B.C.’s library executives honour Vancouver Public Library Chief Librarian Sandra Singh

9 May 2014

BRITISH Columbia’s top library executives have honoured VPL Chief Librarian Sandra Singh with major recognition for her vision, innovation and commitment to advancing public libraries in the province.

[Editor’s Note: Sandra Singh, who was born in Fiji and whose family came to Canada in 1975, becames the youngest person to head a major library in this country in 2010. Sandra’s dad is Indo-Nepali and her mom is German. When I asked her about the “Singh” part of her name back then, she told me: “I kept it when I married because for me that part of my heritage is really important in terms of who I am and how I think about myself in being Canadian. And if you were to look at me, you probably wouldn’t know. Most people think I married into the name. It was important for me to keep that because it’s really my only visible identifier.”]

Singh this past weekend received the 2014 excellence award from the Association of B.C. Public Library Directors, which represents the chief librarians, executive directors and CEOs who lead the province’s public libraries.

“We are delighted to recognize Sandra’s many achievements and her work on behalf of public libraries here in B.C. and across the country,” says Maureen Sawa, CEO of the Greater Victoria Public Library and the association’s outgoing chair.

VPL board chair Mary Lynn Baum praised Singh as a passionate and energetic advocate for public libraries and their goals of ensuring equitable access to information and intellectual freedom for all residents, supporting every community member with the resources they need to achieve their aspirations.

“Her outstanding leadership and drive to innovate, evaluate and demonstrate the value and relevancy of public libraries in our community is an enormous asset, not only to Vancouver but the entire library community,” says Baum.

“As a leader, she holds herself to highest standards and further inspires her team to advance public libraries both on a local and national scale.”

Since she joined VPL in 2010 – as the youngest chief librarian of a major urban library in Canada – Singh has been instrumental in leading the VPL board’s ambitious strategic plan and has widely promoted and supported public libraries:

She’s the president-elect of the Canadian Library Association and has been instrumental in the creation of the Centre for Equitable Library Access, a new national organization working to provide access to alternate format materials for Canadians with print disabilities through public libraries.

“This award really recognizes a team effort – I work for an incredible volunteer board of trustees who are passionate in their leadership of VPL and with an extraordinary team of staff who step up to challenges with creativity and commitment,” notes Singh, who also credits the City of Vancouver for its long-standing support of the VPL and the services and opportunities it provides to residents.

“Public libraries are more important than ever,” says Singh. “Digital is an important opportunity for an information society, but it’s not inherently free, equitable, or easy – we still have the same social conditions that require us as citizens to ensure that everyone has access to information, stories, and culture and the facilitators to help along the way.”

Lack of Hepatitis B awareness and knowledge among South Asian immigrants

9 May 2014

ACCORDING to the World Health Organization, hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver, with viral infection as the most common cause of hepatitis. There are five main types of the hepatitis virus: A, B, C, D, and E. Not only have Hepatitis B and C infected hundreds of millions of people chronically, these two viruses are also the main causes of cirrhosis and liver cancer. Chronic Hepatitis B is very common among Asian populations, including South Asian. It is estimated that India has more than 40 million chronic Hepatitis B carriers and over 100,000 Indians die each year due to Hepatitis B-related illnesses. Although generally uncommon in Canada, Hepatitis B infection rates approach that of Asia in areas where there are large Asian communities, such as the British Columbia Lower Mainland. There is an estimated 60,000 Hepatitis B infected individuals in B.C. in which 70% of them are immigrants and among those, South Asian immigrants account for about 5-10%.

HEPATITIS B virus attacks the liver causing either acute or chronic Hepatitis B infection. The virus could have already been in your body for days or months before you develop any symptoms, sickness or discomfort. During this time, the infected individuals are highly infectious and may unknowingly transmit the virus to others. If your immune system is unable to clear the virus, you will develop chronic Hepatitis B. However, condition for some of these people may turn for the worse causing hepatic failure or even death.

