MEHFIL

MEHFIL
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The magazine for today’s Indo-Canadian
September 2004
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MEHFILSEPTEMBER 2004
DEPARTMENTS
8
OPENING NOTES
After a successful summer
basketball camp, Pasha Bains
is shooting for a year-round
basketball academy for youth.
The next project for PICS, the
society which in 2002 established
a low-income housing
facility for seniors, is a campaign
to raise funds for a
seniors care facility.
CBC’s Belle Puri walks the
walk for breast cancer
research and education.
9
FACES
Fast food equals speedy
success for Taco Del Mar’s
Darryl Chandra.
16
Q & A
4 MEHFIL September 2004
9
Foreign-trained veterinarians
battle the British Columbia
Veterinary Medical
Association’s new English
language bylaw.
F E A T U R E S
20
COVER: MAKING THE GRADE
From memory-boosting tools to effective
note-taking, educators and top students
agree that the right skills and strategies can
make the difference between success and
failure — or mediocrity and the honour
roll — in high school and beyond.
In our cover story, experts describe the
techniques and habits that help students
succeed and advise parents about how
they can help their children get the most
out of school. We also profile several outstanding
university students and recent
grads who reveal their strategies for success
in the classroom and beyond.
BY K.M. SANDHU
18
18
SPOTLIGHT
20
Award-winning science teacher
turned educational consultant Anand
Atal didn’t limit his teachings to the
curriculum during his 30-year career
in Burnaby high schools. Atal says
his passion for inspiring students
to think took him beyond classroom
lessons and labs into teaching
students how to learn, set goals
and focus on achieving them.
COVER PHOTO BY RON SANGHA
C O L U M N S
13
THE INSPIRED SUFI
BY AZIM JAMAL
15
POLITICS
BY SURJ RATTAN
41
FASHION
62
WEDDINGS
66
BEAUTY
70
CUISINE
72
HEALTH & FITNESS
78
BY SHEFALI RAJA
76
SHIFTING GEARS
BY VEENO DEWAN
78
REFLECTIONS
SARDUL SINGH GILL

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MEHFIL
SEPTEMBER 2004 VOLUME 8 ISSUE 1
Editor
Minto Vig
Contributing Writers
K.M. Sandhu, Surj Rattan,
Azim Jamal, Shefali Raja
Photography, Illustrations
Ron Sangha, Nu-Look Foto
Production
Adhil Naidu
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6 MEHFIL September 2004

VERTLIEB DOSANJH
BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS
Pavel and Aseem Dosanjh are proud to announce the formation of
Vertlieb Dosanjh and welcome Art Vertlieb Q.C. as their Partner.
Mr. Vertlieb brings with him over 30 years of experience practicing
as one of the pre-eminent trial lawyers in the Province of British
Columbia. Vertlieb Dosanjh - Continuing the tradition of
providing excellent solutions to your legal problems.
The response to our last issue, which
focused on sports and highlighted several
top young Indo-Canadian athletes, was
tremendous. We received calls and emails
from readers across the country. Many
offered praise for our focus on outstanding
young people. Many others offered names
of more star athletes from the Indo-
Canadian community. Rest assured, many
of these athletes will be featured in future
issues of Mehfil.
As a vibrant and growing community,
we have produced young people who are
achieving success in many different areas.
With the start of a new school year, we
decided to shift our focus to eduction and
highlight several of the Indo-Canadian
community’s most accomplished students.
The seven outstanding students and
former students we profile in this issue are
all confident, articulate, goal-oriented
individuals who don’t shy away from hard
work. And all credit their parents with
helping them to succeed at school by offering
support and encouragement — but
avoiding undue pressure. Any parent,
indeed any community, would be proud to
have these young men and women as part
of their family.
Everyone knows that education is
important but not everyone is born a
genius or has children that effortlessly
bring home straight As. So we asked the
outstanding students featured in our cover
story, as well as educational experts, to
share valuable lessons about how any student
can improve their performance at
school.
All agree that effort, not natural ability,
is the key to success. We’re confident
their words of wisdom — including studying
strategies, time-management advice
and many other tips — will help many
students start the new school year with an
extra edge.
