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[Photograph of a group of individuals at a gurdwara (Sikh temple) in Vancouver]
Details
Creators
Creator: Bodalia, Chandra
Date Created
2005-05-29
Description
Photograph of a group of unidentified individuals at a gurdwara (Sikh temple) in Vancouver, British Columbia (B.C.). Among the group of individuals is Sudarshan Bakshi.
A highly respected member of British Columbia's South Asian community, Sudarshan Bakshi is widely known for his community leadership and volunteer service.Following his arrival in Canada in 1967, Bakshi worked as a forklift operator and operated his own small blueberry farm for many years. As the father of five daughters, he decided to help young women in Canada and India. In 1988 he began sending money to Indian charities to help poor young women and families struggling to deal with the dowry system and helped young women learn skills like needle-work and sewing that would make them financial contributors within their family units. By the 1990s, Bakshi took his charitable efforts to the lumber mill where he worked, organizing a charity lunch to benefit BC's Children's Hospital. Success led him to found the Janta Sewak Society, dedicated to assisting under-funded charities. Through this society, he has raised more than $1.3 million dollars, supporting a range of charities, including the Canadian Red Cross, Delta Hospital Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society, and many others. Bakshi is a founding member of the Five Rivers Community Services Society. He has also worked to increase understanding and tolerance between cultural groups. He is a founding member of the South Asian Human Rights Organization, which works to build bridges between various factions, religions and countries. Bakshi is the recipient of multiple awards, including, the Queen Elizabeth LL Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013, the Order of BC in 2007, the Hind Rattan Award in 2000 from the NRI Welfare Society of India, and the Rashtriya Rattan Award in 1999 from the International Friendship Forum of India.
The gurdwara is governed by Khalsa Diwan Society. The Khalsa Diwan Society is a pioneer Sikh society, one of the oldest in Vancouver, formed on July 22, 1902 in British Columbia, Canada, formally established in 1906. In 1908, the Society purchased and built the first Sikh temple in Vancouver, which was located on West 2nd Avenue. This is believed to be the first Sikh temple in the whole of the American continent. This temple served the Sikh community until a new temple was occupied on April 25, 1970. The original temple was sold to build a bigger (present) temple located on Ross Street. The Khalsa Diwan Society has been a pioneer in raising Sikhi related issues and getting recognition for Sikhs in Canada. It continues to build a strong community based on Sikhi values and principles. Every year the society organizes sports activities, including soccer and wrestling tournaments.
A highly respected member of British Columbia's South Asian community, Sudarshan Bakshi is widely known for his community leadership and volunteer service.Following his arrival in Canada in 1967, Bakshi worked as a forklift operator and operated his own small blueberry farm for many years. As the father of five daughters, he decided to help young women in Canada and India. In 1988 he began sending money to Indian charities to help poor young women and families struggling to deal with the dowry system and helped young women learn skills like needle-work and sewing that would make them financial contributors within their family units. By the 1990s, Bakshi took his charitable efforts to the lumber mill where he worked, organizing a charity lunch to benefit BC's Children's Hospital. Success led him to found the Janta Sewak Society, dedicated to assisting under-funded charities. Through this society, he has raised more than $1.3 million dollars, supporting a range of charities, including the Canadian Red Cross, Delta Hospital Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society, and many others. Bakshi is a founding member of the Five Rivers Community Services Society. He has also worked to increase understanding and tolerance between cultural groups. He is a founding member of the South Asian Human Rights Organization, which works to build bridges between various factions, religions and countries. Bakshi is the recipient of multiple awards, including, the Queen Elizabeth LL Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013, the Order of BC in 2007, the Hind Rattan Award in 2000 from the NRI Welfare Society of India, and the Rashtriya Rattan Award in 1999 from the International Friendship Forum of India.
The gurdwara is governed by Khalsa Diwan Society. The Khalsa Diwan Society is a pioneer Sikh society, one of the oldest in Vancouver, formed on July 22, 1902 in British Columbia, Canada, formally established in 1906. In 1908, the Society purchased and built the first Sikh temple in Vancouver, which was located on West 2nd Avenue. This is believed to be the first Sikh temple in the whole of the American continent. This temple served the Sikh community until a new temple was occupied on April 25, 1970. The original temple was sold to build a bigger (present) temple located on Ross Street. The Khalsa Diwan Society has been a pioneer in raising Sikhi related issues and getting recognition for Sikhs in Canada. It continues to build a strong community based on Sikhi values and principles. Every year the society organizes sports activities, including soccer and wrestling tournaments.
Note
https://kdsross.com/about/history/
https://jantasewaksociety.org/founder/
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Extent
1 photograph : col. negative
Rights
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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