Abbotsford

Creator: Bains, Satwinder

Creator: Chand, Nirakshik

Interview with Mrs. Satwinder Bains. Mrs. Satwinder Bains came to Canada on 16th November 1975. Migrating to Canada was a decision taken by her parents. When they travelled to Canada, Satwinder and her family did not bring anything except clothes and quilts. She was 19 when she moved to Canada. She cried while leaving India as her friends and family were there but, she was also excited to explore new places and experience new adventures. While traveling on a plane with the other Indians, she and her father were the only ones who spoke English and helped to guide everyone through the whole flight. Satwinder Bains recalls how in Canada, she was discriminated against for her race, was frequently asked if she could speak English, and had her academic credentials not recognized. It took some time before she was comfortable in Canada. She wanted her children to know where their parents came from so she and her husband took them to India for a year, but the kids could not settle there. This is a full length interview which was conducted on 7th August 1996 by Nirakshik Chand.

Creator: Bains, Paramjit

Creator: Chand, Nirakshik

Interview with Mr. Paramjit Bains. In December of 1962, Mr. Paramjit Bains came to Canada when he was just 8 years old with his younger sister and his mother. While he was studying at the University of British Columbia, his family moved to California and settled in the United States of America. After finishing his studies, he got married and moved to Delta, BC, Canada. Afterward, he moved to Abbotsford to raise his kids and started a business in blueberry farming. In the interview, Paramjit Bains recalls various memories from his time growing up in British Columbia. For instance, he recalled having to get a haircut so that he was not teased for wearing a turban. He also remembered a time when a gurdwara was more like a church with chairs and no one used to cover their heads. This interview was taken on 30th July 1996 by Nirakshik Chand.

Image of the exterior facade of the Gur Sikh Temple in Abbotsford.

Image of the interior of the Gur Sikh Temple in Abbotsford with a group of people gathered inside.

Watercolour painting of Bishan Singh, a fictionalized character created for the (DIS)Enfranchisement - 1907-1947: The Forty Year Struggle for The Vote exhibit based on the real experiences of South Asian Canadians.