadian government 

has stripped Indo-Canadian 

lawyer T. Sher Singh of the 

Order of Canada, the country’s 

highest civilian award. The 

Order of Canada was given to 

Singh in 2001 for his work as 

an advocate for “the importance 

of positive race relations and 

interactive dialogue among 

members of different religions.” 

Singh, who came to Toronto 

from Patna in the early 1970s, 

was the first turbaned Sikh to be 

given Canada’s highest civilian 

award. 

In 2007 

Singh was 

found guilty of 

professional 

misconduct by 

the watchdog 

Law Society of 

Upper Canada T. Sher Singh 

and banned from 

practising law. Before the ban, 

he was also suspended from the 

legal profession in November 

2005. 

The Law Society said Singh 

deposited cheques from a client 

into an account that was not his 

trust account and accepted trust 

funds from clients, but “failed 

to render an account, failed to 

perform substantial work on the 

file, and failed to return any of 

the retainer fee in one case.” 

A government statement 

revoking the Order said: “The 

termination of Mr. Singh’s 

appointment to the Order of 

Canada is pursuant to the 

Law Society of Upper Canada 

finding Mr. Singh guilty of 

professional misconduct and 

revoking his licence to practise 

law.” The statement added that 

the termination was effective 

from December 10, 2008. 

The statement said revocation 

can be considered when 

the conduct of the recipient 

“constitutes a significant departure 

from generally recognized 

standards of public behaviour 

which is seen to undermine the 

credibility, integrity or relevance 

of the Order, or detracts from 

the original grounds upon 

which the appointment was 

based.” 


Power Player 


Anmol Mattu 

Age: 13 

Hometown: Richmond, B.C. 

Sport: Basketball 

Team: Steveston-London Senior 

Secondary School basketball team. 

When did you begin playing? In 

Grade 3. 

Most memorable moments: 

Leading my under-14 B.C. Summer 

Games team to second place against 

a strong Fraser Valley team in the 

semi- finals. Playing for the under- 

13 boys and girls teams in the 2008 

provincials and leading both teams 

to second place and averaging 26 

points per game. Playing for the 

senior girls basketball team and 

averaging 24 points per game. 

Highlights: Winning RCMP Team 

Izzat 3-3 basketball tournament. 

Leading AAA senior girls basketball 

team to second place in Richmond. 

Winning 3-D elite boys team in the 

under-13 provincial with less than 

24 seconds on the shot clock and a 

tied game. I stole the ball from a boy 

doing a lay-up and I hustled down 

the court and I got the basket in. The 

final score was 55 - 50; we won. 

What do you love most about 

your sport? I love the pace of the 

game and the competition. 

How do you balance your 

school life with sports? I am 

very busy. I have no time to sit. I 

enjoy working hard and completing 

my homework on time. I am happy I 

made the principal’s honour roll. 

Who do you consider your 

support team outside of the 

game? My family, Drive Basketball 

Academy’s coaching staff, Pasha 

Bains, my personal trainer Isaac 

Payne. 

Advice for aspiring athletes: 

Believe in yourself and never give 

up. Be proud of who you are and 

don’t get mixed up with the wrong 

crowd. Avoid pressure and ask for 

help when you need it. 

Career goals: I would like to play 

for Team Canada and play in the 

WNBA. Above all I want to graduate 

from law school. 


Unsung Hero 

Saroj Sood 

One for all 


By Michelle Hopkins 

Saroj Sood has a gift for lifting the 

spirits of those who are afraid, lonely 

or sad. 

Sood, 78, is the unofficial den mother 

for the 53 senior residents in the 

Progressive Intercultural Community 

Services (PICS) Society assisted-living 

care facility in Surrey. Whether she’s 

planning a birthday party for someone’s 

two-year-old granddaughter, hosting a 

sing-a-long or organizing weekly socialgroup 

meetings, Sood is all about “one for 

all; all for one.” 

She moved into the PICS care home 

two years ago because of heart problems. 

“The doctors suggested I needed some 


assistance, so I came to live here,” she 

says. 

It turned out be a good move not only 

for her, but for her fellow residents. 

Inderjeet Hundal, administrator of 

the PICS assisted-living home, describes 

Sood as “a very unique personality. Saroj 

keeps everyone’s spirits up and genuinely 

cares for people. She is very compassionate. 

We are very fortunate to have her,” 

says Hundal. “She’s always cheerful and 

if someone is feeling down, she’ll go over 

and cheer them up. It is her gift, one 

she shares easily with others. People love 

being in her presence. She just radiates 

pure happiness. She has a star quality 

about her.” 

If a resident feels homesick and in 

need of emotional support, Sood can be 

counted on to offer encouragement. “I 

tell everyone never to give up hope,” she 

says. “When there’s hope, there’s life, but 

when the hope dies you are not alive. 

“I tell everyone that we are all family. 

We must care for each other just like real 

families care for each other.” 

Although she’s always happy to plan 

group picnics and shopping excursions 

to the mall, or to accompany a resident 

who doesn’t speak English to the bank, 

pharmacy or grocery store, Sood derives 

the greatest satisfaction from seeing her 

fellow residents gain new confidence in 

themselves. 

She recalls the distress of one 86-yearold 

woman who was “very frightened” at 

the prospect of living away from home. 

Sood immediately befriended her and 

soon cajoled her into getting involved 

in daily activities at the assisted-living 

centre. 

“Today, she is a leader,” Sood says happily 

of the woman. “She used to be in a 

wheelchair and now she uses a walker; her 

health, mental and physical, have both 

improved. All I did was help her to feel 

comfortable. Now she is part of a group 

of seniors I got together who support 

each other and others.” 

Sood attributes her positive outlook 

to her strong faith. Deeply spiritual, she 

spends every Friday praying in her suite. 

“I fast and pray all day,” she says matterof-factly. 

“It is my day for God and me. 

“I’m so peaceful. I sit and enjoy life as 

it comes.” 

That joy is apparent from Sood’s 

demeanor. She laughs easily and often. 

“When you laugh, the vibrations 

that surround you are sent out to the 

others around you,” she says. “They pick 

up on your joy. So spread the laughter 

and be happy; that is my message for 

everybody.” p 

Mandeep S. Randhawa 

B.Sc., LLB (UBC), TLABC Member 

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CareerCoach 

Life Lessons 

You Have 60 Seconds 

to Get an Employer’s Attention 

With so many resume submissions, the task of going through each 

resume one by one can become tedious and mundane. You want 

to gain an employer’s attention up front and retain their interest to make 

them want to exceed the 60 seconds. So how is this accomplished? 

Although resume format is important, it’s the content that makes the 

biggest difference. 

Having written resumes for job seekers and screened thousands of 

resumes for employers, here are some helpful suggestions our team 

wants to share with you: 

• Describe your skills, experience and knowledge up front. 

Ensure that your descriptions are relevant to the job you are 

applying for. 

• Italicize key words to stand out. The italicized words represent 

importance and attract the reader. These words should be relevant 

to the job posting. 

• Avoid employment gaps. Employment history should flow 

from one position to another. If you have gaps (e.g. Maternity 

leave, extended vacation etc.) mention it in your resume. 

• Explain your short stay. Nothing scares employers away then 

showing short stays at various places of employment. If these 

are contract or temporary positions, mention this on your 

resume. 

• Describe key accomplishments for each position listed. Share 

how you positively impacted the employer. (e.g. Lead a group 

to complete a 2 million dollar system upgrade within a specific 

time and within budget). The accomplishments should be 

something you completed that received recognition and not 

something you achieved as a group member. 

• Avoid copy and paste. Whatever you do, do not copy and 

paste information from the job posting to your resume. Be 

original and show how your skills, knowledge and experience 

align with the job posting. Also, avoid repetition from one job 

to the next on your resume (e.g. If you have done the same 

job over the past three years with three different companies, 

do not copy and paste your job description from one to 

another). 

The biggest question you need to ask yourself before submitting a 

resume is “does my resume sell me?” If you have to think before 

responding or unsure, then you should seek a professional resume 

writer. A good writer will take the time to customize 

your resume to fit your needs and better your 

chances of retaining an employer’s attention longer 

then 60 seconds. p 

Moshin Manji, Business partner, HRinmotion, 

provides job preparation services from a human 

resources perspective. Visit us at 

www.hrinmotion.com 

Technology 

and parenting: 

Sometimes I wonder if our society is evolving 

at the same rate as our technology is. Our kids 

know how to use the Internet to access information 

and to communicate at a very young age. They 

know how to download and upload information 

way before we even learn about the names of the 

gadgets they’re using to access it. 

Their language is evolving as well. Twenty years 

from now when they look back at our books, they 

might be surprised at how long our sentences 

were and the way we spelled words. They may be 

amused that we spelled “you” as “you” instead of 

“u” and “are” as “are” instead of “r.” Our language 

usage may seem as quaint to them as Shakespearean 

English does to us. 

The question that we need to ask ourselves as 

parents is: How do we prepare ourselves as well as 

our children for this fast paced evolution? 

In my opinion, the most important thing is 

that we try to keep up with them as much as possible. 

We need to learn about “their” ways of doing 

things just as much as they need to learn about 

“our” ways. We need to minimize the gap between 

our generations and understand the differences, 

why these differences exist and why we need to accept 

some of them. 

We can teach them only what we know ourselves. 

If we don’t know about the Internet, how 

can we teach our kids about Internet safety? We 

need to educate ourselves and each other. A lot of 

work is being done by schools, governments, and 

public organizations to teach us about these technological 

advancements but if we keep looking the 

other way we are going to miss out on this. The 

schools are doing what they can to teach our kids 

about using due diligence when on the Internet 

but we need to work with the schools as well. Our 

kids need to know about cyber-safety and we need 

to know how we can keep our kids safe in cyberspace. 

We all know how to supervise our kids at 

the park or in the mall but we also need to learn to 

supervise them in cyberspace. Our generation has 

given them this technology and it’s only fair that 

our generation gives them the tools to use it safely 

and constructively. p 

Meena Makkar, M. Sc., M.Ed., RCC 

is a registered clinical counsellor and 

is working as a school counsellor in 

Surrey. She takes a special interest 

in issues faced by parents, especially 

Indo-Canadian parents. 

Parenting Tips 


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Advertising Feature 

Profiles 

of Success 

Custom Brokers 

Ronnie Rai is part of a growing number of Indo-Canadian 

women making their mark in the male-dominated import 

business. 

In her three years at A & A Contract Customs Brokers Ltd., 

Ronnie has proven she has the knowledge and expertise to 

make it in the fast-paced and competitive world of customs 

brokerage. 

A & A has built a solid reputation as one of the leaders 

in the customs brokerage, freight forwarding, warehousing, 

distribution, vehicle importation, one-time custom 

clearance, compliance audits, barcodes, permits and 

shipping industry. The wholly Canadian-owned familyrun 

company was founded in 1979 by Graham and Candy 

Robins, has been in the business for three decades and has 

a proven track record of excellence in the field. 

Ronnie, who is fluent in English and Punjabi, is a selfdescribed 

ambitious and driven individual, says she offers 

one-stop service for her clients. 

“I provide one-on-one personal service, which means I 

assist and follow through in every step of the process, from 

warehousing to shipping to border permits to freight and 

delivery,” says the 40-year-old. “You have to be ready for 

the unexpected and deal with it right away … It’s a very 

deadline-driven industry.” 

She liaises between all the departments so that her 

clients only have to deal with her. Ronnie’s clientele import 

products from all over the world – Austria, Thailand, India 

and everywhere in between. 

When Mehfil spoke to Ronnie, she was tracking live coral 

coming from Thailand. Coral must reach Canada within 24 

hours or it will die. 

It’s up to her to ensure that no problems are encountered 

along the way and that the shipment arrives on time and 

alive. 

“Mistakes can cost my clients money,” she says. 

Ronnie was born in Juktpur, Punjab India but 

immigrated to British Columbia with her parents and at 

the age of five. 

Meanwhile, Ronnie is working on her Certified Customs 

Specialist program through the Canadian Society of Custom 

Brokers. She writes her final exam in September. Her next 

step is to earn her Certified Sales Professional designation. 

Once completed, she says, it will enable her to network with 

an inner circle of like-minded sales professionals. 

“I love my job because it’s constantly changing,” Ronnie 

says. “One day I’m clearing a horse, the next a car and then 

a shipment of food. Dealing with customs regulations can 

be a complicated process, and I’m here to help my clients 

move their goods as seamlessly as possible.” 

Ronnie Rai 

A & A Contract Customs Brokers Ltd 

Tel 604.542.7364 | Fax 604.542.7336 

Toll Free 1.866.735.2698 

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Scene & Society 

1 

1. Jal Mamta Setia (centre) at 

Vancouver Fashion Week, and 

(2) with models at her Fashion 

Ka Jalwa show at Ginger 62 

Lounge. 

1 

2 

CORSA’s 5th Annual Kohinoor Diamond Ball 

1. B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, Simrit Ollek, Sarbjeet 

K. Sarai, and Attorney General Wally Oppal. 

2. Herb and Neelu Dhaliwal, Moninder 

and Arvinder Bubber. 

2 

1 

1 

2 

2 

4 

3 

3 

Save a Life fundraiser 

benefiting the Surrey 

Memorial Hospital 

1. Baljit and Narinder 

Sabharwal. 

2. Chandra Bodalia 

and City of Surrey 

Counsellor Tom Gill. 

3. Pav and Zia Gill. 

South Asian Business 

Association of B.C. Launch 

(SABA) 

1. Jim Kalsi, Parm Dhinjal, Salinder Burmy, 

Victor Lall. 

2. Gurmant Grewal, Shari Boyal, Maninder 

Gill, Jagdeep Gill. 

3. M.S. Dhaliwal, Tochi Sandhu, Dilbag 

Mann, Kuldeep Gill, Amarjit Samra. 

4. Kultar S. Thiara and Shoaib Rauf. 


Kamal Sharma (right) 

with Jagjit Singh at his 

Farewell Tour dinner party.

1 

2 

1 

Surrey Food Bank annual 

breakfast fundraiser 

1. Muhamad Afzal Malik 

and Bhim Sen Nair. 

2. Jas Janda-Wiseman, 

Dave and Ranjjet 

Benning, Jas Cheema. 

2 

3 

1 

2 

4 

5 

3 

6 

4 

7 

4th annual Brian Jessel BMW 

Cabriolet Charity Fashion Gala 

1. Lucky Janda, Brian Jessel, 

Rana Vig, Bob Bhindi. 

2. Paul and Ruby Arora. 

3. Ravi and Jasbir Bahra. 

4. Babita Bhindi, Sanjana Patten, 

Bob Bhindi, Suki Patten. 

5. Raj and Kamal Binpal 

6. Kiran and Lucky Janda. 

7. Brian Jessel and Rhoda 

Rizkalla. 

5 

7th Annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles 

1. Actress Pooja Batra. 

2. Alan Rosenberg, President, Screen Actors Guild, and 

Anil Kapoor. 

3. Nandita Das and IFFLA Director Christina Marouda. 

4. Suneel Gupta and CNN Chief Medical Correspondent 

Sanjay Gupta. 

5. Actor Annu Kapoor with director Anand Surapur. 


Spotlight 

Chandra 

Bodalia 

Image of 

giving 


The sun is shining down on a grinning 

little boy licking his ice cream, which is 

dripping down his chin. In another photo, 

sitar legend Ravi Shankar looks regal as he 

stands, arms crossed, in thoughtful contemplation. 

In yet another shot, former United States 

president Bill Clinton smiles broadly as 

he looks right into the lens of Chandra 

Bodalia’s camera. 

These photographs are among nearly 

three million images that Bodalia has captured 

over the last three decades. 

“I typically take 5,000 pictures a week,” 

says the 60-year-old Bodalia. 

Whether it’s a little one’s first birthday, 

a 50th wedding anniversary, family reunion 

or a fundraiser such as the Diwali Festival, 

Bodalia can be found lugging his beloved 

camera to take snapshots that become lasting 

memories. 

From photographing B.C.’s Attorney 

General Wally Oppal, to television anchor 

Pamela Martin, to freeze-framing the sweat 

dripping off a kabbaddi player, Bodalia has 

proven his talent for capturing the moment 

beautifully. 

Even more astonishing is that he does this 

completely free of charge. In fact, Bodalia 

has spent tens of thousands of his own 

money to support his volunteerism. 

When asked why he does it, Bodalia 

shrugs: “All of my life, I want to help my 

community in any way I can. Since I love 

photography, it makes sense to give back 

this way.” 

This past April, Bodalia was honoured 

with a Seva Award for “his dedication to 

championing people through his photography.” 

After accepting his plaque at the 



Vaisakhi Gala, Bodalia found himself 

on the other side of the lens, posing with 

Premier Gordon Campbell and Surrey 

Mayor Dianne Watts. 

Another proud moment for him came 

in 1996 when he received the Gujarati 

Society of B.C. award for inspiring future 

generations and for outstanding selfless 

contributions and dedication. 

After a little prompting, Bodalia admits 

he has received more than 20 awards over 

the years from the Sunset Indo-Canadian 

Seniors Society Vancouver for “valuable 

service.” 

As he flips through some 70 of his 

photographs, he appears to be transported 

through time. “I took this photograph 

of NDP leader Carole James when she 

was campaigning in Surrey and shaking 

hands with her constituents,” he says. “I 

took this shot of the VPD chief of police, 

Jim Chu, when he was giving a press 

conference.” 

Over the years, Bodalia has been given 

unprecedented access to many local and 

international dignitaries and celebrities, 

as well to many political functions. 