Chronic Hepatitis B is the most common hepatitis and infected individuals may not have any symptoms at all. However, chronic hepatitis B is the main risk factor for liver diseases including liver cancer. A chronic carrier has 1-in-4 chance of developing liver diseases and liver cancer if the chronic Hepatitis B infection is not monitored regularly and properly treated. Furthermore, if left untreated, an individual with liver cancer has as low as only 10% chance of survival within the first 5 years of discovering the cancer.

Compared to non-infected individuals, a chronic hepatitis B carrier has 100 times higher risk of developing liver cancer. Since chronic Hepatitis B infections have a long latency period and are often asymptomatic, a large proportion of chronic carriers aren’t even diagnosed until the liver is severely damaged and too late for effective treatment. Taking care of your liver through vaccination, regular monitoring and practicing of healthy behaviours save lives.

RECOGNIZING this devastating, yet overlooked, silent disease in our communities, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. worked with medical experts from the University of British Columbia and was successful at advocating for better Hepatitis B treatment policies in B.C. To further understand the needs and the depth of the Hepatitis B issue among Asians, S.U.C.C.E.S.S., again, collaborated with the B.C. Hepatitis Program and the Division of Gastroenterology of University of British Columbia in 2012 to conduct a Hepatitis B Awareness survey focusing on Asian communities in B.C.

Almost half of the South Asian respondents had low awareness of the consequences of Hepatitis B infection, and were unaware that Hepatitis B was a leading cause of liver cancer. Furthermore, roughly 75% of the South Asian immigrants have NOT been tested and / or vaccinated for Hepatitis B, suggesting a large group of the South Asian community are at risk of Hepatitis B virus as well as developing liver diseases including liver cancer. This health burden on South Asian communities is likely due to the lack of systematic testing, vaccination, and culturally appropriate health education about Hepatitis B.

RECOGNIZING S.U.C.C.E.S.S.’ previous advocacy work in Hepatitis B care and responding to the desperate need for accessible and cultural specific education on Hepatitis B for the South Asian communities in B.C., the Government of British Columbia has provided funding for the Hepatitis B Public Education Program. This program aims to improve Hepatitis B awareness, knowledge, and preventative practices, specifically the screening of Hepatitis B, as well as to provide resources to Hepatitis B-infected individuals to manage their health.

By encouraging the South Asian community to take an active role in their health management and to get tested for Hepatitis B, this project hopes to prevent people from discovering liver diseases too late when the liver is severely damaged. Our Hepatitis B education curriculum incorporates scientifically research based evidence and was developed following consultation with people from various ethnic populations and medical professionals.

Major themes of the curriculum include:
1) transcultural barriers and misconception preventing the public from talking about Hepatitis B;
2) resources and supports currently available for the public and infected individuals;
3) meaningful ways to engage your family doctor and your loved ones about Hepatitis B; and
4) general overview of treatment and management of Hepatitis B.

Free Hepatitis B education workshops are offered in Punjabi, Mandarin, Tagalog, Korean, and English regularly throughout Greater Vancouver Region.

Join us at our next workshop in Punjabi:
Gurdwara Sahib Brookside: Canadian Ramgarhia Society
Date: Sunday, May 25
Time: 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Address: 8365 140 Street, Surrey

To register for our free workshops or to learn more about why Hepatitis B matters to you and our community, visit http://HepB.successbc.ca. You can access various educational materials and resources about Hepatitis B in Punjabi. Through educating the public more about Hepatitis B, please join us in making a difference in the lives of those around you as well as your own. Talk to your doctor and get tested for Hepatitis B. We look forward to meeting all of you in the upcoming workshops and events.

Established in 1973, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. is one of the largest social service agencies in British Columbia. It is a charitable organization providing services in settlement, language training, employment, family and youth counselling, business and economic development, health care, housing and community development. For more details, visit: www.success.bc.ca.