P UBLISHERS’ NOTE clockwise from left:
Aseem Dosanjh,
Pavel Dosanjh,
Art Vertlieb Q.C.,
Bandna Ubhi
ICBC • Criminal • All Civil Matters
Immigration • Family
302 - 4088 Cambie St., Vancouver
Ph: 604-327-6381 • Fax: 604-327-2923
1-877-DOSANJH
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MEHFIL September 2004 7

OPENING NOTES
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604-590-2444
They Got Game?
Seventy-five enthusiastic boys and
girls from Grades 3 through 12 had
the opportunity to take their game
to the next level under the guidance of
university basketball star Pasha Bains at a
camp he and fellow basketball player
Chad Clifford held this past July in
Richmond.
Bains started the Drive Basketball
camps two years ago to give back to the
sport that he loves.
“There are so many great people —
my family, friends, coaches and teammates
— that helped me growing up that
it made sense for me to do the same and
hopefully act as a guide for these young
stars,” he says.
Bains says another reason he started
the camp was his concern that many
Indo-Canadian players with potential are
slipping through the cracks.
“Over the last few years I have seen
lots of talented players quit playing
around Grade 10 or 11 for whatever reason.
Hopefully we can identify these talented
players and make them realize there
are huge benefits in playing basketball,”
he says, pointing out that a player can
have his or her university education paid
for, travel the world and “make some
friends that they will have for the rest of
their lives.”
In addition to receiving instruction on
the game from Bains and UBC basketball
player Clifford, the campers had an
opportunity to meet National Team player
Kyle Russell and coach Virgil Hill,
who spoke about the importance of education
and hard work. The young players
were also treated to a visit by B.C. Lions
offensive tackle Bobby Singh.
“We handed out autographed Mehfil
magazines to the kids and Bobby showed
them his championship rings,” says
Bains. “This was just great for myself and
the kids because Bobby is a true inspiration
to these youngsters. They were all
excited to see ‘big Bobby’ and hear him
talk about his experiences playing professional
football.”
The camp was a huge success, says
Bains. “It is amazing how coachable, likable
and eager these young basketball
players are. They are my boys and girls
and have such wonderful attitudes. I feel
like they have the talent to do some really
positive things in the game.”
Bains hopes to parlay the success of
the camps into a year-round academy
that would
offer ongoing
clinics and
workshops and
to build a travelling
team
that will represent
the academy
in tournaments
and
exhibitions.
“The big
thing is that
parents need
to support and
encourage
their kids. I
Pasha Bains plans to turn the
success of his Drive Basketball
camps into a year-round
program for kids.
see some committed, hard-working, talented
kids that could really develop into
wonderful players. If we concentrate on
this grassroot level of development,
there’s no telling what this younger generation
of athletes can accomplish. I can
honestly say that I am going to be a fan
of every one of them as they grow into
their basketball careers. Hopefully the
community will support a program like
Drive and help these kids reach their
dreams of going to university.”
For information on the academy or
sponsorship opportunities visit www.drivebasketball.com
or email info@drivebasketball.com.
8 MEHFIL September 2004

F ACES
PHOTO BY NU LOOK FOTO
Fast Food Success
Darryl Chandra says one of the things he likes most about
running his own business is that he sets his own schedule.
Does that mean he allows himself sunny afternoons on
the golf course? Long, leisurely mornings at home with a newspaper
and a pot of coffee? Hardly. It turns out that the founder of
Innovative Management Solutions is tougher on himself than
any other boss could be.
“It isn’t 9 to 5, it’s more like 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a
week,” says Chandra, who established IMS soon after graduating
from Kwantlen University College in 2002 with a BBA in
entrepreneurial leadership. One of the company’s first clients
was Seattle-based Taco Del Mar Franchising Corporation.
“IMS came on as a consultant for the company to help with
the expansion of the brand into the Canadian market,” says
Chandra, 25. “We loved the company and the direction it was
headed in, so we decided to acquire the Canadian rights for the
franchising and development of the restaurants in Canada.”
Chandra and his partners at IMS handle marketing, finance
and construction for Taco Del Mar franchises, which are opening
in B.C. at a rate of one every three weeks, says Chandra. IMS
will soon offer franchises in other provinces, beginning with
Alberta in September.