“I photographed the opening of the 

Richmond Oval and that was exciting,” 

he says. “I attend hundreds of political, 

religious and festive events every year. My 

phone sometimes doesn’t stop ringing.” 

His donated photographs can be seen 

regularly in local South Asian newspapers. 

Bodalia likes to focus on capturing volunteers 

“performing good deeds around 

the South Asian community. That way, 

people can see the many good things our 

people are doing to make the community 

a better place for everyone.” 

His interest in photography took root 

soon after he graduated from college in 

his native Gujarat. After earning three 

diplomas, in commerce, painting and 

sculpture, Bodalia landed a job as an 

advertising photographer for The Gujarat 

Samachar, a local newspaper. 

“At that time, I travelled all over India 

photographing temples,” he says. 

When he was in his late 20s, his future 

bride sponsored him to B.C. and Bodalia 

immigrated to Canada in 1976. 

“When I came to B.C., I began to 

volunteer for the Vishva Hindu Parishad 

temple as its photographer and editor of 

their magazine,” he says. 

“Later, I started photographing 

Bollywood stars for the local papers when 

they came to town,” says Bodalia. “I still 

do that today; I’m considered the official 

photographer for Bollywood stars.” 

As he packs up his precious images, 

Bodalia says he’s on his way to Surrey 

to yet another photo assignment. “I’m 

heading to a fundraiser for cancer,” he 

says. “Whatever fundraiser people ask 

me to photograph, I will always try to 

accommodate them. This is my hobby 

that has taken on a life of its own. This is 

my work. This is my passion.” p 

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The Inspired Sufi 

By Azim Jamal 

Making the Most of Time 

Sometimes you have to slow down 

to speed up. One day, I came home 

to a busy work schedule. My son, 

Tawfiq, wanted some attention from 

me and I ignored him, focusing on my 

computer work. He stood right beside 

me, not letting me work. I spent two 

hours trying to shrug him off. I did not 

get much of my work done and Tawfiq 

was disappointed at his dad’s lack of 

interest. The next time this happened, I 

went on my knees and gave Tawfiq my 

heart, attention and love. Within three 

minutes, he was so satisfied that he went 

on to play and I had a good hour and fiftyseven 

minutes to work on the computer. 

Sometimes in life, slow is fast. If you have 

an irate customer complaining about 

something, give that person your heart, 

body, mind, spirit and unconditional 

attention and in a short time you will 

defuse the difficult situation. 

“The less effort, the faster and more 

powerful you will be.” — Bruce Lee 

There is often an inverse relationship 

between urgent and important. People 

focus on urgent, but the urgent is not 

always the important. For example: health 

is not urgent but is important; reading is 

not urgent but is important; reflection is 

not urgent but is important. Brain Tracy 

states: “One of the best uses of your time 

is to increase your competence in your 

key result areas.” 

Many of us are familiar with the 

example of big rocks being put in a jug 

followed by small rocks, water and sand. 

Once the big rocks are put first, the small 

rocks, water and sand go in easily. If, 

however, the small rocks, water and sand 

go in first, there is no room for big rocks. 

What many of us don’t know is what our 

big rocks are and if we are putting enough 

time into our big rocks. The important 

items are the “big rocks,” which if 

not done first will probably not be 

done at all. 

Doing less to achieve more I was 

sharing the concept of doing less to 

achieve more with a pharmaceutical 

company in the United States. One of 

the participants could not get his head 

around this concept. He questioned how 

one can achieve more by doing less. He 

was always taught to achieve more by 

doing more — working harder, faster, 

When we learn to 

differentiate between 

chronos (linear time) 

and kairos (quality or 

value time), we begin to 

manage time well and 

appreciate the power of 

being present. 

and smarter. I explained the key is to 

be laser-focused on important things 

and eliminate insignificant things. If 

something is not significant, it should be 

eliminated. If for some reason you cannot 

eliminate it, you should delegate it. If 

you cannot eliminate or delegate, then 

procrastinate doing it. After elimination, 

delegation and procrastination, you need 

to prioritize. Once this is achieved, you 

execute around a tight set of priorities. In 

doing this, you do less but achieve more 

by removing items that do not add value 

to your life. 

If you have too many priorities, you 

have no priorities! As Warren Buffet states: 

“I can’t be involved in 50 or 75 things. 

That’s Noah’s Ark’s way of investing. I like 

to put a large amount of money in a few 

things.” 

Kairos and Kaizen, not Chronos 

When we spend our time wisely and 

practise continuous improvement, we 

invite “signs” that expedite our journey in 

this direction. Some people are too caught 

up with traditional time management. 

Chronos is the Greek word for time as 

we measure it by clocks and calendars. 

It is linear and sequential. Everyone goes 

through time. However, few practice 

Kairos. Kairos is the Greek word used in 

the Christian Bible to indicate a fixed or 

definite period — an opportune season or 

a critical time. The latter practice happens 

when we are present. To get maximum 

benefit from it, you must reflect on how 

to spend it and how to make appropriate 

choices. When we learn to differentiate 

between chronos (linear time) and kairos 

(quality or value time), we begin to manage 

time well and appreciate the power of 

being present. Kaizen is a Japanese word 

for continuous improvement, which 

also happens when we are fully present 

and spend time on important things, 

such as reading, exercise, planning and 

meditation. 

Knowing when your energy is highest 

helps you do your most important work 

at that time. I wake up at 1:30 a.m. a few 

days a week to do my most creative work. 

I sleep at 8.30 p.m. I do not recommend 

this sleeping pattern to everyone. 

However, choose the pattern that enables 

you to do your most important work 

when your energy is at its highest. p 

Azim Jamal is the No. 1 Amazon Bestselling Co-Author 

of The Power of Giving: How Giving Back Enriches Us 

All (published by Penguin). Now available on Amazon 

and at major bookstores. 


Cab09ThxAD Mehil 5/7/09 5:21 PM Page 1 

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Politics 

by Andy Radia 

The Canadian Dream? 

People from around the world have 

long settled in Canada with hopes for 

a better life. New immigrants are drawn 

to this country with the belief that it will 

offer their families a higher standard of 

living, well-paying jobs, a great education 

system, and an abundance of social benefits 

and safety nets. This is the so-called 

“Canadian dream.” 

Increasingly, however, Canadian immigrants 

are experiencing economic struggle. 

The unemployment rate amongst 

new immigrants is now double that of 

the general population, under-employment 

in this group is between 25 to 35 

per cent, and one out of every five new 

immigrants is living in poverty. 

For many newcomers, the Canadian 

dream has become a nightmare. 

In the past, immigrants tended to 

catch up or even exceed the income levels 

of their Canadian-born brethren after 

a short period of time. Immigrants who 

arrived in 1971, for example, started out 

with an average annual income about 30 

per cent lower than that of the average 

Canadian born, but in 10 years they were 

making more than the Canadian born. 

Over the past two decades, however, the 

economic fortunes of immigrants have 

changed for the worse. In 1990, those 

newcomers who had been in Canada for 

10 years only reached about 90 per cent 

of the earnings of the Canadian born; in 

2000, the same comparison shows that 

immigrants earned about 80 per cent of 

average earnings. 

The Canadian government has taken 

a two-pronged approach to curb the 

declining economic welfare of its immigrants. 

The current Conservative government 

has been the first government in 

our country’s history to tackle the issue of 

foreign-credential recognition. 

Many newcomers have difficulty finding 

work that best suits their education 

and qualifications in part because their 

credentials are not recognized. We have 

all heard the countless stories of foreigntrained 

doctors who end up driving taxis 

and engineers who become janitors. 

“I think it’s a tragedy that we have so 

many people who arrive from some of 

the highest levels of their societies and 

then come to Canada and end up being 

stuck in survival jobs,” says Jason Kenney, 

Canada’s minister of immigration 

and citizenship. 

We’ve all heard the 

countless stories of 

foreign-trained doctors 

who end up driving taxis 

. . . We are bringing in 

hundreds of thousands of 

immigrants, based on their 

skills and qualifications, 

who are not able to utilize 

their skills once they arrive 

in Canada. 

“It’s not acceptable. It’s a waste of human 

resources and, frankly, immoral.” 

Kenney’s ministry is now spending 

more than $32 million a year to fund 

the Foreign Credential Referrals Office 

(FCRO). The FCRO provides practical 

information to newcomers about what 

they need to become accredited, both 

in Canada for those newcomers already 

here, and abroad for those waiting for an 

opportunity to come to our country. The 

federal government has also committed 

another $50 million to the provinces to 

work with provincial agencies and licensing 

boards to develop common pathways 

to recognition. 

With a modicum of success on the issue 

of credential recognition, Kenney 

has now turned his attention to language 

proficiency of new Canadians. 

The topic of language proficiency has 

long been a political “hot potato.” Political 

parties have historically avoided the 

issue at the risk of alienating ethnic communities 

and losing the all-important 

ethnic vote. 

To Kenney’s credit, he has confronted 

this issue with full vigour. 

“The single most important factor in 

economic success for new Canadians is 

language proficiency,” says Kenney. 

Kenney points to a recent survey of employers, 

conducted by Compass Research, 

that shows that language proficiency was 

the primary reason why companies were 

not hiring new-immigrant workers. 

International data supports the Compass 

poll. A decade ago, Australia had 

the same problems as Canada: too many 

immigrants were not succeeding, including 

those with skills and education. As a 

result, the Australian government implemented 

tougher language requirements; 

Australia now requires all prospective 

economic migrants to achieve a high 

score on a language proficiency test. 

The policy has been successful. In Australia, 

82 per cent of economic migrants 

get work within six months. In Canada, 

only 60 per cent do. In Australia, 76 per 

cent of all employed economic migrants 

earn more than the median wage. In 

Canada, it’s only 33 per cent. 


While Kenney isn’t willing to go as 

far as the Australians in terms of implementing 

higher language standards for 

prospective Canadian immigrants, he 

recently made some public comments 

about requiring newcomers to show proficiency 

in English or French before receiving 

citizenship. 

“There is a current long-standing legal 

requirement in the citizenship act 

for new Canadians to speak English or 

French. I do have a concern that this requirement 

is not being consistently enforced,” 

he says. 

“I recently met a citizen of Canada who 

has lived in B.C. for 15 years and couldn’t 

speak any English. This I find troubling. 

I think we’re letting down newcomers if 

we don’t help them integrate more successful 

with French or English language 

requirements.” 

The government can’t be accused of 

paying “lip-service” to this issue. Since 

2006, the Conservative government has 

nearly quadrupled immigrant-settlement 

funding by committing $1.4 billion over 

five years. 

The government also offers free English 

classes to all immigrants but, astonishingly, 

only 25 per cent of new immigrants 

are enrolling. 

Only 25 per cent? 

Despite the refrain from those who are 

anti-immigration, Canada needs a robust 

immigration strategy to mitigate our 

long-range skilled-labour shortages and 

to stave off eternal economic stagnancy. 

What’s happening now, however, is that 

we are bringing in hundreds of thousands 

of immigrants, based on their skills and 

qualifications, who are not able to utilize 

their skills once they arrive in Canada. As 

a result they can’t find suitable employment 

and face economic hardship. 

To improve the economic outcomes of 

new immigrants, the federal government 

needs to continue its work with the provinces 

and professional licensing organizations 

to bring clarity to the credential 

-recognition process. 

New immigrants need to do their share 

as well — they need to learn English at a 

level that enables them to communicate 

effectively with employers, co-workers 

and the public. 

The Canadian dream is still attainable. 

But we all have some work to do to make 

it happen. p 

Andy Radia is political columnist based in Vancouver, 

B.C. His articles have been published in the 

Vancouver Sun, Winnipeg Free Press and Vancouver 

Metro. He can be contacted through his website at 

www.radia.ca 

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Feature 

Nannygate 

A high-profile case puts spotlight 

on care-givers program 

When former nannies employed by the family of Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla accused 

Dhalla of mistreatment and exploitation, the allegations, which Dhalla denies, 

prompted unprecedented scrutiny of the federal Live-In Caregiver program. Richelyn 

Tongson and Magdalene Gordo, immigrant caregivers employed to care for Dhalla’s mother, 

allege they were forced to work long hours for less than minimum wage and were expected to 

perform tasks unrelated to caregiving, including shovelling snow, polishing shoes and washing 

cars. Dhalla has vehemently denied all the accusations levelled by the former nannies and the 

case is the subject of a hearing before the Commons Citizenship and Immigration Committee. 

Advocates for immigrant caregivers 

say allegations in the case highlight 

problems with the Live-In Caregiver program. 

They say that several of the program’s 

requirements make caregivers 

vulnerable to exploitation. Specifically, 

caregivers’ advocates are calling for 

changes to the requirement that caregivers 

must live in their employers’ 

home, a stipulation they say can lead 

to a caregiver being “on call” 24 hours 

a day. Caregivers must also prove they 

have worked 24 months providing 

live-in care within a three-year period in 

order to apply for permanent resident 

status. If they fail to be employed for the 

24 months, they can be deported. 

Mehfil Magazine spoke to Dex 

Thompson of the West Coast Domestic 

Workers Association about the Live- 

In Caregiver program and the concerns 

that the association most often 

hears from foreign nannies working in 

Canada. 

Dex Thomspon, 

West Coast 

Domestic Workers 

Association 

What are some of the misconceptions 

people have about the Live-in Caregiver 

program? 

Those who are looking for a caregiver 

don’t realize how long the process can 

take. It can take up to two years from 

the initial decision to hire a caregiver to 

the time that caregiver arrives in Canada. 

The majority of employers are unaware 

or don’t care about the full array of 

employer obligations, from document 

requirements (such as issuing payslips, 

records of employment, etc) to basic 

employment standards. The number 

of employers who violate employment 

standards around pay, working hours, 

job duties etc. is shocking. And that’s 

not even counting the employers who 

intentionally abuse their caregivers. I 

think that many employers don’t realize 

or consider the fact that caregivers are 

leaving their own children, partners and 

loved ones far away to come and care for 

our families. 

Virtually all of the caregivers we meet 

have no idea how difficult it will be to 

complete the Live-in Caregivers Program. 

Unscrupulous agents will usually 

paint a rosy picture involving a straightforward 

24 months of work followed by 

quick approval as a permanent resident. 

They don’t talk about how vulnerable 

caregivers are when they are isolated in 

employer’s homes, and how few employers 

actually respect caregivers’ rights. 

In fact, most caregivers are unaware 

of their rights. Extraordinarily long 

processing delays for work permits and 

permanent residence applications means 

that some caregivers will be in Canada 

for up to seven years before they finally 

become landed and are reunited with 

their families. 

This is assuming that they can actually 

complete their 24 months – processing 

delays when changing employers make 

it difficult, sometimes impossible to 

complete 24 months in three years, never 

mind the fact that they also mean that 

caregivers can be without legal means 

to work for up to almost a year, in some 

cases. 

I’m sure that most caregivers are 

unaware of the many different criteria 

that can make them and their loved ones 

inadmissible for permanent residence, 

including medical inadmissibility, as in 

the high-profile case of Juana Tejada. 

(Editor’s note: Applicants to the Livein 

Caregiver Program must complete a 

medical exam before they are issued a 

work visa, and another when applying 

for permanent residency. When caregiver 


“Just think of the worst boss you ever had, then 

imagine living with them, with nowhere to turn for 

help. It’s the caregiver’s word against the employer’s. 

Who believes a caregiver, especially when their 

employer is a well respected member of society?” 

Juana Tejada took her second medical 

exam in 2006 and was diagnosed with 

colon cancer, she was ordered to be deported. 

After appealing the decision and 

winning the right to stay in Canada, she 

lobbied for a law which would exempt 

nannies from the second immigration 

medical exam. Tejada died last March. 

Passage of the proposed “Juana Tejada 

Law” was recommended in May by the 

standing committee on citizenship and 

immigration.) 

What are the most common types of 

abuse you hear about from nannies? 

It is extremely rare to meet a caregiver 

who is paid properly and has been treated 

well by their employer. Employers will 

force caregivers to do things that they 

are not supposed to, such as clean their 

offices or friends’ homes. Employers will 

demand money for documents they are 

legally obligated to provide. Of course, 

we’ve also seen too many cases of verbal, 

emotional, physical and sexual abuse. 

Do you think there is a lot of abuse 

that goes unreported? 

Caregivers are uniquely vulnerable to 

abuse, by virtue of the fact that they 

are required to live in their employers’ 

homes. Just think of the worst boss you 

ever had, then imagine living with them, 

with nowhere to turn for help. It’s the 

caregiver’s word against the employer’s 

– who believes a caregiver, especially 

when their employer is a well respected 

member of society? Even then, who 

would intervene? The government? So 

many caregivers keep silent about abuse 

because they are worried that if they 

leave, they won’t be able to complete 

their 24 months in time. Employers will 

hold caregivers hostage by taking their 

passports and documents. They prey 

upon misinformation and the caregivers’ 

fear. 

How well prepared are domestic 

workers for their new lives in Canada, 

including the potential for abuse? 

Agencies illegally charge fees from 

caregivers who seek their help to come 

to Canada. Governments encourage 

workers to go overseas because they 

send remittances that benefit their home 

economies. It’s extremely difficult for 

caregivers to get the real story before they 

enter the program. 

How well informed are employers who 

hire foreign caregivers? 

The onus is on the employer to learn 

about the rules, and there is little incentive 

to do so . . . Employers don’t get in 

trouble for unauthorized work; caregivers 

do. Caregivers are the ones who suffer 

when employers don’t provide them with 

necessary documents. 

What is the government doing about 

the abuses? 