Why the Komagata Maru is still important

9 May 2014

“From start to finish it is a sad story, but it is the story of my life….If my story paves the way for repetition of any such single inequity being impossible, on any one in the future, I shall die in happiness to know that I had done my duty”.

Gurdit Singh ~ The Voyage of the Komagata Maru Or, India’s Slavery Abroad

THE name “Komagata Maru” is filled with meaning.

On the surface, it is simply a ship that arrived in Vancouver in 1914 carrying 376 British Indian subjects. Only 24 were allowed to land and the rest sent back to India. Upon their return, World War One had begun and many of the passengers were arrested under suspicion of seditious activity. Many others were tragically killed in a riot the day they arrived.

On another level, these two words encapsulate so many negative aspects of the South Asian experience in Canada: exclusion, discrimination, and racism. While the community has overcome many systemic challenges, it would be too easy to see this as a positive narrative – from tragedy to triumph.

There are only a handful of histories from minority communities that are known. And the Komagata Maru is one of them. In fact, if you’re South Asian, the Komagata Maru is the only story we have that may have some national significance. And even then, only a small number have heard of it, let alone recognize its significance.

This is also why the centennial anniversary is such a valuable opportunity. The eight partners of the Komagata Maru 1914-2014 project are producing over 16 events that highlight unique aspects of the Komagata Maru episode. Over the course of the coming weeks I encourage you to read Sadhu Binning’s poetry, watch Shushma Datt and Belle Puri’ sdocumentary, witness the new Komagata Maru play, listen to Phinder Dulai’s upcoming work, hear Satwinder Bains discuss official apologies, and attend Ali Kazimi’s talk. From the descendants of Komagata Maru passengers, to distinctive film screenings, from rare artifacts to unique musical performances, this moment provides a platform for many vibrant, creative, and forceful artists, academics, activists (and various combinations of these three). Perhaps most importantly, all of us can create a living legacy where conversations, debates, and ideas that arises from this centenary can be sustained and woven inextricably into the central narrative of Canada.

In her poem “C-A-N-A-D-A: in the aftertime, there is always the before” poet Renee Saklikar writes that certain words release vibrations that echo through time to the present. These past traumas and historical injustices infuse the present moment and contextualize ongoing challenges. Through this endeavour we are reminded that the continuous flow of history never takes place in a silo.

SPECIAL BY NAVEEN GIRN
Naveen Girn is the Project Manager for “Komagata Maru 1914-2014: Generations, Geographies and Echoes” featuring a group of 8 institutions across Metro Vancouver collaboratively commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Komagata Maru Episode (www.komagatamaru100.com)

Komagata Maru – reflections on immigration policy

9 May 2014

MAY 23 will be the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the Komagata Maru in Vancouver. Its arrival and the efforts of its passengers to remain in Canada were one of the most emotional events in Canadian immigration history. In the next few weeks leading up to the anniversary, I will write about the incident and consider what changes have been made to Canadian immigration policy since then.

Humanity has been migrating through the ages. As populations levels increase, with more competition for limited resources, people have moved to seek better opportunities. The same pressures motivate migration today. A global industrial economy creates demand for workers. Capitalism results in a desire by business to decrease labour costs. Governments attempt to balance competing interests.

Other human factors give rise to migration, such as religion, race and ethnicity, resulting in wars and other conflicts. There are many examples in recent centuries. To name only a few, land clearances in Scotland following a political uprising in the mid-18th century displaced tens of thousands of Scots. A million Irish migrated as a result of the famine of the 1840s. Partition of India in 1947 displaced about 14 million people.

In the past year complaints by unions and other workers about displacement by temporary foreign workers have filled the news. The government is creating an Express Entry program to assist business in quickly finding qualified permanent workers. All of this is playing out in a global economy hit by a recession since 2008, with fears that a slowdown in the Chinese economy will exaggerate the problems.

Similar headlines were written over a century ago. A global depression in 1907 created conflict in British Columbia, with unions demanding a prohibition against cheaper imported labour by businesses. Racial tension and prejudice arose as most of the imported labour was coming from China, Japan and India.