Despite the pressures and responsibilities that come with
running a business, Chandra says he’d never consider a career
as anything other than an entrepreneur.
“At some point last year, our company put an ad out for an
administrative assistant position on a job bank. We received
over 400 resumés, with individuals who had bachelor’s degrees,
master’s degrees and years of experience. Scary thing was that
we were only offering around $10 per hour for this position. That
really confirmed that my choice to go into business for myself
was a probably a good one.”
MEHFIL September 2004 9

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OPENING NOTES
Support for Seniors
Progressive Intercultural Community
Services Society (PICS), a Surreybased
non-profit organization that
built Guru Nanak Niwas, a 54-unit lowincome
housing complex in Surrey, is
raising funds to establish a second facility
for seniors.
“Seniors face enormous hardships
such as emotional and physical abuse,
neglect, loneliness, poverty and lack of
affordable facilities where they can stay
and be cared for in their old age. We take
pride in assisting our respected elders to
enjoy a quality
of life with dignity
and pride,”
says PICs executive
director
Charan Gill.
“One of our
main objectives
is to respect our
elders to ensure
that during their
In keeping with PICS
vision of promoting intercultural
understanding,
seniors of various ethnic
and cultural backgrounds
live in Guru Nanak
Niwas, a 54-unit lowincome
housing complex.
golden years
they can live in
dignity,” he
says.
Guru Nanak
Niwas, the seniors housing complex that
opened in November 2002, currently has
a waiting list of 50 seniors requesting residence
in the facility.
“PICS is not only building for the South
Asian community but contributing to fill
the need of the larger community,” PICS
president Stan Smith said at the organization’s
annual general meeting. “This is
visible in our existing seniors housing
facility, which houses seniors from various
ethnic backgrounds to emulate a better
future where community cohesiveness
and diversity are celebrated.”
The new 72-bed Multilevel Care
Facility will provide care for seniors in
their own language and will offer care
from doctors, nurses and residential care
aids.
To help raise funds for the new initiative,
PICS is holding a dinner on Sunday,
September 19, at Surrey’s Grand Taj
Banquet Hall. Tickets for the dinner are
available from the PICS office for $100
per person or $1,000 for a table of 10.
Tax-deductible receipts will be issued for
up to 80 per cent of the ticket price.
For further inquiries or to make a donation,
contact PICS at 604-596-7722.
10 MEHFIL September 2004

Battling
Breast Cancer
hen CBC TV’s Belle Puri
Wdecided to join the Weekend
to End Breast Cancer Walk last
month, her goals were fairly
modest, she says.
“My plan was to raise $2,000,
walk and, as a bonus, maybe get
fit along the way,” says Puri.
But in the weeks leading up to
the walk she took on August 21
and 22, Puri discovered she’d
raised an astonishing $25,000.
“I’m not sure what happened
but it’s just great!” she says.
“I heard about the walk early
in January. It took me until April
to finally make the commitment,”
Puri said before the walk. “I am
walking simply because I can
when so many others cannot. I
am walking because I’m thankful
for a healthy family. I am walking
because this is about breast cancer
and I have a mother, a sisterin-law,
two beautiful nieces,
aunts and many cousins and
friends who are women. I am
walking because this is about all
cancers.
“I don’t believe for a moment
that walking will stop cancer but
perhaps it will help to make
things better.”
C AREERS
Deepak Prasad Police Dispatcher
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What are your
responsibilities?
Answering 911 calls, assigning
priorities of responses, giving
basic legal advice over the
phone, dispatching police officers,
accessing the police information
system, defusing the situation
over the phone.
What attracted you to this
field?
Since I was a little kid I wanted
to help people and this is one
way I can.
What educational background
or training is
required for your work?
I took a one-year program at
Kwantlen University College
called Public Safety
Communications. Course content
includes legal studies,
police/fire/ambulance call-taking,
human behaviour.
What type of on-the-job
training is involved?
Once hired by your employer,
you will learn about the system,
police and geography.
Is there any ongoing
training?
