South Asian Canadian men politicians

Creator: Bodalia, Chandra

Group portrait of unidentified individuals with Indian Minister Amarjit Singh Samra and MP Gurmant Grewal at an event for the minister, who was visiting Vancouver. The event was held at the Raja Banquet Hall in Surrey, B.C.

Winning from the town of Nakodar, Amarjit Singh Samra was an MLA for the Government of Punjab, India from 1994-2012, and the Revenue and Agricultural Minister for Punjab from 2002-2007.

Gurmant Grewal is a former Member of Parliament in the House of Commons for the Conservative Party of Canada from 1997-2006. He was initially elected into the Canadian House of Commons for the riding of Surrey Central, and then re-elected for the riding of Newton-North Delta. He was previously an Assistant Professor, an Associate Professor, a real estate agence, a manager, and an entrepeneur. His spouse Nina Grewal was also an elected official at the same time as him, making them the first married couple in the House of Commons.

Creator: Bodalia, Chandra

Group portrait of unidentified individuals with Indian Minister Amarjit Singh Samra and MP Gurmant Grewal at an event for the minister, who was visiting Vancouver. The event was held at the Raja Banquet Hall in Surrey, B.C.

Winning from the town of Nakodar, Amarjit Singh Samra was an MLA for the Government of Punjab, India from 1994-2012, and the Revenue and Agricultural Minister for Punjab from 2002-2007.

Gurmant Grewal is a former Member of Parliament in the House of Commons for the Conservative Party of Canada from 1997-2006. He was initially elected into the Canadian House of Commons for the riding of Surrey Central, and then re-elected for the riding of Newton-North Delta. He was previously an Assistant Professor, an Associate Professor, a real estate agence, a manager, and an entrepeneur. His spouse Nina Grewal was also an elected official at the same time as him, making them the first married couple in the House of Commons.

Creator: Bodalia, Chandra

Group portrait of MLA Dave Hayer with unidentified men and women at a press conference for the Vancouver Police Department. The press conference may have been about the Amber Alert service.

Dave Hayer is a former MLA for Surrey-Tynehead, first elected in 2001. He has held several key roles in the BC Legislature, including Chair of Surrey Caucus and member of multiple government committees. Before entering politics, he was a businessperson, Assistant Publisher of the Indo-Canadian Times, and worked in various industries, including real estate and newspapers. Hayer has been actively involved in community organizations such as the Rotary Club of Surrey and Surrey Chamber of Commerce. He holds a BA in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University and is known for his work on community development and public service.

The Michael J Fox Theatre is located in Burnaby South Secondary School in B.C. Burnaby South Secondary School is one of eight secondary schools within the Burnaby School District, in south central Burnaby. Built as part of the school in 1993, the Michael J Fox Theatre is overseen by an independent, non-profit society. The Michael J Fox Theatre Society Board consists of community volunteers and functions independently of the Burnaby School Board. In November 1995, the Theatre was officially named after Michael J. Fox, in recognition of his achievements in the arts and commitment to the community.

Creator: Bodalia, Chandra

Photograph of Anil Anand and unidentified men at a gathering for Ravi Shankar.

Anil Anand is Acting Consul General.

Born April 7, 1920 in Varanasi (then Benares), India, Ravi Shankar was an Indian musician, composer, and sitar virtuoso, who was known for popularizing classical Indian music in the West. Shankar was a prolific musician; he composed ragas, film scores, and musical compositions of poems. He had partnerships with George Harrison and Paul McCartney of the Beatles, and Yehudi Menuhin.

Creator: Bodalia, Chandra

Photograph of Premier Ujjal Dosanjh speaking to press at the Richmond Indo Canadian Youth and Parents Connecting with Each Other and the Community Conference in Richmond, B.C.

