Racism

Transcription of interview with Amarjit Singh Heer discussing his immigration to Canada, his immigration status, his personal history, and his experience working in various positions at sawmills such as Nanoose Forest Products, Nanaimo Forest Products and Western Forest Products. He also discusses how he was paid low wages and how it was difficult to gain seniority at the sawmills. Heer also mentions his encounters with racism and discrimination in Canada.

Amarjit Singh Heer's narrative discusses his immigration to Canada from Punjab, India. Heer became a Canadian citizen shortly after arriving in Canada and started working in sawmills. He worked in various sawmills in British Columbia including William's Lake, Merritt, Duncan, Nanaimo, Cowichan Bay and in Chemainus. Heer also had a variety of roles in the sawmills such as the green chain position, a plainer shift, a graveyard planer shift, and a foreman. Heer concludes by discussing how during his time in Canada, he commonly faced discrimination and racism from the European White settler community.

Interview with Swaran Kaur Kooner. Swaran Kaur moved to Canada with her husband Mohinder Singh Kooner in 1960. They were sponsored by Swaran Kaur's sister, Nasib Kaur Sall. She speaks about her and her family's experience adjusting to a new life in Canada, including financial struggles and facing racism from neighbours. She also talks about her experience working various jobs and raising her children. She further speaks about how society has changed and the importance of remembering the past.

Interview with Swaran Kaur Kooner. Swaran Kaur moved to Canada with her husband Mohinder Singh Kooner in 1960. They were sponsored by Swaran Kaur's sister, Nasib Kaur Sall. She speaks about her and her family's experience adjusting to a new life in Canada, including financial struggles and facing racism from neighbours. She also talks about her experience working various jobs and raising her children. She further speaks about how society has changed and the importance of remembering the past.

Narrative of an interview with Swaran Kaur Kooner. Swaran Kaur moved to Canada with her husband Mohinder Singh Kooner in 1960. They were sponsored by Swaran Kaur's sister, Nasib Kaur Sall. She speaks about her and her family's experience adjusting to a new life in Canada, including financial struggles and facing racism from neighbours. She also talks about her experience working various jobs and raising her children. She further speaks about how society has changed and the importance of remembering the past.

Interview with Sarvan Singh Gill. Sarvan Singh Gill was born in 1933 in Village CHak 91, Tehsil Toba Teak Singh, District Lyallpur, West Punjab, Pakistan. After the Partition of India in 1947, his family moved to East Punjab, near Ludhiana. Sarvan Singh first came to Canada in 1981 and was later sponsored by his son in 1984. He worked as a security guard and speaks about learning English in Canada. He lived in both Vancouver and Toronto, and upon retiring, moved to Abbotsford. He also talks about a racist encounter he had with a group of young White kids in Toronto. Sarvan Singh speaks about meeting new people and making friends in Canada and mentions that he was known in the community because he was the sarpanch (head) of his village.

Transcription and English transliteration of an interview with Sarvan Singh Gill. Sarvan Singh Gill was born in 1933 in Village CHak 91, Tehsil Toba Teak Singh, District Lyallpur, West Punjab, Pakistan. After the Partition of India in 1947, his family moved to East Punjab, near Ludhiana. Sarvan Singh first came to Canada in 1981 and was later sponsored by his son in 1984. He worked as a security guard and speaks about learning English in Canada. He lived in both Vancouver and Toronto, and upon retiring, moved to Abbotsford. He also talks about a racist encounter he had with a group of young White kids in Toronto. Sarvan Singh speaks about meeting new people and making friends in Canada and mentions that he was known in the community because he was the sarpanch (head) of his village.

Narrative of Sarvan Singh Gill. Sarvan Singh Gill was born in 1933 in Village CHak 91, Tehsil Toba Teak Singh, District Lyallpur, West Punjab, Pakistan. After the Partition of India in 1947, his family moved to East Punjab, near Ludhiana. Sarvan Singh first came to Canada in 1981 and was later sponsored by his son in 1984. He worked as a security guard and speaks about learning English in Canada. He lived in both Vancouver and Toronto, and upon retiring, moved to Abbotsford. He also talks about a racist encounter he had with a group of young White kids in Toronto. Sarvan Singh speaks about meeting new people and making friends in Canada and mentions that he was known in the community because he was the sarpanch (head) of his village.

Creator: Griffin, Sean

Photo of South Asian drivers at Yellow Cab one-day strike. Indo-Canadian drivers at Yellow Cab stage a one-day strike in protest over racist comments from a supervisor, reflecting a long-standing practice of racism at the cab company. The drivers, members of the Ad Hoc Committee of Lower Mainland East Indian Taxi Drivers and Owners, were supported on the picket line by BC unions.

Newspaper clipping from Pacific Tribune titled, Rally urges labour action on racism.