People
Surrey BC Visitor’s Guide
Jas Cheema“It’s a great place to raise your family,” said Jas Cheema, leader of diversity services for Fraser Health. Born in India, Cheema has lived in Surrey for 25 years and has raised her own family there. “There are lots of recreational opportunities and programs for young kids. It’s home.”With Cheema as a guide, Anja Konjicanin, Director of Social Media and writer for the Vancouver Observer took to the streets of Surrey to find out the best places to eat, shop and find entertainment in its South Asian neighbourhoods.
Almost immediately, she introduced Anja to 128 Street, which seemed to have it all – from high-end clothing shops to budget grocery stores. “It’s Little India, all in one block,” Cheema laughed. She said that she often goes to the textile shop to get fabrics, and near by, you can get your eyebrows done for just $2.
“Most of the businesses here are South Asian owned,” Cheema said, gesturing towards the surrounding glass buildings.
Here is the Vancouver Observer pick of the top places to visit while in Surrey:
1. Made In India
Photos by Parisa Azadi
From sarees to lehengas (long skirt), new brides can find all sorts of fabulous dresses for their big day. Mini crystals handstiched on the fabric, known as “zircons”, border the sarees, while tiny ornaments hang from the sleeves of lehengas of all colours.
But this ladies store isn’t only about bridal wear. It’s an extensive selection of dresses for any event. And the pieces are shipped all the way from India. While some are affordable at $299, others are on the pricy side, at $1,399. If you want to pick up something pretty on the cheap, a fancy bangle set is only $10.
Made in India
Rajesh and Simmi Sharma
#104-8312 128 Street
604-501-2577
Hours: Mon/Wed, Thurs-Sun: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
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Luckey Shokar, sales associate at Made In India, displays the store’s sumptuous offerings
2. Maharaja
Chef Rajpal making Naan Bread
A popular lunch place, Maharaja has been serving traditional Indian cuisine since 2009. The sweet smell of the buffet and the warmth which escapes from the kitchen adds to the homey feel and charm of this family-owned restaurant.
“We come here often, at least once a month for lunch,” Bonnie Dhaliwal, mortgage specialist at RBC, said.
“They have such a variety at their buffet, so we usually go for the buffet, and they also have quite a few choices with the dessert as well.” She had the sugary Jalebis for dessert. “They’re very good – nice and hot, just the way I like them.”
While Dhaliwal lives in Richmond, she works at the Surrey branch. “I love it, I get most of my business from Surrey,” she said. “This is the place to be; it’s a growing place, love the cultural part of it, as well.”
The restaurant owner built his reputation as a caterer, and catering is still a large part of the business. He has a contract with the Wall Centre, Fairmont, Four Seasons, and other major hotels downtown.
Carrot Halwa, Jalebi, Gulab Jaman on our dessert plate
Maharaja
Payal Business Centre
Unit 407, 8148 128 Street
604-592-3002
Hours: Mon-Sun: 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
3. Grand Taj Banquet Hall
From political functions to engagement parties to fundraisers, it all happens at the Grand Taj. “Former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin was here,”said Sucha S. Padda, vice president of the Grand Taj. Surrey mayor’s annual event also takes place at the hall. “They launched their campaign here,” Cheema said.
The Grand Taj offers in-house and offsite catering, DJ, bar, decorations, limousines.
Grand Taj Banquet Hall
#6, 8388 128 Street
604-599-4342
Hours: Tue-Sun: 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.
4. Kamal’s Video Palace (KVP)
Kamal Sharma shows off his extensive film selection
It’s the only place in Vancouver that sells original DVDs. Inside, faces of legendary singers like Asha Bhosle and Geeta Dutt glisten on supersizedposters which hang from the ceiling.
“Everything here is original, either from India, U.K. or States,” KamalSharma, producer of Yaadeih and Kamal’s Top 5 Hits on Shaw Multicultural Channel, said. “The majority of the people are actually selling bootlegs, the ones you download.” His films don’t have the glitches of DVDs you might be picking up elsewhere for $5.
He said that his current top three sellers are “Singham” , “Ready” and “Dabangg.” “They’re the three best hits,” Sharma said.
“The biggest superstar in India at the moment is actor Salman Khan,”
said Cheema, adding with a giggle: “Every woman’s hearthrob.”