The B.C. legislature passed laws to restrict Asian immigration. Most of those laws were disallowed by the federal government, under a constitutional provision that still exists. Previously, B.C.’s Lieutenant Governor, James Dunsmuir, refused to give royal assent to one Act, after which he, as owner of major mining interests in B.C., signed a contract to import foreign miners. The federal government had started restricting Chinese immigration in 1885 by imposing a head tax on Chinese migrants. Despite increasing the fee twice by 1903, migration continued.

Businesses argued against restrictions. The Canadian Pacific Railway, which ran a Pacific steamship service, relied upon migration for that service. It had been promoting migration from India. Following race riots in Vancouver in September, 1907, the federal government reached an agreement with Japan to limit emigration to Canada. The government sought a way to limit Indian migration without overtly offending British Indian interests in controlling Indian nationalism.

A new Immigration Act was passed in 1906. The 1906 Act allowed the government more flexibility in controlling migration. In January, 1908, the government enacted a regulation that, where in the opinion of the Interior Minister the condition of the labour market made it desirable, immigrants would be prohibited from landing or coming into Canada unless they came from the country of their birth, or citizenship, by a continuous journey and on through tickets purchased before leaving the country of their birth, or citizenship. It also passed a rule to prevent migration of unemployed poor from Britain.

The CPR challenged the regulation as it effectively eliminated migration from India. One of its ships, the SS Monteagle, arrived in Victoria in March, 1908, with 183 Indian immigrants. The migrants were first subject to an education test under a B.C. Immigration Act. About 31 failed the test, resulting in an order for their imprisonment. On March 13, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Morrison set aside the convictions, by finding the B.C. law unlawful, as it was contrary to the paramount federal Immigration Act.

Under the federal Immigration Act, 25 were excluded on medical grounds, the rest under the continuous journey order. The CPR contested the exclusions, with the lead applicant named Behari Lal. On March 24, Justice Clement ruled the order invalid, as the Immigration Act did not give power to the government to delegate authority to the Interior Minister to determine prohibited classes.

Within three days the government passed a new continuous journey order, without reference to the Interior Minister. It also introduced an amendment to the Immigration Act to expressly authorize a continuous journey regulation, that was assented into law on April 10. It rewrote the continuous journey order again in May. In June the government passed another rule requiring “Asiatic immigrants” to possess $200, creating a further barrier against Indian migration.

The CPR made no further attempt to challenge the exclusionary rules. It succumbed to pressure and eliminated any direct passage or through ticketing from India. The government set up entry points along the U.S. border in 1908 to control inland movement. Increasing migration prompted the government to introduce a new Immigration Act that was approved by Parliament in May, 1910. The 1910 Act would remain in effect until 1953. Within a week, cabinet reenacted the continuous journey and $200 fee requirement rules under the new Act.

The stage was set for further challenges to the law. Those would come from an Indian political activist in 1911, the arrival of another ship with Indian migrants at Victoria in October, 1913, and with the Komagata Maru’s arrival. They will be dealt with in next week’s installment.

BY WILLIAM MACINTOSH
William Macintosh started practising as an immigration lawyer in 1984. You can reach him for advice or help on any immigration or citizenship matter at 778-714-8787 or by email at [email protected]

Federal NDP pushes for formal Komagata Maru apology in Parliament

9 May 2014

JASBIR Sandhu, MP for Surrey North, issued the following statement on Wednesday in the House, continuing to push for an apology on the 100th anniversary of the Komagata Maru:

“Mr. Speaker, May 23 marks the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the Komagata Maru into Vancouver’s Burrard Inlet. With 376 passengers on board, the Komagata Maru ended its long Pacific journey to Canada, only to be met with rejection.

“Due to the discriminatory “continuous journey” regulation, passengers were prevented from disembarking while the ship remained in Burrard Inlet for two months. Passengers were denied basic necessities, such as food and water.