Yes, you first start off as a calltaker,
then move on to become a
dispatcher. And there are always
new systems that come into
place.
What is the typical starting
salary and the top end of
the Salary range?
It’s $18 an hour to start and the
top rate is about $27.
What kinds of opportunities
are there for advancement?
The progression is call taker to
dispatcher to supervisor to management
to corporate staff.
What is the most
challenging aspect
of your work?
The stress. Every call we answer
is bad. It’s either a domestic dispute,
car accident, suicidal person
or it’s a break-and-enter in
progress.
What do you find to be the
most rewarding aspect of
your work?
Helping people — being able to
help people get past their pain is
always a good thing for all of us!
Describe your typical work
week:
Work starts at 7 a.m. and ends
at 7 p.m. I work four days then
have four days off.
What advice can you give
to others interested in a
similar career?
Make sure you research before
getting in. Typically in one training
class of eight people, about
80 per cent leave the industry
within one year.
MEHFIL September 2004 11

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T HE INSPIRED SUFI
by Azim Jamal
Unleash
Your Potential
Life is a gift to cherish. You are sent
down on this earth to fulfill one
major purpose, a mission if you
like. If you do hundreds of things but fail
to do the one thing you were sent to do,
you will not fulfill your purpose in life.
You are unique and blessed with a great
gift with which you can accomplish your
mission in life. If you fail to find your
mission and your gift, you will not succeed
in unleashing your full potential.
One way to discover your mission is to
imagine that you have won a $20-million
lottery. Then ask yourself where you
would spend your time or what kind of
work you would do. Secondly, imagine
being on your deathbed and then asking
yourself what regrets you would have.
This type of thinking will tell you where
you need to spend your time or what
kind of work you need to do to unleash
your potential.
When you live in the present, you are
able to capitalize on the opportunities of
the moment. If you carry the baggage of
the past or the burden of the future, you
let a lot of your energies go to waste. Your
past— the hurts and losses — is gone forever.
Your future is unfolding with each
moment. To unleash yourself you have to
focus on each moment before you; you
must live every day as if it were your last
day. In this way your life expands and
flourishes. Every day becomes an eternity,
every minute precious and energizing.
To unleash yourself you need to begin
each day by counting your blessings.
When you focus on what you already
have, you expand your gifts and cease to
find yourself lacking in any way. Jalaludin
Rumi, the great Sufi mystic, once asked:
“When you see a big white cloth with a
black dot, what do you see?” If you focus
on the black dot — that is, the things you
lack — it begins to look much bigger
than it really is. When we count our
blessings, we feel good about ourselves.
Thus, life-affirming, positive energy permeates
our very beings, and we transform
our lives by unleashing our potential.
The more freely you give, the more
you unleash yourself. If you have
clenched fists, you cannot receive. The
moment you open your fists and give,
you are also able to receive. This is how
the universe and nature work. The more
of yourself you share, the more of yourself
you find. Many people die without using
more than 10 per cent of their innate
abilities. The main reason for this are that
they never found what they were passionate
about or they did not find a cause to
give to. So, to unleash ourselves, we need
to find a cause where we can make a difference.
The more freely you give, the
more you unleash yourself. If
you have clenched fists, you
cannot receive. The moment
you open your fists and give,
you are also able to receive.
This is how the universe and
nature work. The more of
yourself you share, the more
of yourself you find.
In 1994, at his inauguration as president
of South Africa, Nelson Mandela
said: “Our deepest fear is that we are
powerful beyond measure. It is our light,
not our darkness, that most frightens us.”
In other words, we fear our success more
than our failure. To unleash ourselves we
need to overcome the fear of our success
and power.
We need to maintain a good attitude
in our successes and in our struggles;
both are important for our growth and
for fully unleashing ourselves. Struggles
and challenges are stepping-stones to success.
Egoism, or negative pride, is a setback
to unleashing yourself. Egoism is the
habit of showing off and acting superior
to others. This is shallow and temporary,
and it stems from insecurity. This attitude
would have you rely on your worldly possessions
to give you power, as opposed to
getting power from within yourself.