Salman Khan, Photo sourced from sizzlingcelebrity.com
“This year, so far, the biggest hit is his movie, Ready. Last year, the biggest hit was his film which was, Dabangg, and on E! special release is his new one called, Bodyguard.”
He added Shahrukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan to the list of big names of the industry.
Sharma has been in Surrey since 1999, and he said that while every city has its ups and downs, the best thing about his area was that “communities here are living peacefully.”
Kamal’s Video Palace
#103-8268 120 Street
604-592-9777
Hours: Wed-Mon: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
5. Tasty Indian Bistro
A cup of warm Chai is enough to revatalize yourself after a long day.
On the cusp of Delta,Tasty Indian Bistro, with its exquisite traditional cusine, is known for its homemade style of cooking.
“So, people really know that it’s made with love and care, and they come back because of that, and so the competition hasn’t really affected them,” Cheema said. Rectangular cushions which glitter from each table add to that at-home feeling.
While they just opened three weeks ago at their new location, the restaurant has been around for 11 years. Though lunch time is busy, evenings tend to be busier, and despite not advertising, they are full every night. It’s a good thing: “We spent lots of money.”
The gorgeous interior design makes the Bistro a favorite hangout spot.
Tasty Indian Bistro
8295 120 Street
604-507-9393
Hours: Mon-Sun: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
6. Surrey City Centre Library
Melanie Houlden, deputy chief librarian for the Surrey Libraries
They’re calling it the future “downtown” of Vancouver because of its central location and growing vigour. Designed by the famous Bing Thom, it’s a mirror into the future, a ravishing piece of art. Just minutes from the Skytrain, it is the new cool place to hang.
It has everything: a wireless cafe, a living room and reading lounge, gaming activities, SFU facilities, ultra-comfy luna chairs, and even a meditation room.
“This is set up as a bit of an auditorium, so we could do author readings, or lectures,” Melanie Houlden, deputy chief librarian for the Surrey Libraries, said, as she pointed to the stair-like structure below.
“Or, if people want to have their weddings in here…” she trailed off, laughing.
Their old Whalley library could be seen below, shabby by comparison. “It’s fabulous to be able to replace that building with this one. That place had 10 public computers — this place has got 80.”
The spacious 82,000 square feet building was designed for the future, as the initially proposed 65,000 square-foot library is expected to outgrow Surrey’s population in five years.
Houldon talked about the library’s plans to have a “living library,” an idea which came from Denmark.
“The concept is that people carry around lots of ideas and experiences in their heads, a lot of knowledge that they can then share with other people,” she said. “The original intention of it was to break down barriers and get past stereotypes.”
Melanie Houlden, top and right, with Jas Cheema, centre.
Surrey City Centre Library
10350 University Drive,
Surrey, BC V3T 4B8
Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:30 am – 9pm
Saturday: 10 am – 5 pm, Sunday: 1 – 5 pm
This is a guest post from Anja Konjicanin, based on her original Vancouver Observer article Beautiful Surrey, B.C.: a visitor’s guide dated Aug 30th, 2011.
Anja Konjicanin is the Vancouver Observer‘s Director of Social Media and writer with an interest in current events, celebrity gossip and everything pop-culture related. Look out for her new column, “5 Minutes With…”
By: Paarull Communications Ltd.
The road to genuine gender equality is a long and constantly shifting one, owing to women who have made non-contemporary choices in their professions and set an example for the rest of us.
Shahnaz Rahimtula is one such pioneer who has inspired and led the way towards a profession that not many women would have set foot in at the time when she opened her practice. Today, she is one of the oldest South Asian female notaries with over 29 years of experience. There has been a notable change of scenarios now, where women have outnumbered men in this profession. As of today, 55 percent of notaries in British Columbia are women.
Shahnaz Rahimtula in 1990 after her graduation
With a mission to constantly evolve and stimulate her life experiences to enhance her chosen profession, Shahnaz enabled herself through learning and education. She was commissioned as a Notary Public in 1990 and has practised continuously since then. She has consistently demonstrated strong leadership capabilities and was on the dean’s list at Capilano College where she completed a two-year financial management course and later on, in 1986, graduated as a Certified General Accountant in B.C.
Mrs. Rahimtula completely credits all the wonderful people around her who she meets through her business; they have been the biggest inspiration driving her on the path to success. Being a business professional, keeping up with family commitments and raising a family has been one of her biggest challenges but she has successfully managed both.