“This was one of several incidents in the early 20th century involving Canada’s exclusion laws designed to keep out immigrants of Asian origin and descent.

“The tragedy of the Komagata Maru marks a dark chapter in Canadian history, one that must be honoured by the recognition of the failures of our past and inspire us to pursue a more equal Canada for future generations.

“Along with my NDP colleagues, I will continue to push for a formal official apology on the floor of the House of Commons for this tragedy. An apology is long overdue and a necessary part of the healing and reconciliation process.”

Jason Kenney issues statement on Asian Heritage Month

9 May 2014

JASON Kenney, Minister for Multiculturalism, issued the following statement on Tuesday for Asian Heritage Month:

“Tonight I am pleased to officially launch the national celebration of Asian Heritage Month at an event hosted by the Canadian Museum of Nature.

“Asian Heritage Month is a time to reflect on the many achievements and contributions of Asian Canadians who helped shape the pluralistic and prosperous country that we are today.

“As this year marks the 100th anniversary of the Komagata Maru incident, Asian Heritage Month will also feature many events and tributes to commemorate this tragic incident in our country’s past, including highlighting of the community projects funded by the Community Historical Recognition Program (CHRP):www.cic.gc.ca/english/multiculturalism/programs/indo.asp.

“This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I and the 75th anniversary of the start of World War II. As part of Asian Heritage Month, the Government of Canada will recognize and honour the many sacrifices made by Asian Canadians for our country.

“As Minister for Multiculturalism, I invite all Canadians to learn more about the important role played by Canadians of Asian heritage. I also encourage all Canadians to take part in the many events taking place this month to celebrate Asian Heritage Month, as well as the many events that will continue throughout this year in honour of the anniversaries of World War I, World War II and the Komagata Maru.

For more information on Asian Heritage Month and the events that will be happening across Canada, visit www.cic.gc.ca/asianheritagemonth.”

Prof. Hugh Johnston’s book on Komagata Maru an extensive revision, reappraisal and expansion

9 May 2014

ONE hundred years ago the Komagata Maru arrived off the coast of Vancouver to challenge Canada’s immigration laws. The ship, with its nearly 400 Punjabi passengers, remained for two months and those on board were harassed by immigration officials and endured extreme physical hardship, until finally they were forced to return to India.

Hugh Johnston, one of Canada’s foremost experts on this issue, and author of the just released The Voyage of the Komagata Maru: The Sikh Challenge to Canada’s Colour Bar spoke at the Vancouver Maritime Museum on Thursday on “Stories from the Komagata Maru.”

The Voyage of the Komagata Maru is an extensive revision, reappraisal, and expansion of Johnston’s authoritative history of the Komagata Maru incident, first published in 1989. This updated edition draws in new research – exploring the legal issues surrounding the incident and delving deeper into the motives of the passengers and their leaders and supporters – and revisits the previous edition’s assessments in light of insight gained over the intervening decades.

As Johnston states, ‘this is not just a re-release, but virtually a new book. How many people get a chance to do a major overhaul on a book thirty-five years after it first appeared and nearly forty years after they started the research … my perspective has changed over the decades … so has the Sikh community.’

Now expanded by more than 50 percent, The Voyage of the Komagata Maru is still the only comprehensive historical account of the Komagata Maru incident – a story of immigration, empire, politics, and human rights, which Canadians increasingly recognize as a critical moment in this country’s history.

“Every Canadian should read this book. It captures a very important part of Canadian history and a pivotal incident that occurred in 1914…my grandfather was in Canada when the Komagata Maru arrived, and he would be proud of the way that Hugh Johnston has presented this event,” says former federal minister Herb Dhaliwal.

Johnston is a professor emeritus in history at Simon Fraser University. Among his publications are two other books on Punjabis in Canada, Jewels of the Qila: The Remarkable Story of an Indo-Canadian Family (2012) and The Four Quarters of the Night: The Life Journey of an Emigrant Sikh (1995).