Shedding this negative pride leads to
awakening your inner life, which begins
the process of unleashing yourself. Rumi
says, “Give up your drop and become
part of the Ocean.” We find it hard to
drop the drop and thus we fail to develop
fully and to feel the power of true freedom.
One way to overcome egoism is to
imagine that you have lost everything you
have — wealth, family, worldly power.
What happens to your superiority at that
point? This kind of reflection makes us
realize that real power is within; it is also
in the humility that we show in our success.
One can have positive pride, which
is a belief that one’s God-given gifts are to
be used for the betterment of society, as
opposed to egoism, which is self-centred
and detrimental.
Finally, you unleash your potential
when you live a balanced life — the harmony
of body, mind and soul.
So there exists a synergy of body, mind
and soul, each helping the other. You
nourish the soul through prayer, meditation
and good deeds. You keep your mind
positive and active by reading good literature
and feeding your mind with positive
and uplifting messages. You keep
your body healthy and active by regular
exercise, good eating habits, drinking lots
of water and breathing fresh air. A car, as
with a holistic life, needs all four wheels
well aligned and each with sufficient air
to operate well. Similarly, for a person to
function optimally, the spirit, physical fitness,
mental aptitude and social and economic
well-being all have to be well
aligned. ❐
Azim Jamal is an International Inspirational
Speaker and author of several books, including
The Corporate Sufi and the best seller Seven
Steps to Lasting Happiness. Over 1,000,000
people worldwide have heard his uplifting message.
His new book, Life Balance is a Choice
co-authored with Nido Qubein will be released
Christmas 2004. You can get more information
about Azim at www.azimjamal.com
MEHFIL September 2004 13

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POLITICS
by Surj Rattan
Political Ghosts
Will They Haunt the Grits?
When Prime Minister Paul
Martin named Ujjal Dosanjh
as Canada’s new health minister
in July, I’m sure more than one of the
former B.C. premier’s colleagues in the
New Democratic Party made a B-line to
their nearest medical clinic in search of a
prescription pain reliever. Those who
have labelled Dosanjh a political turncoat
and opportunist for apparently
abandoning his socialist ways (something
Dosanjh denies) and accepting a
free ride to run as a hand-picked Liberal
candidate in the riding of Vancouver
South likely cringed at the senior cabinet
posting Martin bestowed on Dosanjh. I
suspect the only thing worse for
Dosanjh’s foes and former friends than
seeing him return to a position of political
importance would have been if
Martin named him as the senior cabinet
minister for B.C. — but even Martin
knows such a move would only fan the
flames of political resentment in B.C.
Now that he is the federal minister of
health, Dosanjh will have to work closely
with the provinces on myriad healthrelated
issues. He may have his work cut
out for him in B.C. if the comments of
his one-time sparring partner in the B.C.
legislature – Finance Minister Gary
Collins – are a sign of things to come.
Collins issued this warning in April after
learning Dosanjh was re-entering the
political arena, this time as a federal
Liberal: “I think it will be very difficult
to work directly with Mr. Dosanjh as
part of the federal government. Of all
the people in British Columbia that we’d
prefer to deal with at the federal level, he
wouldn’t be at the top of the list.”
But if Collins is perturbed at seeing
Dosanjh morph himself into a Liberal
and return to politics, then he may want
to sign himself up for a few anger- management
courses because, if you believe
the rumour mill, he ain’t seen nothing
yet. With the B.C. NDP riding high in
the public opinion polls and with a
provincial election less than a year away,
would-be candidates are already beginning
to line up at the nomination door
of the NDP. Just imagine how shocked
and horrified Campbell, Collins and the
rest of the B.C. Liberals would be if
It would make perfect
sense for Sihota and Lali
to consider a political
comeback now that the
NDP have somehow managed
to rise from the
political graveyard and to
have won favour with the
B.C. electorate —
albeit by default.
those hopeful candidates were to include
two of Dosanjh’s former NDP cabinet
colleagues — Moe Sihota and Harry
Lali.
I think it would make perfect sense
for Sihota and Lali to consider a political
comeback now that the NDP have
somehow managed to rise from the
political graveyard and to have won
favour with the B.C. electorate — albeit
by default. I say that because much of
the blame for the Liberals’ decline in
popularity is the fault of the party itself,
not due to anything the NDP has done.