Not enough. Immigration Minister Jason 

Kenney said this year that he planned to 

crack down on unscrupulous agencies, 

but we haven’t yet seen the results. The 

House of Commons Standing Committee 

on Citizenship and Immigration 

recently released a report with numerous 

recommendations to improve the situation 

of temporary foreign workers and 

non-status individuals, many of which 

were helpful, although they didn’t go far 

enough. It remains to be seen whether 

the government will actually implement 

them. 

What are some of the things your 

organization would like to see changed 

and how will those changes improve 

the situation? 

We would like to see live-in caregivers 

granted permanent residence upon arrival 

in Canada, as is the case with other 

classes of immigrants. At the very, very 

least, if no other changes are made to the 

program, caregivers should receive open 

work permits that are not employerspecific, 

and should not be required to 

live-in. 

excerpt: 

TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKERS 

AND NONSTATUS WORKERS 

Report of the Standing Committee 

on Citizenship and Immigration 

“The Committee recognizes that 

the current program places the 

live-in caregiver in a disadvantaged 

position, dependent on her 

employment for more than her 

livelihood. No one should feel that 

they have to tolerate mistreatment in 

the short-term for the long-term gain 

of permanent residency. Nor should 

anyone be prevented from obtaining 

permanent residency when they fail 

to meet requirements through no 

fault of their own. ” 

Recommendations: 

• that the Government of Canada 

provide for a possible one-year 

extension of the three-year period 

during which a live-in caregiver must 

complete 24 months of employment 

in order to be eligible to apply for 

permanent resident status, when 

there is a good reason. 

• the implementation of the "Juana 

Tejada Law" which would exempt 

live-in caregivers from the second 

medical exam when they apply for 

permanent residence. 

• that the Government of Canada 

remove the requirement that 

individuals with certain work permits 

live with or on the premises of their 

employer. 

What can caregivers do if they are being 

exploited? 

Caregivers should learn their rights and 

not be afraid to stand up for themselves. 

Unfortunately, as temporary workers, 

caregivers aren’t entitled to the same 

kind of services that Canadian citizens 

and permanent residents are. However, 

there are some advocates available to 

provide information and support, such 

as the Vancouver Committee for Domestic 

Workers and Caregivers Rights. 

Caregivers are always free to contact us 

(WCDWA) for free information and 

legal assistance. p 

Share your comments with Mehfil at 

www.mehfilmagazine.com or email us 

at opinions@mehfilmagazine.com 


Feature 

Nanomania Sweeps India 

MUMBAI — The rush of luxury-car owners seeking to buy the Nano, 

the world’s cheapest car, was not the only surprise hours after advance 

bookings for the latest product from Tata Motors opened across India 

on April 9. 

At the Concorde Tata Motor showroom, in central Mumbai, a roadside 

cobbler, Maruti Bhandare, paid the equivalent of $2,819 US as 

an advance payment for a Nano Deluxe. The base model costs around 

$2,000. 

Maruti Bhandare, who shares a first name with Nano’s biggest competitor, 

Maruti Suzuki, became a star attraction for TV news channels. 

Next morning, he was India’s most famous Nano hopeful buyer, and 

possibly Asia's first roadside cobbler to pay 75 per cent up front for a 

deluxe model car. 

Yet many more people like Bhandares 

could be out there. For the first time in 

India, advance car-booking forms were 

provided for the Nano launch, and Tata 

Motors had sold more than one million 

forms for the Nano at $6 per form since 

April 1. For the first time, buyers paid 75 

per cent and upwards of the total car cost 

in advance — and that was without being 

allowed the benefit of a test drive. 

Tata Motors could pull in an estimated 

$1.4 billion from Nano advance 

bookings. That will be a useful lift for 

the cash-strapped company, which by 

June has to service $2 billion of a $3-billion 

loan incurred in buying British car 

brands Jaguar and Land Rover. 

Tata is struggling with production 

problems for the Nano, which was unveiled 

in January 2008. Barely 3,000 

Nanos roll out monthly, against the 

planned annual production of 250,000. 

To meet demand, Tata Motors, part 

of the $62.5 billion Tata group, plans 

By Raja Murthy 

to allot 100,000 Nanos in a randomly 

computer-generated lottery after two 

months. 

Though Tata group chairman Ratan 

Tata said he is targeting the Nano for 

small towns, interest was bigger in larger 

cities, although demand there cut across 

income groups. Dealers in metropolitan 

centers such as Kolkata hired more staff 

and security to deal with the rush. 

"To my surprise, even owners of 

BMWs, Audis and Mercedes cars have 

bought Nano booking forms, besides 

the middle class," said KLK Paul, general 

manager of Nano dealer Wasan Motors 

in Mumbai. 

Paul told Asia Times Online that his 

three Mumbai showrooms saw 5,000 to 

6,000 people, with 1,000 Nano booking 

forms sold in two days. 

Cobbler Bhandare represented one 

extreme of prospective buyers of the 

“People’s Car,” as Tata Motors has 

dubbed the Nano. “The Nano is based 

on an emotional desire to provide a safe 

and affordable mode of transport for Indian 

families which were exposed to the 

weather and other dangers,” Ratan Tata 

said in March. 

Tata ought to have remembered that 

emotional responses to problems pro- 


duce only new problems. Besides production 

headaches, the Nano has raised questions 

as to whether it was seducing into 

car ownership an income group, such as 

roadside cobblers, who may be vulnerable 

to the costs of maintaining a car 

Ratan Tata said he embarked on the 

Nano project after seeing a family riding 

a scooter in a monsoon night in Mumbai. 

Yet a parallel question is whether 

unleashing the world's cheapest car on 

the world's second-largest middle class 

can solve transportation problems for the 

middle class family or increase their daily 

commuting misery. 

TV anchors at the Concorde Nano 

showroom excitedly hailed Bhandare as 

the “common man” for whom the Nano 

was made. Encouraged by a cup of chai, 

or spicy tea, across the road from his 

workspot, he laid bare his thoughts to 

Asia Times Online on why he was prepared 

to pay nearly twice his annual income 

as an advance for a car. 

Bhandare said he had saved for six years 

to buy a motorcycle for about $1,000, 

but began saving an additional $3 daily to 

buy the Nano when it appeared in 2008. 

He earns $140 a month, he said, from 

one of the cupboard-like, tiny roadside 

shoe shops that dot Mumbai. 

Bhandare said he doesn’t know how 

to drive a car and hasn’t yet thought of 

getting a driving license. He had not consulted 

anyone about buying the car, until 

he reached the showroom. 

How often would he use the car? 

“I may use the Nano twice a month to 

take my family to the temple.” 

What about monthly expenses to run 

a car? His “daily car budget” would be 30 

rupees [60 US cents]". 

That is well short of the costs estimated 

by a “professional” in the car business, 

elderly cab-driver Salim Mohammed, 

who said 2,500 rupees a month would be 

needed to run a car on the clogged roads 

of Mumbai, India’s financial hub, given 

use of about 20 kilometers a day. “Less 

than 1,000 rupees would be needed if the 

car is taken out sparingly.” 

So Bhandare could be OK with his 

30 rupees daily car budget if his Nano 

is largely a stationary family showpiece 

and he doesn't run up garage bills, parking 

fees and waste fuel in the city’s traffic 

snarls — which the Nano could worsen, 

their sales helped along by banks. 

The Nano could increase India’s carowning 

population by 65 per cent, according 

to a Crisil market survey, while 

17 leading Indian banks, besides Tata 

Motors, offer loans with monthly installments 

starting at $50, the cheapest they 

have offered for a car. 

The State Bank of India’s loan eligibility 

for a Nano mentions as potential 

borrowers self-employed people earning 

$2,000 annually to salaried workers pulling 

in $1,500. An office peon in Mumbai 

earns $1,900 a year. 

Just how well the new car will perform 

in the testing circumstances of everyday 

urban traffic will be revealed in the coming 

weeks. But no question marks remain 

over the Nano design. It delivered on 

promises of comfortable inner space. All 

six feet-plus of this correspondent could 

fit into the back seat of the 633-cc car, 

with an astonishing five inches of legroom 

to spare. 

“The spacious interior is the biggest 

surprise,” agrees Joseph D’Silva, resident 

of Aberdeen, Hong Kong, who visited the 

Concorde Tata Motors showroom. He estimates 

that the $2,000 Nano in Hong 

Kong would have running costs of $3,300 

a month. “Even though my family can afford 

a Mercedes Benz, I don’t own a car 

in Hong Kong because public transport is 

very good,” he said. “That should be the 

Germaine Point 

Manager 

way forward for cities such as Mumbai.” 

Others wanting the Nano as the second 

family car were more cautious. “My 

father wanted to buy the Nano, but I said 

we should wait and watch to see how it 

fares on the road,” said Rishi Bhandoo, 

advertising manager at The Statesman, a 

leading English daily from West Bengal 

state. 

Nano relocated its factory site last 

October from West Bengal, in Singur, 

following violent political agitation protesting 

the factory being set up on alleged 

agricultural land. The alternative factory 

site in Gujarat state is expected to be fully 

functioning only from next year. 

Bhandare said he won’t wait long for 

delivery of his car. “If I don’t get the Nano 

from the first allotment, I will cancel my 

booking and buy a motorcycle,” he said. 

Sometimes in life, we regret having got 

what we wanted most. In six months, he 

and other prospective buyers will know 

whether they are lucky to own a Nano, 

or be cursing their desire to have got one. 

And some will be content sticking with 

more traditional transport to battle for 

road space with Nano trendsetters. p 

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Profile 

Gary Dhaliwal 

Built for Success 


When people mistook Gary Dhaliwal’s youth as an impediment, it simply 

made him hungrier to succeed. 

Right after graduating from high school in 2005, Dhaliwal founded 

Mainland Civil Works Inc., a one-man excavation business. Initially, he worked 

small jobs in and around the Surrey area. Soon, through word-of-mouth and 

a reputation for jobs done well and on time, Dhaliwal began picking up bigger 

contracts. 

“Every time someone hesitated to deal 

with me, it made me try even harder,” says 

Dhaliwal. “I thought that if I could convince 

them to give me a chance, the work 

would speak for itself.” 

Today, Mainland Civil Works Inc. is a 

bonded, unionized company with an office 

staff of eight and a crew of more than 

50 professionals (estimators, project co-ordinators, 

tradesmen and site foremen) out 

working in the field. The fleet consists of a 

wide range of construction equipment, including 

more than 20 excavators, backhoes 

and dump trucks. 

The young entrepreneur attributes his 

success to dedication, ethics and skilled employees. 

He says he understood early on the 

significance of hiring the right people. 

“When you surround yourself with good 

people, you are at an advantage,” says Dhaliwal. 

“I have a great right-hand man, Peter 

Baskovic. He assists me so much and has 

been instrumental in helping me move the 

company forward.” 

Dhaliwal, who describes himself as a 

hands-on type of boss says, “We run Mainland 

Civil Works Inc as a team. I tell the 

guys they are as responsible as I am for the 

success of the company. Loyalty and respect 

run both ways.” 

A typical day for Dhaliwal, who’s a member 

of the B.C. Road Builders Association 

and the Vancouver Regional Construction 

Association, starts at 5:30 a.m. He usually 

begins by visiting each job site, where he 

meets with his foreman and crews to ensure 

they don’t have any pressing issues or 

concerns. On a given day, Dhaliwal visits 

between eight to 10 sites, spread around 

the Lower Mainland. Then he heads to the 

office, where he handles paperwork, deals 

with prospective clients and anything else 

that needs his attention. 

“At the beginning, when I was building 

my company, I put in 16- to 17-hour days, 

six days a week,” he says. 

He still works six days a week. However, 

he’s down to 10- to 12-hour days. To bring 

balance to his life, Dhaliwal gets out for 

the occasional round of golf, plays a little 

competitive hockey and is in the midst of 

acquiring his helicopter licence. 

Dhaliwal grew up around the construction 

industry. As a kid, during school vaca- 




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Profile 

tions, he would visit the work sites overseen 

by his father, real estate developer 

Darshan Dhaliwal. 

“My dad had his own excavator and 

as a kid I recall playing on his machine,” 

he says. “I was living every boy’s dream of 

playing with big Tonka toys.” 

When Gary approached his parents to 

finance his goals, he received their wholehearted 

blessing. 

“My parents supported me fully,” he 

says. “They believed in me enough to provide 

me with the capital needed to start 

out. My dad really impressed upon me 

the importance of hard work and good 

work ethics.” 

Although the economy has slowed the 

construction business somewhat, Mainland 

Civil Works continues to expand. 

“I will be hiring another 20 employees 

for a new project we are about to begin, 

the South Fraser perimeter road from 

Tsawwassen to the Port Mann Bridge,” 

says Dhaliwal, adding he competes for 

contracts with about 20 large firms and 

some smaller firms as well. “We are also 

working on the new Surrey Hospital outpatient 

facility.” 

Dhaliwal is moving his company into 

new ventures such as drilling and shot 

crete — a method in which concrete is 

sprayed onto a surface rather than poured 

in the conventional way. 

“This method has been primarily used 

in Europe and is just recently being introduced 

in Canada,” says Dhaliwal. 

Meanwhile, the White Rock resident 

firmly believes in supporting the communities 

in which he lives and works. To 

that end, Dhaliwal sponsors a number of 

local, non-profit organizations such as the 

Surrey Food Bank, Ivan Hanchard Charity, 

UBC Students Taking Initiatives, the 

B.C. Paraplegic Association, B.C. Professional 

Fire Fighters Burn Fund and Surrey 

Memorial Hospital. 

“Every Christmas, we place donation 

bins at all of our sites and ask for donations 

of gently-used clothing,” Gary says. 

“The staff then distributes the items to 

the homeless in Surrey as well as in the 

Downtown Eastside.” 

Having the opportunity to give back 

is one of the greatest rewards of his career, 

says Dhaliwal. As far as the future is concerned, 

he’s characteristically ambitious: 

“I hope to be the largest infrastructure 

company in B.C. Then I would like to 

eventually get my company working on 

American job sites.” 

A lofty goal, but given the solid foundation 

he’s managed to build by the tender 

age of 22, it’s an entirely realistic one. p 

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Binpal and Associates 

Charting 

The Way 

Forward 

In a profession that relies heavily 

on the past it’s not always easy to 

find a forward thinker. But forward 

thinking is one of the things that helped 

shape the success of lawyer Raj Binpal 

and his firm Binpal and Associates. 

“I’ve tried to anticipate the future 

needs of our community ever since 

I’ve been in Canada,” says Binpal, 

who practised for a decade with three 

pre-eminent property law firms in 

Britain, including blue chip Nabarro 

Nathanson, before coming to Canada in 

1993. 

“I gained invaluable experience in 

the UK and was privileged to represent 

clients on some very large and complex 

projects, like the Canary Wharf development,” 

he says. 

That experience and the expertise 

he gained, combined with his Indian 

roots, put him in an enviable position 

in Canada where the Indo-Canadian 

community was at the beginning of 

a major growth curve in 1993. Two 

years later Binpal began to practice in 

Surrey, B.C. 

“Back then there weren’t too many 

Indo-Canadians doing large scale property 

development, but more were starting 

to do small ones and it was evident 

that as the community became more 

successful there would be a need for 

specialized help with bigger projects,” 

he says, “the kind of expertise that’s 

typically available only through downtown 

law firms.” 

He was right. 

As the size of their clients’ projects 

grew, Binpal’s firm was able to 

put together increasingly sophisticated 

deals and help clients navigate complex 

legal issues. 

“As a firm we saw an opportunity 

to grow with the community; we grew 

by looking forward and anticipating the 

community’s needs as it evolved,” he 

says. 

One of those needs was for a 

firm that could liaise with mainstream 

corporations and it wasn’t long before 

Binpal’s firm became a gateway 

between the two communities. 

Today, while Binpal and 

Associates continues to serve the 

needs of individuals, the projects they 

represent are generally large scale, 

multi-million dollar developments. 

At the same time, the firm has gained 

the kind of recognition generally 

reserved for downtown law firms. For 

example, Binpal and Associates was 

recently highlighted in the Canadian 

legal magazine Lexpert for their part 

in a $32-million project in Squamish, 

B.C., and the firm is on the commercial 

lending list for major corporations 

like Royal Bank of Canada, Business 

Development Bank of Canada and

PHOTO BY RON SANGHA 

“Anticipating the future needs 

of our evolving community 

has helped us identify 

opportunities and we’ve made 

sure we’ve had the necessary 

expertise and experience to 

be able to serve those needs 

professionally and effectively.” 

– Raj Binpal, 

Forward thinkers (from left): Lawyers Jason Sandhu, Raj Binpal and Rajdeep Singh Deol. 

Coast Capital Savings Credit Union. 

In addition, Binpal and Associates 

recently won a high-profile, precedentsetting 

Court of Appeal case involving 

mortgage fraud. 

“We acted to protect one of our 

clients — a homeowner who had been 

defrauded and became a victim of the 

system,” says Rajdeep Singh Deol, one 

of the firm’s lawyers who participated 

in the appeal. “Our victory means 

that BC’s mortgage fraud laws will be 

interpreted differently in the future and 

homeowners will be better protected.” 

A UK-trained lawyer, Deol joined 

Binpal and Associates in 2003 bringing 

with him extensive experience in real 

estate litigation, complex commercial 

litigation and construction litigation. 

Also part of the Binpal and 

Associates team is Jason Sandhu, 

whose focus lies in corporate commercial, 

real estate and wills and estates 

law. Since 2005, he has managed and 

completed numerous asset and share 

transactions and land development 

matters. 

Asked about what he sees in the community’s 

future, Binpal says: “Two 

words: Estate planning.” 