Ujjal Dosanjh is a Canadian lawyer, civil rights activist, and politician. Born in Panjab, India in 1947, Dosanjh emigrated to England at the age of 17 and came to Canada four years later, in 1968. He started off at a Vancouver sawmill, but when a back injury hindered his career at the mill, he enrolled at Langara College and completed a degree in political science at Simon Fraser University. He earned a law degree at the University of British Columbia and established a law practice in Vancouver in 1979. First elected as MLA for Vancouver-Kensington in 1991, Dosanjh twice served as Caucus Chair and also chaired the Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills. Dosanjh was sworn in as British Columbia's 33rd Premier and Canada's first Indo-Canadian Premier on February 24, 2000, serving until 2001. He had previously served as Minister of Government Services and Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism, Human Rights, Sports and Immigration in 1995, and served as Attorney General from August 1995 to February 2000. He was also the leader of the provincial New Democratic Party (NDP) and later served as a Member of Parliament with the Liberal Party. A long time human rights activist, his past community involvements include: South Vancouver Neighbourhood House, MOSAIC, the B.C. Multicultural Society and the B.C. Civil Liberties Association. In 1977 he helped set up the first farm workers' legal information services while he was chair of the Labour Advocacy Research Association. Throughout his career, Dosanjh has been a strong advocate for social justice, healthcare, and public policy issues.

Creator: Bodalia, Chandra

Photograph of attendees and panelists at the Richmond Indo Canadian Youth and Parents Connecting with Each Other and the Community Conference in Richmond, B.C.

Premier Ujjal Dosanjh and Pasha Bains are seen in attendance.

Ujjal Dosanjh is a Canadian lawyer, civil rights activist, and politician. Born in Panjab, India in 1947, Dosanjh emigrated to England at the age of 17 and came to Canada four years later, in 1968. He started off at a Vancouver sawmill, but when a back injury hindered his career at the mill, he enrolled at Langara College and completed a degree in political science at Simon Fraser University. He earned a law degree at the University of British Columbia and established a law practice in Vancouver in 1979. First elected as MLA for Vancouver-Kensington in 1991, Dosanjh twice served as Caucus Chair and also chaired the Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills. Dosanjh was sworn in as British Columbia's 33rd Premier and Canada's first Indo-Canadian Premier on February 24, 2000, serving until 2001. He had previously served as Minister of Government Services and Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism, Human Rights, Sports and Immigration in 1995, and served as Attorney General from August 1995 to February 2000. He was also the leader of the provincial New Democratic Party (NDP) and later served as a Member of Parliament with the Liberal Party. A long time human rights activist, his past community involvements include: South Vancouver Neighbourhood House, MOSAIC, the B.C. Multicultural Society and the B.C. Civil Liberties Association. In 1977 he helped set up the first farm workers' legal information services while he was chair of the Labour Advocacy Research Association. Throughout his career, Dosanjh has been a strong advocate for social justice, healthcare, and public policy issues.

Pasha Bains is a Canadian basketball coach and former player known for his contributions to basketball development in British Columbia. He played high school basketball for Richmond High, where he became the all-time leading scorer in the AAA Senior Boys' Basketball Provincial Tournament. He later played at the University of Wyoming, Clemson University, Simon Fraser University, and the University of British Columbia, where he helped the Thunderbirds achieve a 20-0 season. In 2004, he co-founded Drive Basketball, an academy dedicated to training and mentoring young athletes. Bains has received several accolades, including Canadian High School Player of the Year and Canadian University Player of the Year, and continues to be involved in coaching and youth basketball development.

Creator: Bodalia, Chandra

Group portrait of Premier Ujjal Dosanjh and Arun Gandhi at his lecture and book signing event, which was organized by the International Network on Personal Meaning in Richmond, B.C.

Born in 1934 in Durban, South Africa, Arun Manilal Gandhi was the fifth grandson of Mohandas K. "Mahatma" Gandhi and was a socio-political activist, author, lecturer, and journalist. Having grown up under the apartheid laws of South Asian, both his parents and his grandfather taught him the importance of justice through love, suffering, understanding, and nonviolence. He and his late spouse, Sunanda, lived in India for thirty years, and then in 1987, they moved to the United States. The couple was extremely involved in activism, which included rescuing orphan children from the street, social and economic uplifting programs, starting the M. K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, establishing residential-school in poorest rural India, and founding the Gandhi Worldwide Education Institute, among other contributions.