The Vancouver Maritime Museum’s exhibit The Komagata Maru: Challenging Injustice is up until June 8.

Canadian men’s field hockey team wins silver at 2014 Champions Challenge

9 May 2014

THE Canadian Men’s National Field Hockey Team has returned home to Vancouver with a silver medal for its second place finish at 2014 Champions Challenge in Kuantan, Malaysia. The finish was Canada’s best ever at the tournament, surpassing its placing of sixth in Argentina in 2012.

The team included South Asian players Sukhi (Sukhpal) Panesar, 20, of Surrey who plays midfield and is from United Brothers FHC, and Keegan Pereira, 22, of Ajax, Ontario, who plays midfield and is from UBC Thunderbirds.

“The team performed very well,” says Men’s National Team head coach Anthony Farry. “The most pleasing aspect was our level of consistency both on and off the pitch.

“We have a real focus on ‘what we need to do’ rather than being reactive to teams and changing things.”

Canada (ranked No.16) faced world No.7 Korea in the final and lost 4-0, but earlier in the tournament tied the Koreans 3-3. The Canadians beat world No.13 and host Malaysia in the tournament semi final.
The two positive results against teams higher in the world rankings combined with the silver medal will likely move Canada up a few spots in the world table.

The second place finish also ties Canada’s best finish at a major international event with its second place finish at the 1996 World Cup Preliminary in Cagliari, Italy, and the 1989 Intercontinental Cup in Madison, USA.

“It vindicates and validates a lot of what we already know and believe,” adds Farry. “Hard work, dedication and the level of commitment required to be successful are all areas where we excel.”

Canada also defeated No.17 France in the pool stage and No.18 Poland in the quarter final. Including the playoff rounds Canada finished with the tournament with three wins, two losses and one tie.

Forward Gabriel Ho-Garcia (Burnaby, B.C.) was named Best Junior Player and captain Scott Tupper (Vancouver, B.C.) finished fourth in tournament scoring with five goals.

The Men’s National Team will now continue its preparation for the 2014 Commonwealth Games to be held in Glasgow, Scotland July 23 to August 4. A roster will be named in early June.

“There is no doubt that we have a hard road ahead but we also know that this group is ready for that and with this taste they will be hungry to build on this result.”

Kick-off the City of Bhangra Festival on May 29 with two great shows!

9 May 2014

THE City of Bhangra has for years pushed the edges, presenting experimental mash-ups of bhangra with tap dancers, African rhythms, highland dancers and more. Each one has been full of delightful surprises, and cross-woven grooves.

TransFusion opens this year’s festival, ably led by MC and beatboxer Rup Sidhu and choreographed by Hardeep Sahota, with performances by Native Thunder Productions, JCC Shalom Dancers, Now or Never Crew, Leela Dance, and the Royal Academy of Bhangra, all accompanied by Karn Bhuller on Dhol.

Native Thunder’s Alex Wells is a member of the Lil’wat Nation from Mount Currie, BC and performs the Hoop Dance, a magical evocation of the creation of life, and one of the most difficult dance styles around – he sometimes uses up to 22 hoops! Nelson Leon, a member of the Sts’ailes First Nation (Harrison Hot Springs, BC), is a natural leader with the gift of song and drum. Don’t miss their exhilarating performance!

Leela Dance Group was formed by young dancers in Vancouver wanting to celebrate their Indian heritage. The choreographers, Deepak and Monisha Manhas, Divya Thakore, and Sabrina Saran, and all of the dancers have competed and performed internationally. Representing many different backgrounds, including Garba, Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Bhangra, and Bollywood, the group enjoys creating new and original dance moves to the season’s most popular musical hits.

The JCC Shalom Dancers have become ambassadors of the Greater Vancouver Jewish Community, representing and educating through dance the importance of peace, Jewish history, and culture.