The community, he explains, is at 

a point now where there are many families 

and individuals who have accumulated 

significant wealth. “Our people 

have worked hard, saved, invested 

wisely and have created wealth through 

entrepreneurship. They have a lot of 

money and are starting to think about 

passing it on to their children.” 

While Binpal and Associates continues 

to work in corporate and property 

law, two years ago they also began 

establishing themselves as an estate 

planning firm. 

“We have clients who say, ‘I want 

my children to inherit my money but 

what if they get divorced? I don’t want 

the spouse to just walk away with 

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I don’t want the money to be squandered 

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says. 

Fortunately, there are legal instruments 

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one’s wealth remains safe, even after 

you’ve passed on. 

“People want to be able to pass on 

their wealth from generation to generation, 

but it’s very important to do it in 

a fashion that protects it from future 

claimants,” he says. 

“I want our clients to be able 

to sleep in peace at night knowing 

that whatever money they will leave 

behind, it will be protected for generations 

to come.” 

Now that’s forward thinking.

Feature 

Sunita Bapooji 

Stretching 

the Mind 

with Sookshma Yoga 

“I hated yoga,” Sunita Bapooji recounts in a speech to a yoga class 

about childhood memories of watching her family practise the ancient 

art. “Every morning I would see my five brothers, my four sisters and 

my father standing on their heads and I’d say, ‘Why do I have to 

struggle?’ I just want to sing.” 

She loved to sing and had won numerous 

awards since she was four years old. But at the 

age of 11, Bapooji lost her voice to an illness 

that affected her lungs and vocal chords. “I 

think I became very proud,” she says, speculating 

on the reason she lost her voice. 

Then one day her father said, “If you want 

your voice back, listen to me and I’ll teach you 

subtle yogic techniques.” 

She listened and learned and practised and 

soon discovered that yoga didn’t just help her 

voice but helped her find an inner peace. She’s 

never been sick since, she says. 

Today, Sunita Bapooji, 50, is described by 

her followers as a divine guru of yoga and meditation 

and is said to have helped heal people in 

India, Africa and North America through Sookshma 

Yoga, a form of yoga she pioneered and 

has been teaching for more than 25 years. She is 

also the founder of the Sunita Center for Overall 

Wellbeing in Surrey, B.C., where she conducts 

workshops and teaches Sookshma yoga. 

Yoga, she says, comes from the Sanskrit word 

meaning unity, while Sookshma means subtle 

or micro. 

“The trillions of cells in your body each have 

a subtle energy,” she says. But that energy gets 

suppressed because of the stress in most people’s 

lives, she explains. 

“Modern life is very hectic. No time for self,” 

she says. “These six emotions — anger, greed, 

lust, jealousy, pride and ego — can wreak havoc 

on our bodies,” she adds. “They breed disease, 

depression and moodiness.” 

But Sookshma Yoga can cleanse the body of 

the negative effects these emotions have and free 

the microcosmic energy in each cell, she says. 

“It is not a fitness program,” says Dr. Suman 

Kollipara, one of Bapooji’s students, adding that 

there is more to yoga than breathing and positions. 

“The person who wrote the book on yoga 

principals... the first line in his book says Yoga 

is created to stop the fluctuations of thoughts 

and mind; it is to control the mind,” he says, 

adding that what Bapooji teaches is how to help 

“retrain the mind.” 

Bapooji says the reason so many people live 

with chaos, sickness and lack of peace is because 

of the disharmony between what they think and 

how they act. 

“Our minds are like monkeys, restless, and if 

there is no union between the body and mind, 

there is no peace.” 

Sookshma Yoga’s foundation is based on ridding 

oneself of negative human instincts — or, 



Feature 

“Our minds are like 

monkeys, restless, and 

if there is no union 

between the body and 

mind, there is no peace.” 

– Sunita Bapooji 

Sookshma Yoga 

Simple steps to a healthier 

body and a happier life 

n Drink three glasses of warm water every morning. After eight hours 

of sleep, the body craves water, so hydrate it. Water also aids with 

elimination. 

n Spend at least 30 minutes with yourself in the morning and before 

going to bed in silence. This allows one to self-reflect on actions and 

thoughts. In this process you tend to evolve into a better person by seeing 

where you need to get better. 

n Have a big bowl of oats for breakfast with nuts, fruit and honey. Oats 

help strengthen the digestive and nervous systems, while nuts and fresh 

fruit contain anti-oxidants that fight against many diseases, including 

cancer. 

n Drink a lot of water during the day. It helps in normalizing body 

weight and eliminating toxins accumulated in the body regularly. 

n Stretch and take short breaks at work. This releases accumulated 

muscular tension in the body, helping to avoid problems like back and 

neck pain. 

n Include lots of vegetables and whole-grain breads and rice in the diet. 

Fibre is an essential ingredient in the diet. It reduces constipation, and 

decreases the risk of diseases such as colon cancer, heart disease and 

diabetes. 

n Breathe deeply whenever you feel worry or panic. Deep breaths bring 

more oxygen to the brain. This allows one not to be overpowered by 

emotions. 

n Count to 50 whenever you are angry. Anger not only raises blood 

pressure, but causes damage to the cells and can lead to hypertension 

and heart problems. Counting to 50 gives you enough time to calm 

down. 

n Remember, love is the best medicine. When we really love someone, 

we want to give, give and give. Giving is joy. Giving creates utmost 

satisfaction. Pure, unconditional love creates pure thoughts and in turn 

nurtures a peaceful mind and a healthy body. This pure union between 

mind and body is yoga. p 

at the very least, not becoming victims to 

them. 

Bapooji’s message: There are three stages 

to the transformation where the mind 

and body are unified — physical healing, 

emotional healing and then the real union 

of body and mind. 

“Everyone has the power within to 

attain that level of peace, love and joy,” 

says Bapooji. “It’s about getting in touch 

with your soul. Detaching oneself from 

the mind and body so as to finally reach a 

true union of the two.” 

The essential principle of Sookshma 

Yoga is unconditional love, she adds. 

“Through love, I help people clear those 

negative layers and open up to a beautiful 

self.” 

She emphasizes that it’s not about 

meditating and performing yoga for 30 

minutes, then going home to play with 

your kids, cook a meal and fret over everyday 

situations. 

“Yoga is a way of life,” says Bapooji 

softly. “Yoga can help you cultivate a calm 

body, mind, and spiritual awareness.” 

As an added benefit, she says, “Sookshma 

is a natural anti-aging process because 

when your cells are in bliss and you have 

no stress, your skin glows with health.” 

Kollipara says he has personally experienced 

Bapooji’s healing powers. In fact, 

he believes so strongly in her approach he 

has given up his veterinary practice and 

founded the non-profit organization Peace 

Tree Innovations Society Center for Peace 

and Harmony. The centre promotes yoga, 

meditation and nutritional guidance as 

tools for creating health, wealth and inner 

peace in individuals, families and society. 

It’s all based on Bapooji’s teachings. 

“Bapooji clears all the emotional baggage 

we carry within us to calm down our 

minds, and she does this without ever 

touching you,” he says. Through chants, 

silence and “unexplained vibrations” she 

helps you focus on your inner self, says 

Kollipara. 

“Sunita believes that within our bodies 

we have the gross and subtle (or micro- 


Suman Kollipara founded 

the non-profit organization 

Peace Tree Innovations Society Center 

for Peace and Harmony based on 

Sunita Bapooji’s teachings. 

scopic) body,” says Kollipara. “It is at that 

cellular or microscopic level where the 

root of our problems, diseases and disorders 

exists. Once that Sookshma energy is 

fixed, the physical anxiety and hypertension 

doesn’t take long to leave you.” 

People touched by her energy and 

presence claim to be healed from ailments 

such as diabetes, high blood pressure, early 

stages of cancer and various addictions. 

Deepa Soni, 28, says she suffered from 

the effects of Crohn’s Disease for more 

than two decades. In November 2008, a 

friend introduced her to Bapooji. From 

the first visit, says Deepa, she felt transformed. 

“Sunita gave and showed me my own 

willingness and made me aware of my 

true self. I felt strong, powerful and filled 

with an abundance of energy and happiness,” 

says Soni. “Nothing else seemed to 

matter any more. Not only was I on top 

of the world but others could also see my 

joyful bliss. This gave me the will to know 

that I could achieve anything.” 

More importantly, her disease seemed 

to disappear. Her doctors are baffled by 

her recovery, she says. 

“Going to Sunita has not only cured 

my Crohn’s but I feel there is more than 

that,” says Soni. “She balances emotions 

and stress. There is an overall justification 

of one’s self . . . we become in tune with 

positivity.” 

Bapooji stresses that we all have the 

power to heal ourselves with a little guidance. 

Like the guidance her father gave 

her so many years ago. She still loves to 

sing and has released a CD entitled Angeli, 

Songs from My Heart, a compilation 

of a dozen devotional songs and prayers. 

“My goal is to teach students how to 

give unconditional love. That is my life 

journey,” she says. 

Along the way, she’s bound to also 

teach a lot of people how to love yoga. p 

Avtar 

Mann 

Your Trusted Realtor Since 1991 

Specializing in 

Multi Family Project Marketing, 

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604-644-5641 

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Cover 

Dev i n a Za l e s ky 

A SURVIVOR’S 

Dr i v e t o Re a ch 

t h e To p 

Devina Zalesky first discovered she was a survivor at just 

seven years old. Life had been happy and carefree in her 

small village of Nausori, Fiji, where her father ran the family 

rice plantation. Then one day a cyclone ripped through 

the town. Flood waters rose to the door of the family’s modest home, 

built on stilts four feet above the ground. Curious to see the wrath of 

the storm, Devina, a name that means divine, leaned out the door — 

and was swept straight into the deep water. All that was visible was 

her waist-length hair, floating on the surface of the water. In a bit of 

“divine” intervention, her father reached in, grabbed a fist-full of that 

hair and pulled her to safety, gasping and sputtering. His daughter 

survived, his farm did not. 

With no insurance and no money to rebuild, 

the family was devastated, wiped out. At one 

point, her father sold his only suit to buy food. 

A year later, with still no prospects for income, 

the family appealed to relatives in Canada to 

help them immigrate. In 1972, Devina, her 

parents and two brothers landed in Vancouver 

with their meagre belongings and hope for a 

new life. They lived with her mother’s brother 

for a year, then moved to a basement suite. Two 

By Robin Roberts 

years later, her parents bought their first home, 

in East Vancouver. It was a new beginning, 

but that new beginning was also a tremendous 

upheaval, and it took its toll on Devina’s 

parents. “We arrived in June, but with our 

first winter came the unrelenting rain, and it 

was very depressing for all of us,” remembers 

Devina, now 46. Her parents soon separated. 

Left to raise three kids alone, Devina’s mother 

worked two jobs. During the day, she laboured 



Cover 

“It really was sink or swim . . . I didn’t know what it meant when we were called 

Pakis or Punjabs or told to go back where we came from. It took a while to learn 

that this was being said in a mean, racist manner.” 

— Devina Zalesky 

at a plastics manufacturing firm. At night, 

she cleaned office buildings. Devina, at 

just 12, would often accompany her mom 

and help her clean the buildings at night. 

At 13, she had her own job, working at 

a malt shop. By 16, she was waitressing. 

Proving herself a reliable worker, despite 

her young age, Devina was entrusted 

with opening the restaurant for the day’s 

business. Weekday mornings at 6 o’clock, 

she would rise, make her younger brothers’ 

breakfast and lunch, leave for the 

restaurant, where she would work until 8, 

go off to school, work a few more hours 

afterward, go home to help her mother 

with supper and other household chores, 

then fit in time for homework before 

falling into bed. It was a survivor’s mentality 

instilled out of necessity, to once 

again keep her head above water, if only 

figuratively this time. She knew that if 

she wanted that better life her family had 

travelled half-way around the world to 

find, it required hard work. “I guess I was 

determined I was not going to continue 

to live the life that I had lived,” Devina 

says simply. 

It wasn’t an easy integration, however. 

Devina and her brothers spoke very little 

English when they arrived in Vancouver. 

“Basically, I was dropped into school here 

in Grade 4 and learned English as I went 

along,” she says. “It really was sink or 

swim.” Then there was the bullying and 

teasing in the schoolyard. “I didn’t know 

what it meant when we were called Pakis 

or Punjabs,” she says, “or told to go back 

where we came from. It took a while to 

learn that this was being said in a mean, 

racist manner.” 

Devina says she coped because she 

was just so happy and thankful to be in 

Canada, and constantly praised then- 

Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau for passing 

the legislation that made their immigration 

possible. 

Today, Devina’s mother works at a 

pharmaceutical distributing firm, her 

younger brother Ro co-owns a beauty 

supply business. Devina is president of 

AllWest Insurance Services Ltd., where 

her younger brother works with her as 

an insurance broker. Devina’s dad lives 

with his new family in Alberta, and visits 

Devina often. “The first time he came 

to my home, his eyes welled up,” she 

remembers. “He couldn’t believe where 

I’d ended up.” 

am in awe of her,” says Devina’s husband, 

Paul Zalesky, as he looks fondly 

I 

at his wife. The two are seated in their 

sumptuous West Vancouver home, overlooking 

the ocean, a long, long way from 

“ 

Eight-year-old Devina in Fiji with 

brothers Rohit (left) and Mohit before 

the family left for Canada. 

Fiji and the struggles of her younger life. 

“You see that with first-generation immigrants, 

the desire to just work and have 

something so much better. There’s such 

a tremendous appreciation for what we 

[who were born in Canada] have; new 

Canadians perceive it as a gift.” But that 

gift came at a price, as Devina’s struggles 

were far from over. 

At first, it seemed as though her 

hard work would reward her with the 

charmed life she so craved. Displaying 

an aptitude for business during her final 

year at Britannia Secondary School, her 

teacher, John Adams, suggested she work 

for his father, Frank Adams, who owned 

an insurance company. But she had her 

sights set higher: she wanted to be a flight 

attendant, to see more of the world. 

She even took night courses at BCIT 

in anticipation of her new high-flying 

career. Problem was, when PWA, the 

now-defunct airline she’d applied to, prepared 

to bond her, they discovered she 

was only 18 — far too young to work 

as a flight attendant. So, she followed 

her teacher’s advice, and went to work at 

Adams Insurance Group. 

“You noticed her when she walked 

into a room,” recalls her former teacher, 

John Adams. “She had a really bubbly, 

cheerleader, outgoing-type personality; 

she just looked like she had a lot on the 

ball. She stuck out in my mind as a real 

people person, and I thought she would 

do really well in anything dealing with 

people. So I suggested she go see my dad, 

and maybe join the family business.” 

Adams, who, along with his brothers, 

run the company now that their father 

has retired, says the young whip didn’t 

disappoint. Although, as an autoplan 

agent, the first order of business for the 

new hire was to learn to drive. “We had 

a fleet of stick shifts, and she didn’t know 

how to drive a standard, so I had to show 

her how,” says Adams, chuckling at the 

memory. Fortunately, “her work ethic 

is just outstanding,” he says, and she 

quickly caught on to the stick shift, and 

the business. So much so that, within a 

year, she had moved on. “We were disappointed 

when she left, but at the same 

time, we gave her our best. There’s lots 

of business out there for everybody. And 

she’s done a fantastic job [with AllWest 

Insurance]. Last time I saw her, I told her 

I was really proud of her, of what she’d 

accomplished.” 

Her ambition on overdrive, she was 

anxious to climb the corporate ladder. 

But Frank Adams had four sons, and 

Devina could see her odds of climbing 

too high would be blocked by a succession 

of heirs. So, in 1983, she approached 

Bill Verlaan at Coyle Insurance Agency, 

one of the largest autoplan agencies in 

British Columbia. “She came to see me 


Cover 

Devina Zalesky and her husband 

and sons celebrate her 25th anniversary 

with AllWest Insurance. 

“I nearly died. I realized 

in an instant how truly 

precious life is. I was 

afraid I would never see 

my sons again. I now 

value each day, and try to 

live it to its fullest.” 

— Devina Zalesky 

to ask if she could represent our agency,” 

recalls Verlaan, who bought out Coyle in 

1982, and changed the name to AllWest 

Insurance in 1984. “She looked to potentially 

be a very good worker, and she 

turned out to be the best worker I had. 

What set her apart was her attitude, her 

efficiency, her drive, her pleasant personality, 

her good looks — everything. She 

was exceptional to all the other employees. 

She had a drive that nobody had. I 

used her as an example with the other 

staff on the road, and they were jealous of 

her. She was making five times the money 

they were making. She was at it from 

morning to night, seven days a week. And 

she always went after the best of vehicles 

— the Mercedes, the Jaguars, the BMWs. 

She knew where the money was. She had 

ways about her of getting dealerships that 

nobody else could get.” 

Devina had joined the company without 

a car of her own, so Verlaan bought 

her a brand-new Toyota. Less than two 

years later, with a solid portfolio of “the 

best of vehicles,” she went to her boss 

with a proposition. “She was dealing 

with the Mercedes Benzes, the BMWs, 

the Jaguars,” says Verlaan, now retired 

and living in Kelowna. “Her little Toyota 

wasn’t quite up to par. So she asked for a 

monthly car allowance so she could buy 

herself a Mercedes — very smart on her 

part. So from then on in, she started driving 

Mercedes. That’s the type of girl she 

was; she always looked ahead.” 