The Liberals’ decisions to privatize
Crown corporations, slash social programs
and build new ferries overseas
rather than at home are just some of the
reasons B.C. voters are considering
putting a socialist government back into
power.
Then there’s the job factor. In Sihota’s
case, he doesn’t have one — or at least he
didn’t at press time. Sihota, like Lali,
opted against running for another term
as an NDP MLA because he knew the
party was about to go down in flames.
Instead, Sihota accepted an offer by
Moses Znaimer, owner of the CHUM
group of television stations, to host his
own political show, VI Land Voices, on
CHUM’s Victoria station, The New VI.
He also served as a panellist on the political
roundtable program RightOn! But
when the station cancelled a number of
its programs, including Sihota’s, and laid
off nearly 30 staff, including Sihota, the
former politician found himself unemployed.
He was always popular with his
constituents in the Victoria suburb of
View Royal so why not hop back on the
rising NDP political machine?
Lali, meanwhile, moved from Merritt
to the Lower Mainland in order to pursue
business-related ventures. Sources
tell me he has been less than successful
in those efforts so a return to politics
might seem appealing to Lali.
It’s hardly inconceivable that Sihota
and Lali, a couple of political ghosts
from the past, may decide to come back
and haunt Campbell and his governing
Liberals — not to mention Dosanjh.
After all, another political ghost – former
NDP MLA Tim Stevenson –
recently did just that, announcing his
intention to seek the NDP nomination
in the Vancouver riding he once held.
It’s not news that Sihota and Lali are
hardly the best of friends with Dosanjh –
the three never saw eye-to-eye even when
Dosanjh was a card-carrying NDP
member. The thought of a political gunslinger
like Sihota, and to a lesser extent
Lali, returning to politics to take aim at
Donsajh — along with the B.C. Liberals
is enough to make any political columnist
jump for joy. ❐
MEHFIL September 2004 15

PHOTO BY NU LOOK FOTO
Dr. Hakam Bhullar feels the British Columbia Veterinary Medical Association is discriminating against foreign-trained vets.
Indo-Canadian Veterinarians Challenge BCVMA
The British Columbia Veterinary Medical Association recently passed a
bylaw that requires foreign-trained vets to pass new English language
tests if they wish to join the association and practise in B.C. But critics of
the bylaw, many of them foreign-trained Indo-Canadian veterinarians, claim
the English tests are discriminatory because they require foreign-trained vets
to score a minimum 93 per cent in order to receive a passing grade. They
claim that the real reason the new English language standards were introduced
was to keep foreign-trained veterinarians, who generally charge lower fees
than Canadian-trained veterinarians, from practising in B.C.
Dr. Varinder Kumar Singla, who holds a Bachelor of Veterinary Science and
Animal Husbandry from India, is now suing the BCVMA because, he claims,
the association’s new English language tests prevented him from accepting a
$50,000-a-year job with Vancouver veterinarian Dr. Hakam Bhullar, owner of
Atlas Animal Clinic and a founding member of the Foreign Veterinary
Graduates Association.
Singla’s lawyer, Jonathan Baker, has filed a statement of claim against the
BCVMA and expects to receive a statement of defense by the end of August.
The case will then proceed to the Supreme Court of British Columbia.
Mehfil Magazine spoke with Baker, Valerie Osborne, registrar of the British
Columbia Veterinary Medical Association, and Bhullar about the issue.
Mehfil Magazine: What is the basis of
the lawsuit?
Jonathan Baker: “On June 15, Dr. Singla
was offered a position by (Vancouver veterinarian)
Dr. Bhullar and his salary was to be
$50,000 per year on a five-day work week. He
has met and continues to meet all of the
requirements for registration with the
BCVMA. On or about May 1 of this year the
association adopted a bylaw and it is that
bylaw which we are attacking. That bylaw set
a mandatory language standard for applicants
and it reads: ‘Persons for whom English is a
second language who want to apply for registration
must certify that they have passed the
tests of English as a foreign language.’ The
required scores for these tests are set out in
the bylaw.
MM: Foreign-trained veterinarians say
that the BCVMA requires applicants to
score 93 per cent or better on one of
these tests in order to receive a passing
grade. Is that true?
