Audio

Interview with Gurbaksh Singh Dhaliwal. Gurbaksh Singh Dhaliwal was born on August 28, 1934 in the village of Chananwal, district Sangrur, Punjab. Gurbaksh Singh was accompanied by his mother, Gurdev Kaur Dhaliwal, and uncle, Balwant Singh Dhaliwal when he arrived in Mission, BC on October 27, 1948. The family came to join his father Hari Singh Dhaliwal. Gurbaksh Singh speaks about his experiences growing up in Canada and working in both sawmills and as a truck driver for his family's business.

Interview with Gurbaksh Singh Dhaliwal. Gurbaksh Singh Dhaliwal was born on August 28, 1934 in the village of Chananwal, district Sangrur, Punjab. Gurbaksh Singh was accompanied by his mother, Gurdev Kaur Dhaliwal, and uncle, Balwant Singh Dhaliwal when he arrived in Mission, BC on October 27, 1948. The family came to join his father Hari Singh Dhaliwal. Gurbaksh Singh speaks about his experiences growing up in Canada and working in both sawmills and as a truck driver for his family's business.

Interview with Sohan Singh Deo. Sohan Singh Deo is the son of Pritam Singh Deo and grandson of Asa Singh Deo. He was born on April 25, 1939 in the village of Kharaudi, District Hoshiarpur, Punjab. Sohan Singh's grandfather, Asa Singh Deo, was the first member of their family to arrive in Canada in 1906. Almost half a century after his grandfather, Sohan Singh came to Canada in 1963 with his wife, Naseeb Kaur Deo and their daughter of six months. By 1963 most of Sohan Singh's in-laws were well established in Vancouver so when he arrived with his family, they all lived together. He first started working at a saw mill full time earning around $7-$8 an hour. The family went on to slowly grow as they settled in Vancouver. The couple had three more children: Rajinder Kaur born in 1964, Davinder Singh born in 1966 and Balbir Kaur born in 1969.

Interview with Pritam Singh Deo. Pritam Singh speaks about his father, Asa Singh Deo. Pritam Singh speaks about his father's immigration to Canada and America, and his envolvement with the Ghadr Party. He also speaks about his own service in the army in India.

Interview with Fateh Chand conducted in Punjabi. Chand was born on June 5th, 1931 in village Thanawat, Tehsil Moga district, Punjab, India. He was only able to pursue his studies up to the eighth grade because the school was shut down due to the India-Pakistan partition in 1947. Fateh Chand arrived in Canada on July 16, 1960 and was sponsored by his mamaji (mother's brother). He lived in Port Alberni and worked there for a few years. After working for a few years, Fateh Chand returned to India in 1965 but returned to Canada a year later in 1966. Initially, Fateh Chand had no desires to return back to Canada, but after five or six months in India, he decided it was the best decision to return to Canada. In this interview, Fateh Chand describes his experiences moving to a new country and raising his children in Canada.

Interview with Sohan Singh Birak. Sohan Singh Birak came to Canada on May 3rd, 1960. His sister Kashmir Kaur Johal, who had arrived in Canada in 1956, sponsered him. When Sohan first came to Canada, he lived in Lake Cowichan for 6 months, then in 1960, he moved to Abbotsford. Sohan worked in a farm, Marris Growers on Townline Road from 1960-63. Sohan Singh Birak married Bachni Kaur Mander at the Paldi Gurdwara on July 13, 1969. He sponsored her from India before marriage and she arrived in Canada on June 23, 1969. In this interview Sohan Singh describes his experiences moving to Canada and the type of work he did once he arrived.

Interview with Joginder Singh Bains and Darshan Kaur Bains. The couple speak about their experiences living in Canada. Darshan Kaur describes her experiences growing up in Canada an provides some background history of her family's migration story. Joginder Singh speaks about his experience immigrating to Canada.

Interview with Amrao Singh Bains. Amrao Singh Bains was born on June 8th, 1920. Bains speaks about his experience of coming to Canada and what it was like moving to a different country during that time.

Interview with Gurdev (David) Singh Aulak. David Aulak was born in 1935 in Kistilano area of Vancouver. In this interview David shares his experiences growing up in Vancouver and talks about his family history.

Interview with Rattan Kaur Atwal. Rattan Kaur first came to Canada from the village of Langaree Sangha, district Hoshiarpur in 1952 to join her husband Hardial Singh Atwal. Hardial Singh was the first Sikh born in Canada. The couple was married on June 15, 1936. Hardial Singh sponsored his family in 1952, and by that time he was settled on Vancouver island. Rattan Kaur Atwal and her three sons arrived in Vancouver on July 12, 1952. In the interview Rattan Kaur speaks about her experience immigrating to Canada, what it was like living in Paldi, as well as the history of her husband's family.