Shahnaz Rahimtula chose this profession partly because it gave her an opportunity to help others, which is clear from the many pro-bono or minimal charge cases she takes on for people in need. She has greatly contributed to the community by participating as a member of the Surrey Board of Trade as well as volunteering on the Audit Committee and The Information and Privacy Committee with The Society of Notaries Public of B.C. She has been on the board of PICS where they dealt with the regional concerns of immigrants and made an enormous difference in the Surrey Community with fundraising for battered women, senior homes and other causes to aid the less fortunate. Her work has made a huge difference for women in our community. In addition to all this, she is a Charter Member of the Fraserview Rotary Club. She presently serves as a co-chairperson of the Fraser Valley Chapter of the Notaries.
She strives to maintain a balanced lifestyle through her hobbies which include playing sitar, swimming and energizing through regular meditation and prayer.
Shahnaz wishes to continue to take on leadership-like roles. She strongly believes that with some strong values such as compassion and integrity, one can do wonders in building a successful career and at the same time help those around us.
Shahnaz Rahimtula, Notary Public
Shahnaz Rahimtula can be reached at shahnaz@srnotary.ca, Ph: 604-591-7171, website: www.srnotary.ca
Michael Bains is a writer, originally from Surrey, BC. His first novel, Hooped was inspired by his years growing up in the Newton area of Surrey.
Hooped is about a teenage boy – Jimmy, who is the son of immigrant parents and is the captain of his high-school basketball team.
Although quite intelligent, Jimmy doesn’t see the value in a high school education. He soon meets Sunny, who is an established drug dealer in the Surrey neighbourhood and he takes Jimmy under his wing and gives him a street-education.
As a teenager, Michael was exposed to both the good and bad sides of Surrey, and knew there was a story to tell. “I wanted Hooped to come across as being a sincere reflection of what is happening in Surrey,” Michael says.
“People often depict Surrey as being a certain type of place even though they have never lived there. They base their opinion of Surrey on what they’ve heard on the news and most of it is negative.
I wanted to use this novel as a way to go past the surface level and into the deeper issues of what is really going on.”
The novel also explores the difficulties that teenagers navigate while growing up in a world that has become so full of uncertainty and where it has become normal for kids to question the status quo.
“What some people don’t understand is that a lot of teenagers are seduced by the drug dealing lifestyle because they don’t agree with the alternatives,” Michael says.
“None of these teenagers see themselves wanting to work a 9-5 job. And that’s what high school and post secondary educations are designed to lead them into. So why would they buy into it?”
Hooped is being released at a time that is marked with civil unrest that is occurring all around the world. Michael hopes that Hooped can offer perspective on this unique time in our history.
As part of the release for Hooped, Michael is also launching his “Pursue Your Passion Series,” where different people will be highlighted who have followed something that they love doing.
“I don’t want the ‘Pursue Your Passion Series’ to be just about financial success. Because a passion can be anything. You can have a dream of running a half- marathon, or mastering an instrument, or playing a sport, or whatever. I feel like we could all live our lives with more passion.”
Hooped will be available beginning on November 30 2020, at Michael’s website. Here you can also find reviews for the book, and future projects that Michael will be working on. You can follow updates for the book at @hoopedtalks on both Instagram and Facebook.
People
Canadian Veteran Trevor Greene inspires $312M Legion Veterans Village Centre of Excellence for PTSD
Greene’s ongoing brain injury and PTSD improvements from Afghanistan axe attack published in Frontiers of Human Neuroscience
Photo: Canadian veteran Trevor Greene on a peace keeping mission in Afghanistan, where he suffered a debilitating head injury from an axe attack. Today, he continues his ongoing recovery from brain injury using innovative brain technologies.
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada – With Remembrance Day fast approaching, Canadian veteran Trevor Greene shares how he continues to disrupt conventional limits in brain injury and PTSD recovery as he rewires his brain using the latest and most advanced brain technologies, fourteen years after suffering a debilitating brain injury from an axe attack while serving in a peace keeping mission in Afghanistan.