Looking ahead to March 1986, she 

laid eyes on the suave and charming 

Paul Zalesky when she went to prepare 

a client’s insurance at luxury auto dealer 

MCL Motorcars, where Paul worked at 

the time. It was love at first sight. “We 

really liked each other’s style — hardworking, 

kind, honest and driven for 

success,” remembers Devina. One year 

later, they were engaged; six months after 

that, they were married in Maui on New 

Year’s Eve. A year after that, Paul joined 

his wife at AllWest. For the next few 

years, the dynamic duo lived an exciting, 

yet hard-driven, life. Devina worked 14 

hours a day, six days a week to achieve 

the very high bar she’d set for herself. 

Then, two tragedies, in the form of miscarriages, 

stopped them in their tracks. 

They began to re-evaluate their lives 

and where they were going. At the same 

time, their company went up for sale. 

On Valentine’s Day, 1992, they bought 

AllWest. Including themselves, the staff 

numbered 18. Today, AllWest is the largest 

independent autoplan agency in the 

province, encompassing two divisions, 

one in Vancouver, the other in North 

Vancouver, with a staff of over 200. Paul 

is CEO, Devina is president. 

In the midst of acquiring their company, 

Devina finally had a successful 

pregnancy with their first son, Stefan. 

Being a new mom, however, didn’t slow 

her down. She divided her time and 

focus between her growing family, which 

included another son, Mikhail, four years 

later, and her burgeoning business. 

“Of the 972 agencies in B.C., our 

Vancouver office is the largest, and our 

North Vancouver office is the second 

largest,” says Paul proudly. “And you 

can attribute that all to Devina and her 

focus. She’s always going the extra mile 

for someone. I remember a woman called 

at quarter to 10 one night, upset, saying 

her insurance had expired and she didn’t 

know what to do. Devina drove over 

and gave her a decal and the paperwork. 

Another time, a woman called to say her 

house was on fire. She had four Japanese 

exchange students living in her basement, 

and somehow the power cords for their 

computers got tangled up and started 

the fire. Devina and I, as well as our two 

sons, jumped in the car and went to her. 

We got her and her students set up in a 

hotel, calmed them, and reassured them 

an adjuster would be over in the morning. 

People are always so astonished and 

impressed that Devina would make the 

effort to do that. If you’ve got the ability 

to help, then you do it. You can’t turn a 

blind eye in an emotional moment. And 

that’s been our company motto: always go 

the extra mile, always care, whether it be 

for a corporation, an individual, or a family. 

Whatever Devina can do to help, she’s 

done. Even when the staff have a personal 

problem, they’ll call her before they’ll call 

their parents.” 

Paul and Devina’s assistant, and the 

company’s manager of corporate relations, 

Dana Voynovich, concurs. “Devina’s a 

very generous individual. When she started, 

she didn’t have much, and she draws 

her strength from that. When she sees 

people struggling, she’s willing to extend a 

helping hand. I consider them my friends 

as well as my employers. They treat me 

well and I treat them well; we have a 

good relationship. We’ve been for dinner, 

we’ve vacationed together. But when I’m 

here, I’m here to work, I have a job to do, 


and they recognize that. When we’re not 

working, we can have a great time, kick 

off the heels kind of thing.” 

Voynovich says she’s tried to get her 

boss to take the occasional time out, with 

varying success. “Devina integrates herself 

fully into the company, and that’s because 

it’s something she’s worked very hard at. 

You can’t just completely relinquish the 

reins and sit back and feel relaxed. That’s 

part of who she is. If it’s stressful, though, 

I’ll tell her to shut the Berry off. Yeah, 

that’ll last for about two seconds. Then 

her little fingers will inch over and she’ll 

push it back on!” 

As picture-perfect as the Zaleskys’ lives 

were, however, they were not immune 

to more misfortune. In 2004, Devina 

survived her second brush with death. 

While vacationing in Italy, she was sitting 

on the window sill of her hotel. The 

windows were wide open, as the couple 

tried to catch a breeze in the 34-degree 

evening heat. She lost her balance, fell 

and impaled herself on a small potted 

palm tree below. She was emergency airlifted 

to a hospital in Zurich, Switzerland, 

suffering from internal bleeding, a concussion, 

severed carotid artery, fractured 

clavicle, ribs and coccyx, and lacerated 

liver. She underwent surgery, spent a 

week in intensive care, then another week 

in a recovery ward. The bill: $285,000 

US. “A testament to good travel insurance,” 

says Paul, wryly. 

To Devina, it was a life-altering experience. 

“I nearly died,” she says. “I realized 

in an instant how truly precious life is. 

I was afraid I would never see my sons 

again. I now value each day, and try to 

live it to its fullest.” 

Then, in November 2007, yet another 

blow. While working out at the gym, 

Devina found she didn’t have her usual 

energy. She hadn’t been feeling quite 

right, and was grappling with a persistent 

cough. She went to her doctor, who sent 

her for tests, including a mammogram. 

“They found a lump,” she says solemnly. 

She had routinely done her own breast 

exams, as had her doctor. Neither discovered 

the lump. She remembers very 

clearly the day she was given the news. 

“It was January 17, 2008. I was driving 

home from the doctor’s office, crying, not 

thinking clearly. I was in shock. I must 

have been driving erratically, as I was 

reaching for tissues, trying to see through 

my tears. A police officer pulled me over. 

When he saw me, he asked what was 

wrong. I told him, and he hugged me. He 

even offered to drive me home.” 

As devastated as she was, Devina says 

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Cover 

Top: Devina and Paul Zalesky with 

actor Robin Williams. Middle: 

The Zaleskys with hockey legend Wayne 

Gretzky. Bottom: Devina with former 

U.S. president Bill Clinton. 

Making a Difference 

Devina Zalesky’s face is often found 

smiling back from the society pages 

of newspapers and magazines, as 

she hosts and attends fundraisers in 

support of charities such as UNICEF, 

Easter Seals, Child Find BC, Make a 

Wish Foundation, Zajac Foundation, 

B.C. Children’s Hospital, Lions Gate 

and St. Paul’s Hospital Foundations, 

and the United Way, among many 

others. As a breast cancer survivor, 

the Canadian and B.C. Cancer 

Agencies hold a special place in 

her heart. For information on the 

next Weekend to End Breast Cancer, 

which takes place August 15 and 16, 

go to bccancer.bc.ca. 

If you’re a woman over 40 with 

or without a family history of breast 

cancer, Zalesky’s advice is to get a 

mammogram. Find a screening office 

near you at www.bccancer.bc.ca. p 

one of her first thoughts was that she 

would beat it. “I told myself I would get 

through this no matter what,” she recalls. 

“I would see my sons graduate and get 

married.” 

She underwent her first surgery, a 

lumpectomy, two months later, followed 

by radiation therapy. Then she had a 

second surgery to remove some lymph 

nodes, to be on the safe side. This 

was followed by a course of anti-cancer 

drugs called Tamoxifen, which triggered 

a severe allergy. Those were traded for 

a different drug, via injections, once a 

month, directly into her ovaries. The 

pain was excruciating, and her reaction 

adverse, once again. “Now I’m just going 

to get my ovaries removed,” she says, with 

resignation. Removing the ovaries stops 

production of estrogen, which reduces 

the risk for a potential recurrence of the 

cancer. That procedure is scheduled for 

June, and her prognosis looks good. She’s 

survived again. 

Reflecting on a very challenging year, 

Devina says if there’s one thing she 

knows now that she wishes she’d known 

then, it’s the importance of a mammogram. 

“There was no history of cancer in 

my family, on either side,” she says. “You 

hear about it, but you never think it’s 

going to happen to you. I wish I’d gotten 

a mammogram earlier. I tell everyone 

over 40 to get one.” 

Always a close couple, the diagnosis 

has brought Paul and Devina even closer. 

“When I gave him the news, he told me 

to be strong, that he loved me more than 

anything. He is my rock,” she says of her 

husband, who stayed up late most nights, 

researching all he could about breast 

cancer, and her treatment options. Last 

year, he participated in the BC Cancer 

Foundation’s two-day, 60-km Weekend 

to End Breast Cancer in his wife’s honour, 

raising over $50,000. It was the largest 

individual donation that year. 

Today, Devina’s cut back on work, 

but just marginally — from 70-80 hours 

a week, to 65-70 hours a week. The joy 

she still derives from her business keeps 

her distracted, she says. “You don’t want 

to think about it,” she says of the cancer. 

“The more active you are, the better you 

are. Certain days you’re down because 

of all the medication, what your body’s 

going through.” 

Dana Voynovich says, while many 

people take the “less you know, less you’re 

scared” approach to such a diagnosis, 

Devina has been the opposite. “She armed 

herself with a lot of information. She 

took the bull by the horns, which is the 

way she is anyway, so it doesn’t surprise 

me. There are times, I’m sure, when she 

was at home and felt very alone and 

very sad. But you didn’t see a lot of that 

when she was at the office or anywhere 

else. She just kept very busy, which was 

not difficult for her.” Voynovich admits 

her jaw dropped when her boss told her 

the news. “I was shocked. I had a panic 

attack and everything went woozy. It 

hit too close to home. It starts to make 

you think, all the things you used to be 

worried about, the colour of your car, the 

drapes in the living room. None of it is 

important; it doesn’t matter.” 

While Devina and Paul have travelled 

extensively — their home is filled with 

huge paintings, sculptures and statues 

of Asian and Indonesian art, as well as 

a massive, century-old royal kimono 

under glass, brought back from their 

trips — there are still many destinations 

on their must-see list. One of those is 

India, the homeland of Devina’s grandparents 

before they sailed to Fiji to work 

the sugar canes. Although they both 

died when she was very young, Devina 

would like to some day make a pilgrimage 

to see their roots, around Madras, 

and to ensure her sons know their heritage. 

They already have a head start: 

Offspring of two ethnicities — Paul’s 

Russian/Ukrainian — Stefan, now 19, 

and Mikhail, 15, consider themselves 

first and foremost brown. They even 

attend Diwali, and understand a bit of 

Hindi, since Devina and her mother have 

spoken to them in the language from the 

time they were babies. 

For now, however, the Zaleskys’ 

excursions will be a little closer to home. 

Devina recently added a long-coveted 

pet project to her list of distractions. 

“I’ve always wanted to buy a place in 

Palm Springs,” she says, “and when I was 

diagnosed, we went down in March and 

bought a place. We gutted it, redesigned 

it, did the whole interior decorating. I 

love spending a lot of time there in the 

desert. It uplifts my spirits each and every 

morning when I wake up.” 

Today, however, Devina gazes out at 

a spring storm gathering over the grey 

Pacific. Somewhere on the other side of 

that rolling ocean, thousands of miles 

and a lifetime away, is Fiji. Where she 

first learned to survive. p 


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children children across across BC. BC. We We will will build build a a super-centre of care of care research research in one in one central central location. location. 

that, that, thanks thanks to both to both caregivers and and donors, donors, will will touch touch And And we are we are funding funding clinics, clinics, 

the lives the lives of countless of countless BC children BC children and and their their families. families. 

equipment and and programs programs for kids for kids 

in in communities near near and and far far 

Changes Changes in the in practice the practice of medicine of medicine in the in 25 the years 25 years 

throughout BC. BC. 

since since BC Children’s BC Children’s Hospital Hospital opened opened have have rendered rendered 

its critical its critical care care facilities facilities obsolete. obsolete. Medicine Medicine today today is is 

family family focused focused — yet — we yet can’t we can’t accommodate families. families. The The goals goals of the of the campaign 

Technology permits permits faster faster diagnoses and and less less invasive invasive 

are are large, large, but but we we know know 

treatments, but we but are we unable are unable to house to house the the equipment 

we need. we need. We We tackle tackle exceptionally complex complex surgeries surgeries that that together with with the the people people 

and and struggle struggle to find to find space space in our in operating our operating rooms rooms for the for the 

of British of British Columbia we we will will achieve achieve them. them. 

equipment and and personnel personnel required. required. A lack A lack of isolation of isolation 

rooms rooms increases increases the risk the risk posed posed by infectious by infectious diseases. diseases. 

Ongoing Ongoing renovations temporarily address address some some of the of the For For more more information on on the the 

symptoms, but are but not are long-term not long-term solutions solutions to the to problems the problems 

we face. we face. We We have have to act to now act now or we or risk we risk losing losing our our 

Campaign for for BC BC Children, 

ability ability to attract to attract and and retain retain the world’s the world’s best best caregivers 

please visit visit 

and and researchers. A new A new BC Children’s BC Children’s Hospital Hospital 

will will address address these these challenges related related to to technology, 

treatment, treatment, accommodating families families and and recruitment. 

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Weddings 

Lakhbir Singh, 42, from Vancouver 

Manjit Gill, 38, from Vancouver 

The old adage “mother knows 

best” rings particularly true 

for Lakhbir Singh and Manjit 

Gill. When Lakhbir’s mother met 

Manjit’s mother at a summer camp 

attended by their grandchildren, 

they struck up a friendship and 

exchanged numbers. It wasn’t long 

before Lakhbir’s mom arranged a 

meeting between him and Manjit. 

He was immediately impressed. 

“I thought she was very beautiful 

and intelligent,” he says of his 

reaction. “I knew she was the one 

after a few dates and the initial 

shyness was over. It was clear we 

could spend our lives together 

happily no matter what ups and 

downs life threw our way.” 

Instead of planning a proposal, 

Lakhbir took the old-fashioned 

route. “This is embarrassing but I 

let my mom tell her mom as it has 

been done in India for centuries,” 

he says. “My mother did a great 

job and picked well. Every day that 

goes by reaffirms our commitment 

to each other.” 

A formal engagement ceremony 

was just fine with Manjit. “I was 

happy and excited to spend my 

future with him. I had no doubt we 

would have a great life together as 

soulmates until the end.” 

Lakhbir left most of the wedding 

planning to his mother. “She has 

been planning my wedding for 20 

years,” he points out. 

The marriage took place in 

Richmond. “The weather was 

nice and sunny, but cold,” recalls 

Lakhbir. “However, since I was a 

naval officer in the Canadian Navy 

for nine years, I served on about 

three warships in the Atlantic 

Ocean and have become quite 

used to being cold.” 

For the marriage ceremony, 

the bride and groom wore coordinated 

outfits, Manjit in a 

burgundy lehenga and Lakhbir 

in a burgundy achkin. For the 

February 

2009 

reception, Lakhbir 

changed into his fulldress 

naval uniform 

while Manjit wore a 

white and silver outfit. 

After the wedding, 

the newlyweds escaped 

to Whistler for skiing, 

snowmobiling, ziptrekking 

and spa-style 

pampering. Lakhbir 

describes it as a “minihoneymoon” 

and says an extended 

honeymoon is still to come. “The 

real honeymoon will be in August 

— perhaps to Thailand, Goa or 

Hawaii (my favourite place on 

Earth and the location of my future 

retirement house).” 

For now, the couple live in 

Yaletown. “Our goal as a couple 

is to have a family and to live 

life to the fullest. I have bought a 

million-dollar waterfront condo in 

Yaletown to be our family’s future 

home,” says Lakhbir. 

To ensure that future will 

be a harmonious one, they’re 

committed to making compromise 

and communication priorities in 

their relationship. 

“The secret to a successful 

relationship is give and take on 

both sides,” says Lakhbir. “Once 

a couple has their first fight, then 

one can tell the long term ability 

of a marriage to survive. If the 

argument can be resolved with 

open communication on both 

sides, then a lifelong marriage is 

assured” 

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Weddings 

Manraj Grewal from Abbotsford, B.C. 

Manraj Lalli from Vancouver, B.C. 

From the moment they first 

met, things just seemed to fall 

into place for Manraj Grewal and 

Manraj Lalli. When he noticed 

her sitting in the library of the 

University College of the Fraser 

Valley, he didn’t hesitate to walk 

over and strike up a conversation. 

“I told her my name was Raj,” 

he recalls. “When I asked for her 

name, she said her name was 

Manraj. ‘So is mine,’ I replied. 

She giggled and said, ‘Yeah, sure 

it is.’ I asked if I could sit down 

with her, and before she could 

reply I moved her books and took 

a seat.” 

They began dating soon after 

and within six months knew they 

were headed for marriage. 

“We had talked about our 

future aspirations, dreams, and 

goals. Once we discovered that 

we were on the same wavelength, 

it was the natural next step,” 

she says. When it was time to 

propose, Raj decided to take 

advantage of the pyrotechnic 

spectacle of the Celebration 

of Lights. “We picked out a 

beautiful spot on the beach,” he 

recalls. “I asked her to go grab 

some mini-doughnuts to share. 

When she came back and sat 

down it was about a minute or 

two before the fireworks began. 

I pulled out the box and said, ‘I 

love you. Will you be mine for 

always?’ She smiled, cried, and 

said she would. I opened the 

box . . . and there was no ring. 

She was shocked, exclaiming, 

“Give me my ring, honeyhomez!’ 

I told her that she’s had it for 

over two years and that it’s in her 

purse! I pulled it out and she put 

it on while the fireworks were 

brightening the heavens above 

us. We shared a big laugh. It was 

very memorable.” 

The wedding planning went 

in characteristically smooth 

fashion for the happy couple. 

Even finding the perfect outfit 

for the marriage was a breeze 

for the bride-to-be. “We found 

it in Vancouver — at the very 

first place we went and it was the 

first one I tried on. That seemed 

to be the theme for most of our 

planning. Things fell into place. 

It felt like the year went by very 

quickly. I tried to cherish all the 

special moments of still living 

at home with my parents and 

siblings. I remember on several 

occasions during the year, 

especially on Christmas morning, 

September 

2008 

thinking, ‘Wow, this is the last 

time Christmas is going to be 

like this. It’s going to be different 

from now on.’” 

Even the usual wedding jitters 

were short-lived for both bride 

and groom. 