In 1997, in Coquitlam, B.C., a youngster named Lawrence started his break-dancing career after watching a few clips his brother downloaded from the internet. After finding a few like-minded young individuals in the area, the Now or Never Crew was formed. The crew has travelled the world together, representing Canada in Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Japan, South Korea, the USA and was featured on the world stage at the 2010 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony, and many, many more!

Founded in 2011, the Royal Academy of Bhangra is the first not-for-profit academy in Canada to offer a formal Punjabi Folk Dance education with a syllabus consisting of three grade levels. The Academy’s Dance Director, Hardeep Singh Sahota, was key in the development of the bhangra syllabus program for all Canadian Dance Teachers, BC Branch. The Academy successfully uses bhangra as a creative outlet to promote skill, discipline, and physical fitness, and to provide team building and leadership initiatives for youth.

MC and Beatboxer Rup Sidhu is an interdisciplinary artist and facilitator whose work meets at the intersection of social justice and the arts. Rup has spent the past 15 years growing his understanding of anti-oppression and empowerment work as related to an artist’s role in society.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience First Nations, Jewish, Hip-Hop, and Garba dancers creating intercultural mash-ups by blending bhangra moves with their own indigenous folk traditions. Creative Concept by Tarun Nayar. Presented with support from Canada Council for the Arts. Come early for our Opening Reception at 6:30 p.m.

Fei and Milton Wong Experimental Theatre at SFU Woodwards, 149 West Hastings
Thursday, May 29, 6:30 p.m. Reception, 8 p.m. show.
$10 Tickets

The night’s still young! From 9 p.m. join the party at High Society: Reggaeton Bhangra at Ginger62, exploding with turntable talent. Celebrate Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration’s 10th Anniversary with DJs Lajit and Reminisce as they curate a vast repertoire of Bhangra hits from the 80s and 90s – UK bhangra meets Punjabi folk, with a dash of electronic flavours to round out the mix. Joining them will be Su Comandante, one of the region’s most diverse DJs, to spin reggae, dancehall, Latin, reggaeton and – yes – even some bhangra beats. Come early, dance till late. Presented with A-Town Productions.

Seeing Amar “DJ Lajit” Jitla wind up a room is really something extraordinary. A vanguard in the world of music, this working DJ, remixer, sound engineer, and visual lighting specialist takes opposing genres and uses vocals over instrumentals like no one else. Hailing from the place of cool waters – Nairobi, Kenya – DJ Lajit’s formative years of listening to classics from Alaap, Malkit Singh, and Bally Sagoo influenced his style behind the DJ booth as well as in the studio. As a permanent fixture of A-Town Productions, DJ Lajit is transforming the city’s South Asian music scene, taking it from underground to crossover success in Vancouver and beyond.

As one of the pioneers of the Canadian West Coast bhangra and Hip-Hop scene, Reminisce has DJ’d at the largest parties and composed music for today’s most popular artists. His sound gives gracious nods towards Rishi Rich, Bally Sagoo, Jassi Sidhu, and Juggy D, among many others. His beats combine his knowledge of traditional Indian music and modern Hip-Hop, resulting in a critically acclaimed style that is both original and irresistible. He is now venturing into the music world as an artist and running his successful DJ’ing company Maximum NRG Roadshow with his partner Amar “DJ Lajit” Jitla.

Raul Espinoza grew up in El Salvador and moved to Victoria at age 13, where he taught himself to use turntables, and became DJ Su Comandante in 2000. Since then, he has opened for acts such as K-OS, Wyclef Jean of the Fugees, Yellowman, Kinnie Starr, Kytami, Alpha Yaya Diallo, and the Boom Booms. He has been featured at festivals in Victoria and at Diwali and Under the Volcano in Vancouver, and hosted an underground hip hop radio show for five years at CFUV in Victoria. He is on staff at Highlife Records on Commercial Drive, and spins regularly at the Reef Restaurant on Main Street.