Ujjal Dosanjh is a Canadian lawyer, civil rights activist, and politician. Born in Panjab, India in 1947, Dosanjh emigrated to England at the age of 17 and came to Canada four years later, in 1968. He started off at a Vancouver sawmill, but when a back injury hindered his career at the mill, he enrolled at Langara College and completed a degree in political science at Simon Fraser University. He earned a law degree at the University of British Columbia and established a law practice in Vancouver in 1979. First elected as MLA for Vancouver-Kensington in 1991, Dosanjh twice served as Caucus Chair and also chaired the Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills. Dosanjh was sworn in as British Columbia's 33rd Premier and Canada's first Indo-Canadian Premier on February 24, 2000, serving until 2001. He had previously served as Minister of Government Services and Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism, Human Rights, Sports and Immigration in 1995, and served as Attorney General from August 1995 to February 2000. He was also the leader of the provincial New Democratic Party (NDP) and later served as a Member of Parliament with the Liberal Party. A long time human rights activist, his past community involvements include: South Vancouver Neighbourhood House, MOSAIC, the B.C. Multicultural Society and the B.C. Civil Liberties Association. In 1977 he helped set up the first farm workers' legal information services while he was chair of the Labour Advocacy Research Association. Throughout his career, Dosanjh has been a strong advocate for social justice, healthcare, and public policy issues.

International Network on Personal Meaning (INPM) follows the vision of Dr. Viktor Frankl, an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist, and Dr. Paul T. P. Wong, a Canadian clinical psychologist. They advocate for research on meaning, by extending logotherapy and integrating it with the positive psychology. They engage in meaning research, meaning-centred practice, meaningful living group, as well as websites, publications, education, meaningful living groups, and meaning-centered counseling, coaching, and consultation.

Creator: Bodalia, Chandra

Group portrait of Arun Gandhi, Premier Ujjal Dosanjh, and MP Gurmant Grewal at a lecture and book signing event for Arun Gandhi, which was organized by the International Network on Personal Meaning in Richmond, B.C.

Born in 1934 in Durban, South Africa, Arun Manilal Gandhi was the fifth grandson of Mohandas K. "Mahatma" Gandhi and was a socio-political activist, author, lecturer, and journalist. Having grown up under the apartheid laws of South Asian, both his parents and his grandfather taught him the importance of justice through love, suffering, understanding, and nonviolence. He and his late spouse, Sunanda, lived in India for thirty years, and then in 1987, they moved to the United States. The couple was extremely involved in activism, which included rescuing orphan children from the street, social and economic uplifting programs, starting the M. K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, establishing residential-school in poorest rural India, and founding the Gandhi Worldwide Education Institute, among other contributions.

Ujjal Dosanjh is a Canadian lawyer, civil rights activist, and politician. Born in Panjab, India in 1947, Dosanjh emigrated to England at the age of 17 and came to Canada four years later, in 1968. He started off at a Vancouver sawmill, but when a back injury hindered his career at the mill, he enrolled at Langara College and completed a degree in political science at Simon Fraser University. He earned a law degree at the University of British Columbia and established a law practice in Vancouver in 1979. First elected as MLA for Vancouver-Kensington in 1991, Dosanjh twice served as Caucus Chair and also chaired the Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills. Dosanjh was sworn in as British Columbia's 33rd Premier and Canada's first Indo-Canadian Premier on February 24, 2000, serving until 2001. He had previously served as Minister of Government Services and Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism, Human Rights, Sports and Immigration in 1995, and served as Attorney General from August 1995 to February 2000. He was also the leader of the provincial New Democratic Party (NDP) and later served as a Member of Parliament with the Liberal Party. A long time human rights activist, his past community involvements include: South Vancouver Neighbourhood House, MOSAIC, the B.C. Multicultural Society and the B.C. Civil Liberties Association. In 1977 he helped set up the first farm workers' legal information services while he was chair of the Labour Advocacy Research Association. Throughout his career, Dosanjh has been a strong advocate for social justice, healthcare, and public policy issues.

Gurmant Grewal is a former Member of Parliament in the House of Commons for the Conservative Party of Canada from 1997-2006. He was initially elected into the Canadian House of Commons for the riding of Surrey Central, and then re-elected for the riding of Newton-North Delta. He was previously an Assistant Professor, an Associate Professor, a real estate agents, a manager, and an entrepreneur. His spouse Nina Grewal was also an elected official at the same time as him, making them the first married couple in the House of Commons.