“I remember sitting in the 

temple awaiting the arrival of my 

bride,” says Manraj. “I remember 

the intense heat and anxiety I 

was feeling at that exact moment. 

Then, she walked down and sat 

down next to me; it was like time 

stopped. No anxiety, stress or 

heat. Everything seemed to slow 

down and I felt that it was true 

and right.” 

His bride was going through 

the same thing. ’When I got 

upstairs and walked down the 

aisle — I didn’t look at him — I 

was so nervous! I sat there and 

stared straight ahead for five 

minutes. When I finally turned my 

head and we made eye contact 

my nervousness seemed to just 

disappear and everything seemed 

so perfect.” The newlyweds 

enjoyed a belated honeymoon on 

the Mayan Riviera in Mexico and 

today live in Abbotsford, B.C. 

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Weddings 

Vik Samra from Surrey, B.C. 

Mitasha Paintal from Mumbai, India 

Vik Samra knew he had a 

special connection with Mitasha 

Paintal ever since they first 

met during an acting class in 

Mumbai. He discovered just 

how strong that connection was 

when, three weeks after saying 

goodbye to her in Mumbai and 

returning to his home in Canada, 

he realized he was ready to make 

a lifelong commitment. 

Mitasha was used to receiving 

a daily call from Vik, but had 

no idea what was coming. “He 

asked if I was sitting and was 

comfortable, which I felt was 

quite strange to ask,” she recalls. 

“After I told him I was seated, 

he popped the question. Good 

thing I was seated because I did 

almost fall. He asked if I was 

ready to marry him and move to 

Canada with him. I had no idea 

it would happen so suddenly. I 

hadn’t expected it at all, so my 

happiness knew no bounds.” 

Although the spontaneous 

proposal was a surprise, taking 

their relationship from friendship 

to the next level felt completely 

natural. “We started off by being 

friends, but we always knew 

In our hearts that it was in fact 

much more than just plain good 

old friendship,” says Vik. “The 

chemistry was far too much to be 

labelled as friendship.” 

Since the wedding was to be 

held in Mumbai, Mitasha took 

charge of the planning. “It was 

very exciting, because I wanted 

everything to be perfect,” she 

says. “All the preparations I made 

were done totally from my heart 

because, in a way, everything was 

going to be a surprise for Vik and 

I wanted everything to be at least 

at par with his expectations if not 

over.” 

Mitasha, a freelance fashion 

designer, also took charge of 

creating marriage outfits for both 

herself and her groom. “In one 

day I was able to take care of 

it because my inspiration was 

the fabrics I saw in the shop I 

generally buy from. I was very 

clear that I wanted to wear blue 

and red, and everything matched 

out very well.” 

The bride and groom arrived 

at their reception venue ahead 

March 

2009 

of their 200 

guests and opted 

for a celebration 

that emphasized 

mingling over 

presentations. “We 

had no podium, 

no stage,” says 

Mitasha. “It was 

very interpersonal 

and we got a 

chance to meet and 

mingle with every 

single guest. We 

were sometimes 

standing together and sometimes 

spending quality time with our 

school friends or close family.” 

“We were very comfortable and 

able to be ourselves because we 

knew everyone there,” says Vik. 

“I think every moment spent with 

our close ones was very special 

because in our hearts we knew 

they were all our well-wishers 

and truly happy for us. The vibe 

of our wedding and reception was 

very upbeat, happy and genuine. 

People we grew up with, people 

who have been there for us, 

people who matter were all there 

to celebrate and dance with us.” 

The newlyweds say common 

interests and attitudes keep 

their bond strong. “We share 

similar dreams, aspirations and 

the desire to understand, love 

and support one another, which 

always keeps us mentally and 

emotionally connected,” says Vik. 

“We also believe that we 

largely bond on a spiritual level 

as well and hope for an even 

more beautiful future together,” 

adds Mitasha. 

The couple honeymooned in 

London and today live in Surrey, 

B.C. 

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Beauty 

Tried-and-True 

Tips for Tresses 

Don’t be frazzled by the frizzies. Trying to 

tame frizz-prone hair with big dollops of 

products isn’t the answer — you’ll just weigh 

it down. Instead, try blending a little (no 

more than the size of a cent) of your favourite 

shine serum with an equally small amount of 

volumizing product and then run it through 

damp hair. 

If you’re planning to flat-iron your hair, 

don’t even think about doing it without 

thoroughly blow-drying hair first or else you 

risk frying your crowning glory. Before you 

reach for the flat-iron (or any other high-temp 

tool, for that matter), always use a product designed 

to protect precious strands from heat. 

Speaking of blow-drying, here’s a tip 

based on experience: Although it’s tempting 

to wait until hair is damp rather than wet 

before you begin blow-drying because it’ll 

mean less time wielding a blow-dryer, you’ll 

get the best results if you start while hair is 

wet. If, like us, you have trouble wielding a 

blow-dryer and a brush at the same time, we 

recommend a round-brush-and-blow-dryer 

in one. You can find one of these handy tools 

(our current fave is the Ceremaic Ionic Hot Air 

Brush by Conair) at any drugstore. Remember 

to follow usual blow-drying protocol and 

dry hair in small sections. Since it’s the hair 

around your face that gets the most attention, 

we recommend starting there. 

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and plumper after using Youth Surge. In addition to a Very Dry Skin formula, it also comes in 

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Cuisine 

by Gurj Dhaliwal 

BBQ Red Alert 

Don’t let the rain put a damper on barbecue 

season. I say fire up those coals whatever the 

weather and become a true grill master. 

Grilling fish on an open flame can be 

intimidating for the average Joe, but here 

are a few expert tips that will keep you from 

brushing the juicy flavours away. 

First: Start with a clean grill that has been 

fully pre-heated. If you don’t hear the sizzle, 

then it’s not hot enough! 

Second: Using a paper towel and 

vegetable oil, lube up the grilling surface and 

add a touch of oil to the fish. 

Third. Season your fish on both sides and 

don’t fuss with it when you go to flip it. The 

fish will pull away from the grill easily. 

Dust off those oven mitts, sharpen the tools 

and wash your “Kiss the Cook” apron because 

with this tasty recipe you’ll be ready to throw 

down all summer long. 


Coriander Crusted Halibut 

with Purple Potato Hash and Tamarind Emulsion (serves 2) 

Halibut 

2 to 5 ounces halibut fillets 

2 tsps. ground coriander 

2 tsps. chopped fresh cilantro 

1 tbsp. vegetable oil 

Purple Potato Hash 

8 small purple potatoes, 

blanched and sliced 

2 slices smoked bacon diced 

1/2 cup green peas 

2 shallots sliced 

Tamarind Emulsion 

1/2 cup tamarind paste 

4 tbsp. olive oil 

2 tbsps. water 

1 tbsp. red wine vinegar 

1 tbsp. brown sugar 

salt 

black pepper 

Tamarind Emulsion: Begin by making the 

tamarind emulsion in a blender. Mix together the 

tamarind paste, olive oil, water, red wine vinegar 

and brown sugar on high speed for 2 minutes. 

Season to taste with salt and pepper. 

Potato Hash: To start the hash, begin by frying 

bacon over medium heat in a heavy-bottom pan 

until crispy, then add the sliced and blanched 

potatoes and cook for about 5 minutes. 

Add the shallots and sauté for 3 minutes. Then 

add the green peas and cook for 5 minutes. When 

finished cooking, season with salt and pepper. 

Halibut Fillets: To cook the halibut fillets, 

heat a heavy-bottom pan or a grill over medium 

heat and add the vegetable oil. Lightly dust both 

sides of the fish with the ground coriander and 

the fresh cilantro and sear in the pan or on the 

grill about 2 minutes per side. Finish cooking the 

halibut in a 400 F. oven for 5 minutes or until the 

fish is just cooked through.

604-588-4665 

Get Ready to Grill! 

(NC)—Nothing is better than a barbequed 

meal on a warm evening. However, after a 

long cold winter, it is necessary to get your 

barbeque ready for action! Here are some 

tips courtesy of The Home Depot that will get 

you serving up tasty burgers to the whole 

neighbourhood in no time. 

Get your grill as good as new 

Similar to an oven, barbeques need to be 

cleaned on a regular basis. Unfortunately, 

most barbeques do not come equipped with 

a self cleaning setting. What can you do? 

• Start by removing the grills and scraping 

away excess build up with a grill brush, 

scraper or grill stone. 

• Once most of the grime is removed, spray 

the grills with cooking oil and apply a mixture 

of warm water, soap and vinegar. This 

will effectively remove any remaining dirt. 

• To treat the other cast iron parts of the 

barbeque, coat them in natural food oils. 

This will protect against rust build up. 

This entire process should not take more 

than one hour and will leave your grill 

sparkling. 

Happy grilling! 

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Mehfil May/June 2009 67 

A Visit to Haweli is: Enjoying the classiest, Authentic

Health & Fitness 

by Shefali Raja, BSc., RD Community Nutritionist 

Healthy Skin 

As the weather heats up, the summer wardrobe comes out and having 

glowing, radiant skin is on everyone’s mind. The eyes may 

be the windows to the soul, as the saying goes, but the skin is a 

window to inner health. The skin is the largest organ in the body. While 

numerous factors negatively affect skin — including exposure to sun 

or a dry environment, inadequate fluids, smoking, poor eating habits, 

pollution or other contact substances, allergens, hormonal changes, a 

sedentary lifestyle, stress, aging, and genetics — nutrition plays a vital 

role in protecting skin and addressing the health issues that it reflects, 

from eczema to acne to aging. Improving overall digestion, hydrating 

your body and flooding your system with high-antioxidant foods can 

transform the way your skin appears. Vitamins and minerals in all forms 

play an integral role whether the source is food, supplements or even a 

jar of cream. 

Vitamins and Minerals 

Vitamins C and E help by reducing the 

damage caused by free radicals, a harmful 

byproduct of sunlight, smoke, and pollution. 

Free radicals gobble up collagen 

and elastin, the fibers that support skin 

structure, causing wrinkles and other 

signs of aging. Topical Vitamin C can prevent 

the consequences of prolonged sun 

exposure which can lead to skin cancer. 

Supplementation with natural vitamin E 

has been noted to reduce photo damage, 

wrinkles and improve skin texture. 

Vitamin C rich foods include citrus 

fruits and vegetables such as bell peppers, 

broccoli, cauliflower, leafy greens, 

oranges, strawberries and kiwi. You can 

also take vitamin C supplements 500 to 

1,000 milligrams of per day. Additionally 

you may want to try a topical vitamin C 

cream to encourage collagen production, 

just as your body does naturally when you 

are young. The trick here is to use a formulation 

containing the L-ascorbic acid 

form of vitamin C, the only one that can 

penetrate skin layers and do the job. 

Vitamin E is found in vegetable oils, 

nuts, seeds, wheat germ, avocadoes, green 

leafy vegetables. But it’s difficult to get 

a lot from food; a supplement with 400 

international units or less per day is safe 

to take. Topical vitamin E called alphatocopherol 

in cream, lotion, or serum can 

soothe dry, rough skin. 

Beta carotene is converted into vitamin 

A in the body; vitamin A is important in 

the maintenance and repair of skin tissue. 

If you’re eating a high amount of vegetables 

and fruits daily your beta carotene 

levels are likely good; otherwise you may 

notice skin-related symptoms, including a 

dry, flaky complexion. 

Rich sources of Beta carotene include 

foods such as sweet potatoes, pumpkins, 

carrots, mangoes and apricots. 

Topical vitamin A through creams is the 

form that makes a real difference in your 

skin by reducing lines and wrinkles and 

providing good acne control. The prescription 

treatment for acne is called Retin-A 

is derived from vitamin A. The less 

potent, over-the-counter formulations 

are sold as retinols and used as anti-aging 

treatments. 

B Vitamins such as biotin and niacin 

have a big role to play as biotin forms the 

basis of skin, nail, and hair cells. Without 

adequate amounts, you may end up with 

dermatitis (an itchy, scaly skin reaction) 

or sometimes even hair loss. Even a mild 

deficiency causes symptoms. Most people 

get enough biotin without even trying. It’s 

found in many foods including bananas, 

eggs, oatmeal, and rice, plus your body 

also makes some biotin on its own. Niacin 

helps skin retain moisture, so creams 

containing this nutrient can help your 

complexion look plumper and younger in 

as little as six days. Niacin also has antiinflammatory 

properties to soothe dry, 

irritated skin. In higher concentrations 

it can also work as a lightening agent to 

even out blotchy skin tone. 

Vitamin K is the nutrient responsible 

for helping blood clot. Topical vitamin K 

works well to reduce circles under the eye 

as well as bruises. When combined with 

vitamin A in a cream, vitamin K can be 

even more effective for those dark circles. 

Selenium has been shown to play a key 

role in skin cancer prevention. Fifty to 

200 micrograms in supplement form or 

used in a cream, this mineral helps protect 

skin from sun damage. The best dietary 


sources of selenium include whole-grain 

cereals, seafood, garlic, and eggs. 

Zinc deficiency can be the cause of 

acne. Taken internally or used topically, 

zinc works to clear skin by slowing 

down oil production and may be effective 

in controlling the formation of acne 

lesions or help those already on your 

skin to clear sooner. Food sources of zinc 

include oysters, lean meat, poultry, egg 

yolks and pecans. 

Beyond Vitamins and Minerals 

Some of the more exciting new skin 

research looks beyond vitamins and 

minerals to other nutrients that when 

taken internally or applied topically can 

have remarkable effects on your skin. 

Alpha-Lipoic Acid is a powerful antioxidant 

that helps neutralize skin cell 

damage caused by free radicals much 

like vitamin C or E but is hundreds of 

times more potent. It has the ability to 

penetrate both oil and water, affecting 

skin cells from both the inside and the 

outside of the body. Most other antioxidants 

can do one but not both. Alphalipoic 

acid is available in supplements or 

in creams. 

Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) help 

maintain cell membranes so that they 

are effective barriers—allowing water 

and nutrients in, and keeping toxins 

out. There are 2 key EFAs – omega-3 

and omega-6 – balancing the two is important; 

most of us get plenty of omega- 

6s (baked goods, cooking oils, poultry, 

grains, and many other foods) but not 

enough omega-3s (cold-water fish, including 

salmon, sardines, and mackerel, 

flaxseed, and flax oil, walnuts, Canola 

and Soy oils). If your skin is dry, prone 

to inflammation, and frequently dotted 

with white heads and black heads, you 

may be lacking essential fatty acids, Taking 

supplements, such as fish oil capsules 

(select ones that are distilled, enteric 

coated and made from smaller fish 

such as anchovies and sardines) or evening 

primrose oil, may also contribute 

to smoother and younger-looking skin. 

The Bottom Line 

Although most people can get all the 

nutrients their skin needs from a healthy 

diet and a multivitamin there are also 

some excellent natural topical options. 

Don’t forget to hydrate your skin by 

drinking plenty of water and always 

wear a sunscreen. Before you know it, 

people will be asking you what products 

you use because your skin looks so 

radiant. p 

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We are a group of certified human resources professionals who 

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We know what employers look for in a candidate. 

For additional information on our 

job preparation tools and services, 

visit us at www.hrinmotion.com 

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Shifting Gears 

2010 Honda Insight 

Back to the Future 

The original 2001 Honda Insight 

Hybrid was a small coupe with 

almost no cargo space that delivered 

amazing fuel economy. It was cool, 

but impractical. But guess what? It is back 

for 2010 targeted to younger 23- 35 year 

old buyers at one end of the spectrum 

and the 50-plus age group at the other. 

This new Honda Insight is a totally practical 

four-door, four or five-seater hybrid 

powered sedan that takes a lot of its interior 

from the excellent Honda Fit. Plus 

it has decent cargo capacity. Two models 

will be available — the base LX with auto 

climate control, power windows, locks, 

multiple airbags and heated mirrors, CD 

audio with auxiliary jack, and anti-lock 

brakes. While the EX version adds steering 

wheel mounted paddle gear shifters, 

a navigation system, bluetooth connectivity, 

USB interface and stability control. 

The Insight Hybrid is powered by a 

1.3-litre, 88 horsepower four-cylinder 

gasoline engine and an electric motor producing 

13 hp. As a reminder the hybrid 

engine and motor can operate simultaneously 

or independently of each other and 

together produce 98 hp and 123 poundfeet 

of torque. The motor is powered by a 

battery located under the cargo floor that 

is also charged by regenerative braking so 

each time you use the brakes power is produced 

and stored in the battery. 

Yet another reminder of how the 

Hybrid system works: At the stoplight, 

or when you stop, the engine shuts 

down automatically and all the car’s 

systems switch to battery power. Put 

your foot on the gas pedal and the gasoline 

engine starts up seamlessly. In fact, after a 

while the unusual silence when the engine 

shuts down is not even noticed. The result 

is amazing fuel economy. Honda estimates 

4.8/4.5 L/100 km city/highway (4.7 combined) 

and there is an “Eco” button on 

the dash that increases fuel even more by 

adjusting throttle, transmission, air conditioning, 

cruise control, engine assist and 

regenerative braking parameters. All this 

work is done by the ingenious on-board 

computers. 

The Honda Insight’s remarkable systems 

also helps boost your efficiency 

and monitor your own driving habits to 

maximize your fuel mileage for your driving 

conditions. The system also features 

a real-time feedback system to help promote 

driver awareness of efficient driving 

habits on a daily basis. 

Jerry Chenkin, executive vice-president 

of Honda Canada said in a recent 

press statement, “The Honda Insight 

is designed to bring hybrid technology 

within closer reach for many new car buyers 

in Canada with its affordable pricing. 