High Society: Reggaeton Bhangra
Thursday, May 29 @ 9 p.m. – Ginger62, 1219 Granville Street
$15 Tickets

Jathedhar Balbir Singh

9 May 2014

JATHEDHAR Balbir Singh was born on August 16, 1934 at Lovu, Lautoka, Fiji. He completed his primary education at Lovu Sangam School with a good command of English. He completed his Punjabi language to granthi level at LTK Sikh Temple under the guidance of Bhai Harnam Singh (granthi).

He later served as part-time granthi at LTK and did a lot of seva as a Akhand Paathi on a regular basis all over Fiji. He had a good command of the Punjabi language – both spoken and written.

As a young Sikh scholar he was popular with the youth who looked up to him.

Being the eldest in the family, he grew up caring and loving us all. His favourite sister was Ginda (Jagindar Kaur). We all, his younger siblings, looked up to him and were all proud of him as a Big Bira Jee.

At the very young age of 20 years, he left for India in March 1955, reaching Punjab the following month, travelling by sea. After a year or so, at the village due to certain circumstances he left his village home, never to return. We all lost touch with him for many years. We searched for him, but we were unsuccessful.

By sheer luck, in 2007, after many years of unfruitful searches, through some Mr. Hundal we finally tracked him down. At last, our elder brother was still alive and in Hoshiarpur, India. It was such a delight and over-joyous occasion to catch up with him as we had lost touch with him from 1956 to 2007 – over 50 years.

Balbir Singh was a man of very high status but very humble and down to earth and a true sevadaar. Over those years he had found and adopted a poor family but never got married. His other adopted brothers passed away but he performed the marriage ceremonies for their two daughters and son.

– In 1956, after leaving the village he joined the Akali Dal Party and fought for the human rights for the Punjab state and protested and for that he served two months in prison.

– In 1960, he was in jail for five months for a human rights protest. He paid his bail of Rs.500 to be released.

– On August 15, 1961, he fought for a Punjab state by staging a hunger strike

– In 1966, he marched in locked hands in a protest

– In 1967, he served as chief auditor of Punjab Bank of India

– In 1971, he fought for Sant Fateh Singh’s leadership battle

– In 1974, he became a freedom fighter, along with Jathedaar Mohan Singh in Karnal district.

– In 1975, during Punjab’s Emergency Period he served eight months in jail in Amritsar and Patiala.

– On August 4, 1982, he again fought for the leadership battle with Parkash Singh Badal, serving three months in jail in Ludhiana.

– On August 16, 1984, he fought for the Golden Temple and was again jailed in Ferozpur for a short period.

– In 1980, Bira Jee stood for election as a member of SGPC and won with a landslide victory in his district of Hoshiarpur, earning him a title of Jathedaar SGPC.
– He stood for election again in 1996 and again won the title of SGPC Jathedaar.

– In 2001, and again in 2004 and 2009 as Jathedaar.

— In 2001, he was presented the highest award for the Human Rights Services by the SGPC and was presented a gold-plated thre-foot Kirpan by Punjab Chief MinisterPrakash Singh Badal.
He sadly passed away at 2:30 p.m. on April 24 at the ripe age of 80 years.

It was such a joyous occasion finding Jathedhar Balbir Singh (Beera Jee) after over 50 years and the whole family is proud of his achievements and how far he was able to come as a true and dedicated sevadaar. May Waheguru bless his departed soul and give us all the strength to accept his passing – the things which we cannot change.

Jathedhar Balbir Singh is survived by Sister Jagindar Kaur in Modesto, California, USA, Brother Harbhajan Singh in Sydney Australia, brother Kewal Singh in Yuba City, USA, Sister Gurdiyal Kaur in Lautoka, Fiji, and Brother Gurmit Singh in Surrey, Canada. He also left behind 10 nieces and 18 nephews, eight granddaughters and 10 grandsons. He also had an adopted family in Hoshiarpur, India: Mr. and Mrs. Kuljit Singh and grandson Sukha Singh and daughter Raman.

He will be deeply missed and remembered by his beloved families and friends all over the world.

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