In 2015, the B.C. and Yukon Command of the Royal Canadian Legion helped outfit Trevor with a robotic exoskeleton, which helped him continue re-learning to walk. Called Project Iron Soldier, this exciting initiative inspired the development of Legion Veterans Village, a $312M Centre of Excellence for PTSD, mental health and rehabilitation dedicated to veterans and first responders. Legion Veterans Village is currently under construction in Surrey and is slated to be completed in Summer 2022.
A research team led by neuroscientist Dr. Ryan D’Arcy from the Centre for Neurology Studies at HealthTech Connex, and Simon Fraser University (SFU), reports the latest breakthroughs from Project Iron Soldier in a recently published scientific study in the Frontiers of Human Neuroscience journal, tracking Greene’s neuroplasticity as he shows physical, cognitive and PTSD improvements through his neurorehabilitation.
Capt. Greene and the Project Iron Soldier research team have continued with intensive daily rehabilitation, but the team experienced an extended plateau in progress using conventional therapy alone.
To break through the plateau, HealthTech Connex launched an intensive 14-week study using the Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (or PoNS™) in combination with physical therapy to safely stimulate novel neuroplasticity and tracked brain vital sign improvements using NeuroCatch® Platform (or NeuroCatch®).
The PoNS is a neuromodulation technology that sends a series of small electrical impulses to the brain by stimulating the tongue (known as translingual neurostimulation). NeuroCatch is a rapid objective measure of cognitive brain function.
A number of published clinical studies demonstrate applications for both the PoNS and NeuroCatch for brain injury, with the current case study highlighting the real-world application to push the limits of recovery in physical abilities, cognitive processing, and PTSD symptoms.
“Our team has been leading clinical research to develop and validate advanced brain technologies like the PoNS and NeuroCatch Platform for a few years and have seen incredible results in terms of improved brain health and well-being,” says Dr. Ryan D’Arcy, co-founder of HealthTech Connex, which operates the Centre for Neurology Studies and an SFU professor. “When Trevor experienced a plateau in his rehabilitation, we tried intensive conventional treatment approaches, but to no avail.
It was only after combining stimulation with the PoNS device with his rehabilitation therapy that we could break through these barriers and demonstrate significant clinical improvements.”
Results of the study:
The newly published results demonstrate that PoNS neurostimulation, paired with intensive rehabilitation, may stimulate neuroplasticity to overcome an extended recovery plateau in this case as objectively measured by NeuroCatch and other brain scanning technologies. The main findings were:
- Capt. Greene showed significant gains in clinical outcome measures for physical therapy. It is noteworthy that these improvements occurred more than 14 years after the axe attack. Capt. Greene and his wife Debbie Greene also reported notable and lasting improvements in cognition and PTSD symptoms.
- Capt. Greene showed significant brain vital sign improvements in cognitive function, particularly in auditory sensation (as measured by the N100 response), basic attention (as measured by P300 response), and cognitive processing (as measured by N400 response). The study results are published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.
Dr. D’Arcy describes the study results:
“We were fascinated to see that, while the focus was physical therapy, NeuroCatch scans detected cognitive improvements and Trevor and his wife Debbie reported greatly reduced PTSD symptoms.
My favorite line in this published paper was when Debbie closed the study by saying, ‘I got my superman back.’ In our COVID-19 era, when we are all concerned about the recent links to brain health, it is breakthroughs like this that bring continued hope for science and technology advances.”
Says Capt. Greene, “I first saw the power of neuroplasticity in the early days of the first study involving the MRI. I was blown away when Ryan showed me images of my brain with coloured splotches showing where my healthy brain tissue was taking over for the damaged bits.
Later on, I saw the full power of the PoNS device when I got demonstrably stronger, steadier and more coordinated after using it regularly for just a few weeks. It’s really been a game changer for me and my family.”
“Trevor’s amazing progress is no doubt pushing the frontiers of medical science by overcoming perceived limits of brain recovery,” says Dr. Shaun Fickling, the study’s lead author who completed his PhD at Simon Fraser University.
“These brain imaging results provide valuable insight into the importance of unleashing the power of neuroplasticity to inspire countless people impacted by brain and mental health conditions.”
Capt. Greene and Dr. D’Arcy recounted their remarkable progress and showcased their mission to lead scientific breakthroughs in neuroplasticity through a recent TEDx talk.
Dr. D’Arcy concludes, “These neuro-technology breakthroughs have considerable impacts to inspire many of us to push beyond conventional limits in neurological and mental health recovery.
