South Asian Canadian women teachers

Surjit Kaur seen in the front row, far right of the photograph, is in a classroom surrounded by many South Asian children, middle-aged women, and older women. Surjit Kaur is wearing a black-and-white patterned salwar with her white chunni around her shoulders. There are many South Asian women wearing Indian attire, with others wearing long dresses.

Mr. and Mrs. Brar came to Canada on May 31, 1959. They were sponsored by Mr. Brar's sister. Mr. Brar started working at his brother-in-law's farm in his earlier days. Soon after, he took a job at the Calgary Public Library and he worked there for 2 years and 10 months. He then started teaching and continued to do so for another 60 years. Mrs. Pritam Brar worked at a monastic institution and took care of the elderly. She was allowed to bring her kids to her work and was able to study in a Catholic school. In 1979, the family moved to Abbotsford and bought a raspberry farm. Before coming to Canada, Mr. Brar planned to start a law degree but was unable to do so. He then served in the air force, before getting his Bachelor of Arts and moving to Canada. Mrs. Brar used to work as a Headmistress of a high school for 3 years in India. The couple decided to come to Canada because they did not see any future in India due to the violence that occurred during the partition. This is a full-length interview recorded on July 12, 1996, at Mr. Brar's residence in Abbotsford, BC. The interviewer is Nirakshik Chand.