In addition to making sound environmental 

sense with higher fuel efficiency 

and lower emissions, hybrid technology 

is now entering an era where it can also 

make financial sense for a broader range 

of customers.” 

Honda hopes to sell 5,000 Insight Hybrids 

a year in Canada. And this is certainly 

a realistic figure. With gas prices set 

to go even higher in the next few years 

Honda is serious about doing its bit for 

the planet and this car has its full green 

credentials. p 


CYAN 

MAGENTA 

YELLOW 

BLACK 

Trim Size: 27" x 39" 

Colours: CMYK 

Date: August 7, 2008 

Client: 

Mazda 

Mac Operator: DB 

Job Ticket: 87-75000-183 

Version: 1 

Media: Showroom Poster – M6 (Version 2) 

If any problems contact Doner media at (416) 485-9901 

CYAN MAG YEL BLK 

IT’S HERE 

THE HOWEVER ALL-NEW 

YOU MOVE, 

THERE’S A MAZDA FOR YOU. 

2010 0% 

MAZDA 

PURCHASE FINANCING FOR 

3 

UP TO 60 MONTHS 

ON SELECT MODELS† 

Al Khalifa 

Sales & Leasing Professional 

604-868-4392 

Shane Nakai 


M{zd{ 6 

604-313-5776 

Don't miss the vehicle sales event of the year as we 

celebrate our 1st birthday with a month long sale this May! 

As Surrey's newest Mazda dealership we've got state-ofthe-art 

facilities, a bright, high-tech showroom and a team 

that sets a new standard for professionalism. Visit Surrey 

Mazda during the month of May and you'll find the hottest 

vehicles in the market at the hottest prices and backed with the 

best customer service in the industry. 

GT model shown 



Shank Inamdar 

2008.5 MAZDA3 

WITH AIR CONDITIONING 


WELL EQUIPPED FROM $19,270** 

2.0 litre engine 148HP, Anti-lock brakes with 

Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Dual front 

airbags, Side air bags, Side curtain air bags, 

Engine immobilizer theft deterrent system, Tilt & 

Telescopic steering wheel, AM/FM CD player 

with Auxiliary Input, 4 speakers, Sport exhaust. 

the tot{lly, completely, 100% new M{zd{ 6 

zoo}-zoo} 

778-896-8486 

2008.5 MAZDA3 SPORT 

WITH AIR CONDITIONING 


2.0 litre DOHC in-line 16-valve 4-cylinder engine, 

148HP, Anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brake 

Force Distribution, Dual front airbags, Side air 

bags, Side curtain air bags, Engine immobilizer 

theft-deterrent system, Tilt & Telescopic steering 

wheel, AM/FM CD player with Auxiliary Input, 4 

speakers, Exterior temperature gauge. 

2008 MAZDA5 

2005 

CANADA’S MOST FUEL EFFICIENT 

VEHICLE IN ITS CLASS 


6 passenger seating, Anti lock brakes with Electronic 

Brake Force Distribution, Dual front air bags, side 

airbags & curtain airbags, Keyless entry, Engine 

immobilizer theft deterrent system, Power windows, 

locks & mirrors, Steering wheel mounted audio 

controls, Rain-sensing front wipers. 

L/100 km: City 8.4 – Hwy 6.1 

MPG: City 33.6 – Hwy 46.3 

L/100 km: City 8.4 – Hwy 6.1 

MPG: City 33.6 – Hwy 46.3 

SPORT 

2008 ecoENERGY 

VEHICLE AWARD 

L/100 km: City 9.6 – Hwy 7.1 

MPG: City 29 – Hwy 40 

2006 


2008 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA 


2.0L DOHC in-line 16-valve 4-cylinder engine, 

166HP, Anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brake Force 

Distribution, Front and rear stabilizer bars, Steering 

wheel mounted audio and cruise controls, Power 

lock, windows and door mirrors, Engine immobilizer 

theft-deterrent system. 

L/100 km: City 9.5 – Hwy 7.3 

MPG: City 30 – Hwy 39 

15420 - 104th Ave, 

EXPERIENCE 

Surrey, 

EMOTION IN 

BC 

MOTION 

604-583-7121 

Doner Canada Inc. File Name: 87-75000-183_M6_ShowroomPoster_2 NEW MATERIAL 

www.freewaymazda.ca 

AT YOUR BRITISH COLUMBIA MAZDA DEALER. 

DING COMPREHENSIVE AND POWERTRAIN WARRANTY COVERAGE. BOOK YOUR TEST-DRIVE ONLINE AT WWW.MAZDA.CA. 

GRADUATES GET AN ADDITIONAL CASH AWARD OF UP TO $1,000 TOWARDS A PURCHASE OR LEASE. † 0% Purchase financing not available on select Mazda3 models, Mazda6 and Mazda5 models. 

At 0% purchase financing, a financed amount of $20,000/35,000 the monthly payment is $334/584 per month for 60 months, the cost of borrowing is $0, and the total obligation is $20,000/35,000. Taxes, $46 max. PPSA extra. **Starting price 

for 2008.5 Mazda3 Sedan GX (D4XS58BA05)/2008.5 Mazda3 Sport GX (D5XS58BB05)/2008 Mazda5 GS (E6SD58AA00)/2008 MX-5 Miata GX (L2XS58AA00) is $19,270/$20,270/$22,185/$29,388. Total price, lease and cash purchase offers 

include freight and P.D.E. of $1,275/$1,390 for Mazda3, Mazda3 Sport, MX-5/Mazda5. Licence, insurance, taxes and other dealer charges extra. Dealer may sell/lease for less. Limited quantities available. Dealer order or trade may be necessary 

on certain vehicles. Offers available for a limited *$7000 time. Lease rebate and Finance applies on approved to 2007 credit for Mazda qualified customers 6 Speed only. See your dealer for details. Based on 2008 fuel consumption ratings published by Natural Resources Canada.

Shifting Gears 

2009 Hyundai Genesis 

Hi-Performance from Hyundai 

The 2009 Hyundai Genesis is the 

Korean company’s first rear-wheel 

drive hi-performance sedan. And what 

better way for Hyundai to celebrate its 

25th year in Canada than for the Genesis 

to walk home with not one, but two of 

North America’s most prestigious Auto 

awards. Not only did the Genesis bag the 

coveted 2009 North American Car of the 

Year (NACOTY) Award, decided by 50 

automotive journalists from Canada and 

the US, the Genesis was also named 2009 

Canadian Car of the Year (COY) and 

Best New Luxury Car Under $50,000 by 

the Automobile Journalists Association of 

Canada (AJAC). 

It is incredible how in just a few years 

Hyundai has moved up in the automotive 

league. Back to the Genesis, this midsized 

rear-wheel drive sedan seats five and 

is offered with either a V6 or V8 engine. It 

is a sleek, slightly Germanic looking design 

with a hint of Mercedes about the 

front grille and a touch of BMW 5- Series 

around the rear trunk. Odd, but Hyundai 

logo on the front grille? However if the 

looks don’t wow you, the specs will as the 

Genesis offers the features, comfort and 

performance comparable with fearsome 

competitors such as the Lexus GS, Mercedes-Benz 

E-Class and BMW 5 Series, 

but at a amazingly lower price. Not only 

that, Hyundai’s first ever V8, a 4.6-litre, 

375 horsepower unit is on offer as well 

as the base 290-horsepower 3.8-litre V6 

which Hyundai claims can motivate the 

Genesis from zero to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds 

– quite impressive. 

Interior 

The sumptuous dark brown leather 

seats and interior trim of the V6 Genesis 

made me feel like I was in an English 

Gentleman’s club – very plush. And features 

abound, from the tilt and telescopic 

steering wheel that moves to allow more 

room when the driver opens the door to 

keyless entry, a push-button start, cool 

electroluminescent gauges, front seats 

that are both heated and cooled and have 

an electronic active head restraints. 

The hefty, perfectly weighted leather 

steering with its stylish controls for the 

audio and cruise-control systems is also 

very cool! A mouse-like rotating knob 

surrounded by six switches sits in the 

middle of the console and controls systems 

such as audio, navigation, the heat/ 

ventilation and the multimedia interface. 

The optional hi-end Lexicon 7.1 surround 

sound audio system, a 528-watt, 

17-speaker system, is apparently offered 

on only one other vehicle…the Rolls- 

Royce Phantom. 

Other superb touches include highgloss 

wood inlay sections with leather 

and lots of chrome trim around the dash, 

center console and doors. All the seats 

are excellent with plenty of support and 

comfort; in fact the room in this car is 

very good in all quarters. Ample enough 

for two big adults or three medium sized 

people in the rear. No compromises on 

headroom or legroom either. And you 

are also well protected, as the Genesis 


TM 

0.9 

Put fuel economy in 

% 

† 

as 

low 

for 36 

as 

months 

O.A.C 

the palm of your hands 

ON SELECT CIVIC MODELS 

 

STARTING FROM (FOR CIVIC DX) 

$18,300 MSRP‡ 

CIVIC Includes freight & PDI 

 

up 

CASH INCENTIVES to $ 

¥ 

on select Civic models 1,500 

Best Selling Car in Canada 

11 Years in a Row* 

Latest in Hybrid Technology 

Accord Sedan EX-L V6 

model CP3689JN 

Put driving exhilaration 

at your fingertips 

Pushing the Insight’s unique ECON button engages 

the Ecological Drive Assist (Eco Assist ) System 

STARTING FROM (FOR ACCORD LX) 

which modifies a range of vehicle systems 

$26,500 MSRP‡ 

– from engine Includes to air freight conditioning & PDI – 

to minimize overall fuel use. 

up 

ACCORD 


on select Accord models 3,500 

You may be eligible for the 

$ 

1,000 

Insight Hybrid EX 

model ZE2H7AG 

2010 Insight Hybrid LX 

• 1.3L 8-Valve SOHC i-VTEC ® Engine with Integrated Motor Assist 

• Continuously Variable Transmission 

• Automatic Climate Control with Air Filtration System 

• Remote Entry System 

• Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE CR-V ) Body EX-L Structure 

Hands down winner 

for versatility 

Starting from 

$25,210 MSRP ‡ Includes 

Estimated city/highway fuel economy: 

 

 

$29,350 

CR-V STARTING FROM (FOR CR-V LX) 

MSRP‡ 

4.8 L/100km* 

Includes freight 5.0 & PDI L/100km* 

4.5 L/100km* 4.6 L/100km* 

¥ up 

¥ 


on select CR-V models 4,000 

 

® 

PURCHASE FINANCING 

BC GOVERNMENT 

SALES TAX REBATE 

Civic Sedan EX-L 

model FA1509JNX 

model RE4879JN 

freight & PDI. 

†Limited time financing offer based on new 2009 Honda models. Finance example based on new 2009 Civic DX Sedan, model FA1529EX, available through Honda Financial Services on approved credit. ‡MSRP is $18,300 (includes $1,310 freight and PDI) financed at 0.9% APR equals $515.42 per 

month for 36 months. Cost of borrowing is $255.02 for a total obligation of $18,555.02. Taxes, license, insurance and registration are extra. Retailer may sell for less. Retailer order / trade may be necessary. ¥Cash purchase incentive offers will vary from model to model. $1,500 cash purchase incentive 

Ω 

available on new 2009 Civic models, excluding Civic DX Sedan MT, model FA1529EX / 2009 Civic DX Coupe MT, model FG1129E / 2009 Civic Hybrid, model FA3629E; $2,000 cash purchase incentive available on new 2009 Accord Coupe and 2009 Accord Sedan models, excluding Accord EX Coupe 

MT, model CS1179J and Accord LX Sedan MT, model CP2539E; $3,500 cash purchase incentive available on 2009 Accord Coupe V6 and 2009 Accord Sedan V6 models; $4,000 cash purchase incentive available on 2009 CR-V models, excluding CR-V LX 2WD, model RE3839E. †/¥Offers valid from 

February 3rd, 2009 through February 28th, 2009 at participating Honda retailers. Offers subject to change or cancellation without notice. See your Honda retailer for full details. Select 2009 Honda Civic models qualify for the Government of British Columbia’s $1,000 Provincial Sales Tax reduction 

for fuel efficient vehicles. Visit www.livesmartbc.ca/taxes for more information. *As reported by Canadian manufacturers for calendar year 2008. NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. ©NHL 2008. All rights reserved. 

‡MSRP is $25,210 for a new 2010 Insight LX, model ZE2H5AE (Includes 1,310 freight and PDI). License, insurance, registration and taxes are extra. Retailer may sell for less. Retailer order / trade may be necessary. See your Honda retailer for full details.ΩThere are two (2) 

prizes to be won each consisting of a trip for two to the NHL Awards show in Las Vegas, Nevada, June 17 – 19, 2009. Approximate retail value of each prize is $3,022. No purchase is required to enter. Entrant must be a resident of British Columbia. Selected entrants are required 

to correctly answer a time-limited mathematical skill-testing question before being declared the winners. Contest duration is May 1st, 2009 through May 31st, 2009. See participating dealer for details and full contest rules. NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks 

and NHL Awards name and logo are trademarks of the National Hockey League. © NHL 2009. All Rights Reserved. *Based on data compiled by Honda Canada. These estimates are based on the Government of Canada’s approved criteria and testing methods. The actual fuel 

consumption of these vehicles may vary. Based on 2010 Honda Insight with 1.3L engine and Continuously Variable Transmission.

Get Better Grades On 

Your Child’s Report Cards 

Special Programs include: 

• Preschool (3-5yrs) 

• After School 

Tutoring / Tuition (K-Gr. 12) 

• Various Adult Programs 

Coffee with Dave 

Got something on your mind? 

Dave will buy your first cup of coffee! 

First Saturday of every month 3:15 PM–4:30 PM 

The Pantry Restaurant 

Guildford Town Centre, Surrey 

(Near London Drugs 104 Ave & 152 St) 

Constituency Office: 

202–15988 Fraser Highway, Surrey, BC V4N 0X8 

T: 604.501.3201 F: 604.501.3233 

Report Card 

Science A+ 

Math A+ 

English A+ 

Confidence A+ 

Smart Choices 

Institute of Learning 

604-767-4433 • 604-767-5840 

#204-8268 120th St, Surrey, BC 

www.smartchoiceslearning.com 

www.davehayermla.ca 

Dave S. Hayer, MLA 

Surrey-Tynehead 

ALLIED INSURANCE 

SERVICES INC. 

 

Home • Tenants • Condominiums • Business • RRSP 

Travel • Medical • Life • Accident • Sickness 

has eight air bags, traction control and 

electronic-stability control. 

On the road 

The V6 engine proves to be a powerful, 

smooth engine that is well suited to the 

Genesis rear wheel chassis. No sports sedan 

can truly claim the word sport unless 

it has rear wheel drive and the V6 has 

the right balance of grip, acceleration and 

handling. Hyundai spent a lot of time on 

the sophisticated suspension that features 

five-point multi-link systems, aluminum 

components and amplitude selective 

shocks designed to produce more damping 

force in corners and on rougher roads. 

The technology certainly proves its mettle 

with sharp, confident handling through 

twisty turns. 

The 290 horsepower 3.8-litre V6 is 

also perfectly matched to the smooth 

six-speed automatic “Shiftronic” transmission 

that also has a manual shift gate 

console feature. Even when pushed, the 

V6 provides effortless, smooth, quiet acceleration 

at highway speeds. Official fuel 

consumption ratings are 11.4/7.2 L/100 

km (city/highway), but note you will 

need to feed the Genesis premium fuel... 

However, considering the size of this car 

and the fuel economy is not too bad. 

604-599-4713 

We’ve Got You 

Covered! 

 

Kennedy Heights Shopping Centre 

11969-88th Ave. (Scott Rd.) 

604-596-4588 

 

Newton Town Centre 

121-7135 138th St., Surrey 

604-572-9292 

OPEN 7 DAYS 

 

Fleetwood Town Square 

103-15988 Fraser Hwy, Surrey 

604-572-3311 

 

Burnaby Square 

106 - 7885 6th Street, Burnaby 

604-523-0900 

9AM to 9PM 

 

Guildford Place Plaza 

#60-10330-152nd St., Surrey 

604-582-8644 

 

Plaza 102 

10235 King George Hwy., Surrey 

604-582-8699 

The two-door Genesis coupe is 

planned for next year. 

Summing up 

The Genesis begins to make a lot of 

sense once you get past the brand name 

snobbery and when you do your research 

and start comparing what you get for your 

money versus the competition. V6 Genesis 

models start at a reasonable $37,995 

and V8 models start at $43,995. A twodoor 

Genesis coupe version is also on the 

horizon for next year. In the meantime 

put the badge back on the front grille 

Hyundai and wear it proudly! p 


Horoscope 

by Georgia Nicols 

June 2009 

Aries (March 21-April 19) 

This is a busy, fun month! Both 

Venus and Mars continue to be in 

Aries. Venus makes you gracious, 

charming and attractive to others. 

(Kiss, kiss, hug, hug.) By contrast, 

Mars makes you assertive, bold 

and sexy! You’re quick to defend 

your rights. One influence does 

not negate the other. They work 

in tandem. Therefore, during this 

busy month of short trips, errands, 

and increased reading and writing, 

you’ll tell someone off, and then 

(voila!) instantly woo them back 

into your good graces. 

Taurus (April 20-May 20) 

You’re into possessions, earnings, 

major expenditures and 

cash flow. Basically, you’re giving 

thought to what you value. Well, 

we know what you value: you like 

good food, good wine, good sex 

and a nice place to live! (Every 

time I tell this to a Taurus, they say, 

“Doesn’t everyone?”) The reason 

you’re focused on possessions, 

is you’re deciding what you need 

versus what’s just baggage. Secret 

love affairs and exciting trysts are 

compelling. 