For our veterans and first responders, who remain resilient in the face of frequent exposure to trauma, this research and science underpins the inspiration for our newly developed Legion Veterans Village, to give back through a Centre of Excellence in PTSD, mental health, and rehabilitation.”
For more about the PoNS treatment, visit the Surrey Neuroplasticity Clinic.
About HealthTech Connex Inc. :
Located in the Health and Technology District, HealthTech Connex Inc. (HTC) is a brain technology company focusing on cutting-edge innovations and services for rapid impact on health improvements and outcomes in neurological performance.
With brain vitality as a premier focus, HealthTech Connex provides translational neuroscience innovations to care and community sectors worldwide, bridging the gap between what is capable in the laboratory and what’s available in the real world.
It operates the Surrey Neuroplasticity Clinic (SNPC), a neuro-rehabilitation clinic in Surrey, British Columbia, focusing on comprehensive therapies using advanced, non-invasive brain technologies to help treat people with neurological conditions. www.healthtechconnex.com
Legion Veterans Village (LVV) :
The Legion Veterans Village is a unique $312-million, two-phase, multi-purpose social infrastructure project in the City of Surrey, led by the BC/Yukon Command of the Royal Canadian Legion, together with Whalley Legion Branch 229 and Lark Group.
The project includes a mix of 495 market housing condominiums, 91 affordable housing units, a Centre of Excellence for veterans and first responders focusing on PTSD and mental health, an Innovation Centre for Rehabilitation and a new facility for the Whalley Legion Branch 229.
Once completed (slated for Summer 2022), a key priority will be the integrated delivery of a continuum of programs and services for veterans and first responders, as well as contributing training and research towards new practices, interventions and technologies in mental health, counselling, engineering, robotics and advancements in neuroscience, etc. www.legionveteransvillage.com
Surrey, British Columbia – Sher Vancouver is proud to release “Queersome Desi Resources” which is a specially curated list of Queer South Asian Resources from around the world. The resource was created to celebrate, liberate, and validate our queer South Asian community.
We have created an extensive list including inspiring reads, podcasts, movies, creative projects and have featured around 20 noteworthy Queers in our community. This resource highlights global queer organizations to build an inclusive community by supporting each other. Let us come together and celebrate our South Asian queer community who are living their truths unapologetically. We are so grateful for your representation!
QUOTATIONS
The resource was created by Sher Vancouver Women’s Coordinators Sharon and Anoushka. “I am grateful to help create this resource collection for Sher Vancouver, as it has been my saviour in my own self-healing, and acceptance journey. I quickly dismantled the belief of me being the only queer Punjabi person in the community working on this collection.
Instead, what I found was a plethora of queer South Asian platforms! All it took was determined searching of the Internet. I hope you too find comfort, hope, empowerment, and pride in these resources. Desi queers are here. Desi queers exist. and Desi queers are thriving” states Sharon.”
“Being a part of this project makes me incredibly proud as it presented an opportunity to give back to the Desi queer community. For someone who has relatively recently accepted their own identity and was on a journey to find resources, people to rely on and organizations to be a part of, a list like this would have been a great place to start.
The lack of queer representation growing up made me feel isolated and unsure but through this project I have learnt that acceptance and empowerment is present no matter who you are and where you are from. Among these resources and people, I hope you find what I was able to. Embrace who you are,” states Anoushka.
“I feel Sharon and Anoushka did an exceptional job with curating the Queersome Desi Resources for Sher Vancouver. This project creates awareness and visibility of the global South Asian queer community. South Asian queers are not alone in this world,” states Sher Vancouver Founder Alex Sangha.
Queersome was designed by one of Metro Vancouver’s most talented graphic designers Jag Nagra of https://www.jagnagra.com/
PROJECT SERIES
The Queersome Desi Resources is part of a three-part series designed to provide information to the LGBTQ + community. This three-part series project consists of:
1. Legal Resources Kit which consists of three documents:
a. LGBTQ+ Friendly Lawyer Referrals
b. Information Regarding Human Rights
c. Safe Countries for LGBTQ+ Travellers
2. Queersome Desi Resources (South Asian Queer Resources from around the world)
3. Sher’s Pink Directory which will list organizations that fund the LGBTQ + community in Metro Vancouver (coming soon)
The resources are available for free download for everyone on the Sher Vancouver website under RESOURCES at the following link: https://www.shervancouver.com/resources.html
Raj Arneja’s new book evokes powerful emotions of becoming a mother
Raj Arneja’s joy to motherhood is her most fulfilling life experience. Her journey is filled with emotions and strife, after traveling thousands of miles from Canada to India which led her to a happiness beyond her own expectations.
