Immigrants--Canada

Kaṉaṭā: vāḻttum vaḷamum, edited by Capā Aruḷcuppiramaṇiyam in celebration of Canada 150. Publication consists of greetings from the Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Rouge Park, Gary Anandasangaree, Toronto City Councillor for Ward 42, Neethan Shan, Principal of Thamil Poonka School, Yoga Arulsubramaniam, and poetry related to Canada 150 celebration by Capā Aruḷcuppiramaṇiyam.

Creator: Power, Gurdial Singh

Interview with Gurdial Singh Power. Before coming to Canada, Mr. Gurdial Singh Powar had a central government job. All of his brothers came to Canada after he settled down. He came to Canada for a better life, but he misses his job in India. Gurdial Singh describes how he was very comfortable with reading, writing, and talking in English. When he first arrive, he started by working as a helper in the garage. After he got his work permit, he started working in the garage full-time. When he went to the immigration office for an interview, he was asked questions related to the mechanical line after he told them what he was doing in Canada for a living. His paperwork was passed quickly. This is a full length interview conducted on June 10, 1996 by Nirakshik Chand.

Creator: Hara, Balraj Singh

Creator: Hara, Daljeet Kaur

Creator: Hara, Tina

Interview with Balraj and Daljeet Hara. Mrs. Daljeet Kaur Hara came to Canada on October 6, 1972 to visit her brother and with the thought of settling down in the country. She describes how the biggest struggle for her was talking in English. Her first job was as a maid in a hotel. She felt a culture shock when she went to the Gurdwara and no one would cover their heads. She found it hard to wear dresses and skirts. She also describes how they had to go to Vancouver to get spices and clothes. Mr. Hara came to Canada in 1974 on a marriage basis. When he came, he did not like the food and could not speak English. Mr. Hara came to Canada because of economic and employment reasons. They bought a restaurant, but due to racism, no one would come. After some time, their business finally took off and was successful. This is a full-length interview conducted on July 4, 1996.

Creator: Gill, Sewa Singh

Interview with Sewa Singh about his move to Canada as well as his father's story of working in Canada in the early 1900s. Sewa Singh spent his childhood tutoring and helping out at school, as well as working on his 15-acre family farm. His father came to Canada in 1906, to work on the railroad, while sending money frequently to his family in India. After losing his job, he went to the United States and worked as a farm labourer and lived in a barn. He returned to India to attend to his family in 1932. He returned to Canada in 1935. When he came back, Sewa Singh was with him. Sewa Singh and his father stayed in San Francisco for two months before they finally reached Canada. Sewa Singh found a job as a janitor in a sawmill in North Vancouver. Both of them lived in the bunkhouses with 12 others and one cook. Sewa then got another job at the mill and a raise of 5 cents. Sewa Singh always kept short hair and was clean shaven. Sewa married a Canadian woman and settled down. This is a full-length interview recorded on June 27, 1996 conducted by Nirakshik Chand in Abbotsford, BC.