Heer, Amarjit Singh

Photo of Satwinder Bains with Amarjit Singh Heer and another unidentified Sikh man having a conversation. The unidentified Sikh man has his hand up and appears to be explaining something. The photo is taken inside the Paldi Sikh Temple, Duncan, B.C.

Audio interview with Amarjit Singh Heer conducted by SB. Amarjit Singh Heer is a Canadian citizen who came to Canada in 1972. He began his first job at a mill near Williams lake. He also discusses his immigration to Canada, his immigration status, his personal history, and his experience working in various positions at sawmills such as Nanoose Forest Products, Nanaimo Forest Products and Western Forest Products. He also discusses how he was paid low wages and how it was difficult to gain seniority at the sawmills. Heer's encounters with racism and discrimination is also discussed.

Transcription of interview with Amarjit Singh Heer discussing his immigration to Canada, his immigration status, his personal history, and his experience working in various positions at sawmills such as Nanoose Forest Products, Nanaimo Forest Products and Western Forest Products. He also discusses how he was paid low wages and how it was difficult to gain seniority at the sawmills. Heer also mentions his encounters with racism and discrimination in Canada.

Amarjit Singh Heer's narrative discusses his immigration to Canada from Punjab, India. Heer became a Canadian citizen shortly after arriving in Canada and started working in sawmills. He worked in various sawmills in British Columbia including William's Lake, Merritt, Duncan, Nanaimo, Cowichan Bay and in Chemainus. Heer also had a variety of roles in the sawmills such as the green chain position, a plainer shift, a graveyard planer shift, and a foreman. Heer concludes by discussing how during his time in Canada, he commonly faced discrimination and racism from the European White settler community.

Amarjit Singh Heer's Certificate of Canadian Citizenship. Record contains identifying information such as date of birth, sex, height, eye colour, and other visible marks. The parliament building is present on certificate as well as the Royal Coat of Arms of Canada. A photograph of Amarjit Singh Heer is also included on the certificate, as well as his signature.

Photograph of Amarjit Singh Heer sitting on a sofa. Heer is slightly smiling at the camera.

Photograph of Amarjit Singh Heer waving the chaur sahib above the Guru Granth Sahib in a gurdwara.

Photograph of Amarjit Singh Heer doing paath at a Gurdwara. Heer hands are folded together and his head is bowed down towards the Guru Granth Sahib.