Raj, the Director of Corporate Engagement and Philanthropy at Nanak Foods, recently announced the launch of her extremely personal and thought-provoking book, Love at First Sight – A Mother’s Journey to Adoption, which chronicles her journey to adopting her two beautiful children Kabir and Kirti. The book promises to inspire you to never give up hope, no matter what life throws at you.
In her book, Raj describes the challenges she faced in the 1990’s while trying to adopt her now grown up children. The stigma surrounding adoption in the South Asian community gave Raj a reason to pen her story, share her experiences and inspire people to take a chance on life and parenthood.
“Like most people, I have faced many challenges in life. Not being able to conceive was heartbreaking at first and I longed to feel the love and joy of a baby. While I felt the sadness, I was also not ready to give up,” says Raj. “I knew I would love and experience it all through adoption. With a strong will and stronger love for children, I adopted my two kids. Every day since then has been a blessing. It has been the best decision of my life.”
Raj has always believed that giving birth to a child is not the only thing that makes a woman a mother. It is the unconditional love you have for your child that makes you one. Love at First Sight – A Mother’s Journey to Adoption will inspire young mothers and aspiring parents exploring the option to adopt a child.
Raj loves her children more than anyone in the world and she hopes that her book will inspire more people to adopt, or diminish the stigma surrounding adoption. People who have read Raj’s book have found it to be of wise council.
“I hope my chosen path and my struggles can help someone find their way to undying love, just as I have with my children,” she says.
Testimonials
Rajiee M Shinde, CEO, ShowBox Channel of IN10 Media Pvt Ltd. A Dada Saheb Phalke Film Foundation award winner was enamored by her story. Rajiee says, “With powerful words, and wonderfully exhibited emotions, Raj gives you an insight into how her struggles and accomplishments shape her as a mother. Her journey to date is evidence of what a complete and beautiful human being she is – a remarkable example for society!”
Dr. Bal Pawa, Co-Founder Westcoast Women’s Clinic, Author of The Mind-Body Cure and TedX Speaker, found the book ‘compelling’. “This book highlights the power of love: unconditional, expansive, and infinite. Raj’s incredible perseverance and unwavering faith in a higher purpose fuel her maternal instinct to never give up.
Heart-wrenching emotions are illustrated in the trials and tribulations of IVF treatments, cultural expectations, and navigating unknown waters of overseas adoptions. I especially loved her explanation of adoption to her child, “you came from my heart.” This unforgettable reframing of biology should certainly inspire more couples to adopt.”
“A remarkable story of perseverance, love and family. Raj’s life story is an inspiration. Her journey to motherhood reminds us all of the power of intention and manifesting the life we wish to have. This book is a must read for anyone looking for an uplifting and refreshing take on finding purpose and meaning through all of life’s adventures and challenges.” – Bal Brach, CBC Journalist, Documentary Filmmaker, Reporter CBC Vancouver
The book is available on Amazon:
Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/Love-First-Sight-Mothers-Adoption/dp/1999254104
Others: https://www.amazon.com/Love-First-Sight-Mothers-Adoption/dp/1999254104
About Raj Arneja
Born into an immigrant family and raised in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada, Raj’s childhood memories are full of colourful stories of supporting family and friends as they settled into their new country and adjusted to new customs and traditions. Raj works hard at building relationships within the community through her work at Nanak Foods.
She directs the company’s philanthropic initiatives, including strategy, programming, and partnership development, and the day-to-day operation of all corporate contributions. Raj also sits on various boards, where she adds value through her skills and experience. She is a well-known entity in the South Asian community in the Vancouver area.
Raj enjoys supporting various charitable, non-profit community organizations, including the Seva Thrift Society, VISAFF, and two girls’ orphanages in Punjab. Raj strongly feels that humanity has no borders and we should reach out and help wherever we are able to, regardless of race, gender or nationality. Raj lives in Surrey, British Columbia, with her husband and 2 children. She is an avid traveler and has travelled to over 60 countries, many times with her children and to some as a volunteer.
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