International Network on Personal Meaning (INPM) follows the vision of Dr. Viktor Frankl, an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist, and Dr. Paul T. P. Wong, a Canadian clinical psychologist. They advocate for research on meaning, by extending logotherapy and integrating it with the positive psychology. They engage in meaning research, meaning-centred practice, meaningful living group, as well as websites, publications, education, meaningful living groups, and meaning-centered counseling, coaching, and consultation.

Creator: Bodalia, Chandra

Group portrait of former Premier Ujjal Dosanjh with unidentified men at a party hosted by The Shri Guru Ravidass Temple at the Fraserview Hall in Vancouver, B.C.

The Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, established in 1982, serves as a gathering place for the local community in Burnaby, British Columbia. Among other social, educational, and recreational activities, the organization also operates a community centre and offers a place of worship in accordance with the teachings of Guru Ravidass, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and other gurus and saints whose teachings are enshrined in the holy book, Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

Ujjal Dosanjh is a Canadian lawyer, civil rights activist, and politician. Born in Panjab, India in 1947, Dosanjh emigrated to England at the age of 17 and came to Canada four years later, in 1968. He started off at a Vancouver sawmill, but when a back injury hindered his career at the mill, he enrolled at Langara College and completed a degree in political science at Simon Fraser University. He earned a law degree at the University of British Columbia and established a law practice in Vancouver in 1979. First elected as MLA for Vancouver-Kensington in 1991, Dosanjh twice served as Caucus Chair and also chaired the Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills. Dosanjh was sworn in as British Columbia's 33rd Premier and Canada's first Indo-Canadian Premier on February 24, 2000, serving until 2001. He had previously served as Minister of Government Services and Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism, Human Rights, Sports and Immigration in 1995, and served as Attorney General from August 1995 to February 2000. He was also the leader of the provincial New Democratic Party (NDP) and later served as a Member of Parliament with the Liberal Party. A long time human rights activist, his past community involvements include: South Vancouver Neighbourhood House, MOSAIC, the B.C. Multicultural Society and the B.C. Civil Liberties Association. In 1977 he helped set up the first farm workers' legal information services while he was chair of the Labour Advocacy Research Association. Throughout his career, Dosanjh has been a strong advocate for social justice, healthcare, and public policy issues.

Located on Fraser Street, Fraserview Hall has been a staple venue for various South Asian Canadian community events in Vancouver, B.C. over the past two decades.

Creator: Bodalia, Chandra

Group portrait of former Premier Ujjal Dosanjh with unidentified men at a party hosted by The Shri Guru Ravidass Temple at the Fraserview Hall in Vancouver, B.C.

The Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, established in 1982, serves as a gathering place for the local community in Burnaby, British Columbia. Among other social, educational, and recreational activities, the organization also operates a community centre and offers a place of worship in accordance with the teachings of Guru Ravidass, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and other gurus and saints whose teachings are enshrined in the holy book, Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

Ujjal Dosanjh is a Canadian lawyer, civil rights activist, and politician. Born in Panjab, India in 1947, Dosanjh emigrated to England at the age of 17 and came to Canada four years later, in 1968. He started off at a Vancouver sawmill, but when a back injury hindered his career at the mill, he enrolled at Langara College and completed a degree in political science at Simon Fraser University. He earned a law degree at the University of British Columbia and established a law practice in Vancouver in 1979. First elected as MLA for Vancouver-Kensington in 1991, Dosanjh twice served as Caucus Chair and also chaired the Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills. Dosanjh was sworn in as British Columbia's 33rd Premier and Canada's first Indo-Canadian Premier on February 24, 2000, serving until 2001. He had previously served as Minister of Government Services and Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism, Human Rights, Sports and Immigration in 1995, and served as Attorney General from August 1995 to February 2000. He was also the leader of the provincial New Democratic Party (NDP) and later served as a Member of Parliament with the Liberal Party. A long time human rights activist, his past community involvements include: South Vancouver Neighbourhood House, MOSAIC, the B.C. Multicultural Society and the B.C. Civil Liberties Association. In 1977 he helped set up the first farm workers' legal information services while he was chair of the Labour Advocacy Research Association. Throughout his career, Dosanjh has been a strong advocate for social justice, healthcare, and public policy issues.

Located on Fraser Street, Fraserview Hall has been a staple venue for various South Asian Canadian community events in Vancouver, B.C. over the past two decades.