Manhas, Mayo Singh

Audio interview with Raghbir Singh Dhaliwal conducted by SB. Raghbir Singh Dhaliwal is a Canadian citizen who immigrated to Canada in 1972. Dhaliwal discusses his working conditions in sawmills and living conditions. He also mentions accidents that occurred at sawmills. Dhaliwal concludes by mentioning the advantages of working at a unionized sawmill, and notes that he had to leave the sawmill industry early because of health complications.

Transcription of interview with Raghbir Singh Dhaliwal discusses his personal history and immigration to Canada. Dhaliwal discusses his working conditions in sawmills and living conditions. He also mentions accidents that occurred at sawmills. Dhaliwal concludes by the mentioning the advantages of working at unionized sawmills and says that he had to leave the sawmill industry early because of health complications.

Narrative of Raghbir Singh Dhaliwal discusses his personal history and immigration to Canada. Dhaliwal discusses the various roles he had while working in sawmills. He also mentions the benefits of working at a unionized sawmill. Dhaliwal concludes by discussing how he had to retire from sawmill work because of health complications.

Audio interview with Mohinder Singh, the Paldi gurdwara granthi. Mohinder Singh tells the story of Mayo Singh. Mayo Singh Manhas came to Canada in 1906. Mayo Singh began working in sawmills during the first world war. Mohinder Singh discusses how he purchased an at-risk-of-closing sawmill with other men. He was able to build a profitable business and used those profits to purchase 1300 acres on the island . Mayo Singh partnered with Kapoor Singh and began to develop a town on the land which they named Paldi. Mohinder Singh also mentions how Mayo Singh was seen as a very generous man as he donated money to many people in need. Several generosity stories are mentioned. The interview concludes with Mohinder Singh mentioning Mayo Singh's family and legacy today.

Transcription of the Mayo story told by the Paldi granthi, Mohinder Singh. Mohinder Singh discusses Mayo Singh Manhas' personal history and immigration to Canada in 1906. Mayo Singh began working in sawmills during the first world war. Mohinder Singh discusses how Mayo Singh purchased an at-risk-of-closing sawmill with other men. He used his entrepreneurial skills to build a profitable business and used those profits to purchase 1300 acres on the island. Mayo Singh partnered with Kapoor Singh and began to develop a town on the land which they named Paldi. Mohinder Singh also mentions how Mayo Singh was a very generous man as he donated money to many people in need. Several generosity stories are mentioned. The transcription concludes by mentioning Mayo Singh family and legacy today.

Narrative of Mayo Singh as told by the Paldi gurdwara granthi, Mohinder Singh. Mohinder Singh discusses Mayo Singh Manhas' personal history and immigration to Canada in 1906. Mayo Singh began working in sawmills in BC during the first world war. Mohinder Singh discusses how Mayo Singh purchased an at-risk-of-closing sawmill with a few other men. He was able to build a strong business and used the profits to purchase 1300 acres on the island. Mayo Singh partnered with Kapoor Singh and began to develop a town on the land which they named Paldi. The narrative also mentions how Mayo Singh was a very generous man as he donated money to many people in need. Unfortunately, after his death his legacy collapsed despite efforts from family members. However, today Mayo Singh's daughter-in-law, Joan Mayo, holds an annual prayer at the Paldi Gurdwara in memory of her husband, Rajindi Mayo.

Transcription of an 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.

Narrative of an interview with Rattan Kaur Atwal. Rattan Kaur was married to Hardial Singh Atwal, the first Canadian-born Sikh, in 1936. She first arrived in Canada in 1952 to join her husband. Hardial Singh worked in Mayo Singh's mill, Mayo Lumber in Paldi. In the interview Rattan Kaur speaks about her in-laws, including her father-in-law, Balwant Singh Atwal and mother-in-law, Kartar Kaur.

Photo of Mayo Singh Manhas, dressed in a black formal suit with a black bow tie.

Photo of Rajindi Mayo with a group of children outside Mayo Singh's house in Paldi.