Gemini (May 21-June 20) 

It’s your turn to recharge your 

batteries for the rest of the year. 

With the Sun in your sign, you’re 

empowered, confident and enthusiastic 

about life. This month you 

attract opportunities and people to 

you. It’s appropriate to put yourself 

first now. (After all, it’s all about 

you!) You have a strong need to 

express yourself to others right 

now. Since it’s the beginning of 

your new personal year (birthday 

to birthday) ask yourself what you 

want to achieve this year? 

Cancer (June 21-July 22) 

Your birthday is a month away, 

making this the perfect time to 

ponder how your life is unfolding. 

How well are you doing at the art of 

living? Look back over your shoulder 

at this last year. What pleases 

you? Do you wish things were different? 

With Venus and Mars at 

high noon in your chart, bosses, 

parents, teachers and VIPs are 

prepared to help you. (The early 

bird gets more than just the stale 

coffee.) Romance with a teacher, 

boss or someone older or richer 

is likely. 

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) 

This is a wonderful month to 

enjoy friends, acquaintances, 

clubs, groups and organizations 

— plus think about your longterm 

dreams for the future. Share 

these ideas with others. Their input 

will cause you to tweak your goals. 

Travel and educational plans are 

promising. Ditto for opportunities 

with publishing, the media, medicine 

and the law. Relations with 

partners continue to be cozy. But, 

do get your rest. It’s party city, and 

you’re writing cheques your body 

can’t cash! 

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) 

Everyone notices you, especially 

parents, bosses, teachers 

and VIPs. (Take note — this also 

includes the police.) Your high viz. 

position commands respect. Why 

not make the most of this and go 

for baroque. (Gild the lily.) You feel 

sexy, sensuous and passionate. Intimacy 

is transcendent — the stuff 

of movies and soul mates. Money, 

favours and perks can come to you 

now. You benefit from others! Allow 

extra time for travel, education and 

publishing because here is where 

you encounter delays. Oy vey. 

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) 

It’s time to get outta Dodge. You 

want a change of scenery; and a 

chance to learn something new 

and exciting. You need to seek 

a fuller, more enriched life. Go 

someplace new. Explore fresh turf. 

But be extra patient with partners 

and close friends because Mars 

is opposite you. Fortunately, fair 

Venus is there to soften the blow, 

make amends and repair bruised 

feelings. Since this year is your 

chance to party and enjoy yourself 

— grab the baton and run with it! 

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) 

You’re intense and passionate 

this month. You either love 

something or you hate it. You’re 

dealing with shared property, debt, 

taxes, insurance matters and inheritances. 

You’re also on a diet; 

working out; and buying self-help 

books. Buff that bod. (This sunny 

weather is the time to show some 

skin — not flab. Aaagggh!) Expartners 

demand lots of attention. 

Fortunately, you’re super charged 

at work, and this is where coworkers 

are supportive. Seek rewards 

from your work. (Sigh.) 

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) 

This is the only time all year 

when the Sun is opposite your 

sign. This means you need more 

sleep. (The Sun is your energy, 

and as far way is it can get all year. 

This opposition of the Sun also 

focuses your attention on partners 

and close friends, giving you the 

chance to learn more about your 

style of relating to those who are 

closest to you. Glitches and delays 

at work continue. But parties, 

romance, love affairs, vacations, 

sports and playful times with children 

are sweet and rewarding! 

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) 

This month you’re conscientious, 

responsible and grown-up. 

You want to be efficient and effective 

Don’t worry; you haven’t 

lost your humour or your sense of 

joie de vivre. You want to get better 

organized! No pain, no gain. If 

you don’t put your shoulder to the 

wheel, life is a bowl of cherry pits. 

Big changes due to renovations, 

visiting guests and redecorating 

projects at home might create tension 

with family members. Be patient. 

You can improve where you 

live. Note: ex-lovers are back on 

the scene. Yikes! 

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) 

It’s fun city for you this month. 

Love affairs, flirtations, vacations, 

parties, sports, playful activities 

with children, the theatre, and the 

arts are wonderful sources of pleasure 

and excitement. Make time 

for fun! We all know life goes in 

cycles. Sometimes work is a priority; 

sometimes you have to play. 

This month is all about pleasure 

and romance! You can discover 

ways to express your own creativity. 

Just let it all hang out! Dance 

like no one is watching. It’s an excellent 

time for to sell, act, teach, 

write, edit and communicate to 

others. (It’s also a great time for 

drivers — taxis and buses.) Don’t 

confuse your career with your life. 

If you always plow a straight furrow 

— you’re in a rut. 

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) 

This month highlights home, 

family and domestic matters. In 

fact, if you can find some quiet time 

at home to be by yourself, you’ll 

love it. Memories of your childhood 

are back. (You need time to 

process some of this or simply savour 

it.) Discussions with parents 

are significant. It’s a strong month 

to earn money – which is a good 

thing because you’re spending it! 

You can’t avoid mixed up communications 

and transportation 

delays and. Allow extra time for 

these glitches. Demonstrate grace 

under pressure. After all, what 

sign has more grace and style than 

you? You’re the master of illusion 

because you know life is smoke 

and mirrors. p 


Movie reviews 

By Ron Ahluwalia 

Dev D. 

Devdas is a legendary Indian story. 

The over-the-top proclamations 

of love and the romantic nature 

of a bygone era are ideally suited 

to a mainstream Bollywood film 

(remember Bhansali’s recent 

rendition). But what would happen 

if Devdas was transplanted 

out of early 1900s Calcutta 

to early 2000s Chandigarh? 

Anurag Kashyap (Black Friday, 

No Smoking), the mainstream 

Bollywood director most likely to 

push the envelope, delivers an 

interesting movie that proves the 

timelessness of Sarat Chandra 

Chattopadhyay’s tragic story. 

Abhay Deol is Dev, the spoiledbrat 

son of a rich Punjabi businessman, 

who is sent to boarding 

school in London as a result of his 

bad behaviour. His childhood love 

with Parminder or Paro (Mahi Gill) 

evolves from playing by the river 

to long-distance phone sex. After 

returning to India, Dev believes 

rumours that Paro is promiscuous. 

Citing his sexual double standard, 

Paro breaks up with Dev and marries 

Bhuvan, which plunges Dev 

into a lifetime of alcoholism. Lené 

(Kalki Koechlin) is a high school 

girl who is caught in a sex tape 

scandal, making her and her family 

social pariahs. She is recruited to 

become a call-girl who uses the 

name Chanda while she continues 

going to school. When Dev enters 

her life, a tumultuous relationship 

begins. Dev and Paro are temporarily 

united, but what happens 

next? 

Groundbreaking is the only 

word to describe Dev D. Kashyap 

give the story edge, flair and 

immense realism. The dialogue is 

profoundly authentic, not contrived 

like in most Bolly-flicks. To name 

just a few examples of Dev D.’s 

realism: Dev has a taste for vodka, 

cocaine and pot, as opposed to 

being addicted to whisky. Paro 

is a vivacious Punjaban with a 

vocabulary to match. As a call girl, 

Chanda engages in fringe sexual 

behaviour as opposed to showing 

off her kathak skills. This is how 

it would be today and Kashyap 

has the courage to call a spade a 

spade. The music (Amit Trivedi) 

is probably the best soundtrack 

of 2009, both for the merits of the 

music and for what it lends to the 

flim. 

The real stars of Dev D. are the 

ladies. Mahi Gill is everything a 

modern Paro would be and has the 

potential to go far. Kalki Koechlin 

is a Franco-Indian to watch. Her 

versatility is impressive for a first 

performance. Abhay Deol does 

well, but one senses a bit of Oye 

Lucky! Lucky Oye! hangover (pun 

intended). 

Dev D. is without a doubt a 

must-see. Bollywood may well 

be catching up to the 21 st century 

after all. 

Firaaq 

We were already aware that Nandita 

Das is an amazing actress. Now 

she impresses with her flair for 

working behind the camera. Firaaq, 

her first directorial venture, is a 

stinging portrayal of the intricacies 

of Indian society. 

Firaaq, which premiered at the 

prestigious Toronto International 

Film Festival, looks at the lives 

of eight people living in Gujarat 

one month following the Hindu- 

Muslim violence of 2002. Aarti 

(Deepti Naval) is the oppressed 

wife of Sanjay (Paresh Rawal) and 

is haunted by her lack of compassion 

for a Muslim victim of the 

riots. She attempts to find solace 

in caring for an orphaned Muslim 

boy, Mohsin (Mohammad Samad), 

who wanders the streets. Mohsin 

ends up running away from her 

home and eventually into the 

custody of Hanif (Nowaz). Hanif 

seeks revenge against a Hindu he 

assumes is responsible for the 

destruction of his home. Mureena 

(Suhana Goswami), Hanif’s wife, 

is suspicious of her best friend’s 

(Amruta Subhash) role in the vandalism. 

During the riots, Hanif and 

Mureena hid in the home of Sameer 

Sheikh and Anuradha Desai (Sanjay 

Suri and Tisca Chopra), a married 

couple struggling to cope with their 

religious differences in light of the 

social upheaval. Finally. Anuradha 

is a music disciple of Khan Sahib 

(Naseeruddin Shah), an idealist 

whose perception of Gujarati society 

and overall worldview is shattered 

by the events of 2002. 

With a cast like that, expectations 

for Firaaq are high. Deepti 

Naval rises to the occasion yet 

again. Her portrayal of Aarti is 

chilling. Paresh Rawal connects 

with the audience even though 

all of his dialogue is in Gujarati 

and his character is far from likable. 

After the acclaim of Rock On!, 

Suhana Goswami stands out as the 

paranoid and desperate Muneera. 

The lesser-known Amruta Subhash 

holds her own quite well. Tisca 

Chopra (last seen in Taare Zameen 

Par) delivers her usual convincing 

portrayal of a modern Indian 

woman. As the aging and idealistic 

artist Khan Sahib, Naseeruddin 

Shah adds nuances that elevate 

what could have been a stock character 

into a multi-dimensional and 

memorable personality. 

Among this amazing cast, 

Sanjay Suri and Mohammad 

Samad deliver the best performances 

of all. Suri, a seasoned 

performer who executes every role 

to perfection, once again portrays a 

character with flaws rarely shown in 

male Bollywood characters. Samad, 

though only a child, gives a 

restrained and realistic performance 

as a traumatized yet innocent soul. 

Director Nandita Das keeps the 

audience thoroughly engaged, and 

at times disturbed, too. The music 

by Rajat Dholakia and Piyush 

Kanojia gels with the events on 

screen very well. 

Firaaq is one of those great 

movies that exercises the mind, 

resulting in a fulfilling cinematic 

experience. 

Aa Dekhen Zara 

Bollywood rarely gets thrillers right 

without copying a Hollywood flick 

scene-for-scene. But Aa Dekhen 

Zara (ADZ) is a sign that times 

might be changing. 

Ray (Neil Nitin Mukesh) is a 

photographer who is broke (but 

still lives in a pretty swanky apartment). 

His grandfather passes 

away and leaves him a camera that 

takes pictures of the future. He 

uses the camera to take advantage 

of lotteries, horse races, and stock 

markets to become very rich. But 

increased affluence always leads 

to increased attention from all the 

wrong people. Along the way he 

starts dating his neighbour, Simi 

(Bipasha Basu), who is a DJ trying 

to make it big in Mumbai. 

The best thing about ADZ is 

that it is a simple thriller. It follows 

one storyline for the entire movie. 

Jehangir Surti manages to resist 

irrelevant comedy and extraneous 

love interests, although there are 

some scenes whose incorporation 

makes no sense (e.g. the last 

song). The music by Pritam 

and Gourov Dasgupta is nothing 

special 

The performances are 

unremarkable. Neil Nitin Mukesh 

demonstrated his acting talent in 

his stellar debut, Johnny Gaddar, 

but he misses the mark in ADZ. He 

can’t dance — and thus should 

not try — and looks awkward 

in most scenes. As a playback 

singer, he’s a credit to his lineage. 

Bipasha Basu is fine in an easy 

role. Rahul Dev returns with a 

performance that is better than his 

previous work but nothing special. 

Sophie Choudhary is wasted. 

This movie is fine if you want 

to pass the time on a rainy day. 

Not bad, but not great. 


Local Artist 

Jazz Mattu 

Pump up the Fusion 

What better venue for bhangra 

singer Jazz Mattu to introduce 

his new, nine-piece band, 

Bombay Sapphire, than at the RBC 

desiFEST Vancouver 2008? 

“It was our first major break and we received 

a great response from the crowd,” 

says Mattu. “At one point, we serenaded 

a couple in the front row with a romantic 

Bollywood track and the audience loved 

it.” 

In front of a throng of hundreds, 

Bombay Sapphire electrified the audience 

with its contemporary Indo-fusion 

music. 

Bombay Sapphire may be a new 

band, but Mattu himself is a veteran of 

the music scene. Before immigrating to 

Canada in 1995, Mattu recorded eight albums 

in the United Kingdom as a member 

of Anaamika, a band he formed in 

1987 along with his brothers and several 

friends. 

Anaamika’s fusion of modern pop and 

traditional bhangra sounds earned the 

band several British awards over the years. 

The first was the award for best upcoming 

bhangra band at the 1987 UK Asian 

Pop Awards. After making their mark at 

the awards show, Jazz and his band mates 

released their debut album, Anonymous, 

which included the hit single Pump Up 

The Bhangra. Before long, Jazz and the 

band were playing alongside bhangra 

stars such as Malkit Singh, Heera, Alaap, 

DCS, and Apna Sangeet. 

Recently, under the stage name Jazz- 

Anaamika, Mattu has been performing 

at private functions and at various South 

Asian venues. He’s also working with Canadian 

producer Kal M and UK producer 

Amit Mattu on a new album. Bombay 

Sapphire’s first CD, which Mattu plans to 

release later this year, will feature original 

tracks in several languages. “We will sing 

in Hindi, Punjabi and English, with some 

African and South American sounds. 

We hope to reach a wide, multicultural 

audience with this new CD. As a 

band we don’t want to be defined as just 

straight Punjabi or bhangra. We want 

to explore the musical realm and create 

a new sound,” says Mattu, who’s always 

been eager to push the music envelope. 

“I have sung in Punjabi with a Spanish 

singer and I’ve performed black soul and 

reggae music fused with bhangra.” p 


Reflections 

Mohammed and Safina Ali 

Safina Ali still has vivid memories of 

her childhood in Fiji. While she was 

growing up, she was often told the story 

of how she came into this world on May 

11, 1945. “I remember my mom telling 

me that my dad was working in the sugar 

cane the day I was born,” she says. “He 

told my mom if you have a girl, to put up 

a red flag and if you have a boy to put up 

a white flag because he would be able to 

see it from where he was working. Once 

I was born, my mom put up a red flag 

and she says Dad came home right away 

because he was too excited.” 

Safina would go on to raise four white 

flags of her own, representing her four 

sons with husband Mohammed Ali. 

This year marks the 40 th anniversary 

of the year the Alis and their three sons 

settled in Canada. The first to arrive on 

Canadian soil was Mohammed, who 

wanted to see what life in Canada was 

like before uprooting his family from the 

home they had always known in Fiji. “I 

wanted to get out and see what was going 

on in other parts of the world. America 

was very strict at that time so we chose 

Canada.” 

On February 5 , 1969, the then 28-year 

old Mohammed sailed into Vancouver on 

a typical winter day. “I came to Canada 

Mohammed and Safina Ali in their first home in Burnaby, 

B.C., which they purchased in 1971 for $23,000. 

on a boat with three other friends from 

Fiji. The first thing we all thought was 

that it was so cold,” he says. “When I first 

came here I thought most people were 

very nice. When I came here there was 

only one bridge. I remember the Fraser 

Bridge to get to Richmond. Everyone 

had to wait for it to open so we could 

cross.” 

Safina would arrive a few months later 

with sons Ashad, Fayaz and Sunny, all 

under the age of 10. 

“I was 24 years old when I came to 

Canada with my three children,” she 

recalls. “I was so excited. I was happy to 

come see my husband here but also sad 

because I was leaving my family there at 

the time.” 

Safina would get the chance to live 

close to her family again. She and her 

husband would help pave the way for 

both their extended families to join them 

in Canada. 

The Alis found their first home in 

Vancouver. “Our first home was on Main 

and seventeenth,” says Safina. “We rented 

the place. Everything was close by to us 

and we started learning where things 

were. When we came here we had nothing, 

so we had to buy every single thing. 

We started very small and we didn’t have 

By Anita Rai 

anything too expensive, just the necessities.” 

They would stay in the two-bedroom 

suite for two years, until they were able 

to afford more space for the family. “We 

bought a four-bedroom house in Burnaby 

for $23,000, and the payment was only 

$72 a month. Now you can’t even buy a 

car for that much!” says Mohammed. 

Mohammed spent 33 years as a maintenance 

worker for the University of 

British Columbia. Safina worked in a 

laundry, taking time off to add the last 

addition to the family, son Joey. 

The only thing that detracted from 

the excitement of starting a new life in 

Canada was the racism they faced upon 

arriving here. “A lot of white people 

were calling us names at the time,” says 

Mohammed. 

They say one of the most important 

things they gained from coming here was 

the freedom to see the rest of the world. 

“Once we established ourselves here, 

we were then able to travel to England, 

India and back to Fiji every few years. I 

felt like everything went so smoothly for 

us here,” says Safina. 

Mohammed and Safina live in 

Vancouver, where they have made their 

home since 1983. p 


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