JB: “The test that is really of concern is [one
16 MEHFIL September 2004

oral test] that requires a passing score of 55
out of 60, which comes to 93 per cent. He
(Singla) took this test and got 83 per cent.
The section of the bylaw that is at issue here
states: ‘A person is not eligible for registration
as a member unless the council is satisfied
that the person has knowledge of the
English language sufficient to enable the
person to carry on adequately the practice of
veterinary medicine in British Columbia.’
“So the issue is going to be whether or not
they (BCVMA) acted within their power in
imposing a 93-per-cent score requirement.
Our statement of claim goes on to say: ‘Since
he (Singla) was ineligible for membership in
the BCVMA, he was unable to secure
employment as a vet in B.C. and has had to
move to Alberta, where he is employed.’ He
meets all of the requirements required by the
Canadian Veterinarian Medical Association
and in all of the other provinces and in all of
the states, but just not in British Columbia.
“We say the bylaw is patently unreasonable
because it fails to address the standard
established by the Veterinarians Act and
instead sets an English language standard
that exceeds what is reasonably necessary to
enable a person to carry on adequately the
practice of veterinary medicine in British
Columbia.”
MM: Why do you
think the BCVMA
introduced the bylaw
that is at the centre
of your lawsuit?
JB: “We say . . . that the
bylaw was actually
passed in bad faith for
the improper purpose of
restricting competition
and wage rates from otherwise
qualified immi-
Jonathan Baker
grant applicants. We
believe that the reason this was done was
because clinics like that run by Dr. Bhullar
and which employ immigrants provide
cheaper services than some of the other clinics
and that the real motivation wasn’t to
ensure the foreign vets speak accent-free
English but this is really about price fixing.
That’s what the lawsuit is about.
“According to Dr. Bhullar, no recent East
Indian graduate could achieve a 93 per cent
mark. I don’t know if [the test] requires the
elimination of an accent . . . and we’ll find
that out as the case progresses and we look
at the facts. We say it’s unreasonable to
require that kind of a standard.
“Obviously, a vet is going to have among
his clients Indo-Canadians for whom he will
probably have to speak Punjabi and speak in
their language. In addition Singla is perfectly
fluent in English, but he has an accent. He
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MEHFIL September 2004 17

S POTLIGHT
LIFE
LESSONS
It’s Anand Atal’s 36th wedding anniversary but
he’s happy to take time out of this special day
to talk about a career that has spanned 37
years.
“For me, teaching is a mission, not a job,” says
Atal, who in 1988 was one of 10 B.C. teachers to
win a Martin McLuhan Distinguished Teacher
Award that recognized his innovative approach to
teaching.
Trained as a geologist in India, he first discovered
his affinity for teaching when he taught a
few classes at Lucknow University in Uttar
Pradesh in the early 1960s. “Once that seed was
planted, it continued to grow in my mind,” he
says.
After he moved to Canada in the mid 1960s to
work as a geologist, it wasn’t long before his disenchantment
with field work prompted him to
consider a career switch. “I soon discovered that
the field life here in Canada as a geologist wasn’t
something I was cut out to do,” he says. “As a
geologist in India, you have two assistants picking
up your rocks and setting up everything.”
Remembering how much he’d enjoyed his
brief teaching experience in India, Atal decided to
sit in on a class taught by one of his friends, a
high-school teacher.
“I thought it was neat,” he says of the experience.
After completing teacher training at the
University of British Columbia in 1967, Atal
began a 32-year career teaching geology and
physics courses in Burnaby high schools. It wasn’t
long before he was co-authoring science textbooks
and leading workshops for other teachers
around the province. “That gave me the opportunity
to express some of my ideas about how to
teach science,” he says. “I believe in asking a lot
of questions, making students think. You have to
make the material relevant. You have to show
them that what you are teaching is useful to
them.”
Atal’s passion for inspiring students to think
took him beyond classroom lessons and labs into
teaching students how to learn, set goals and
focus on achieving them. “I realized I had some
ideas and guidance to offer and I encouraged kids
to come after class and ask questions about their
careers and their studies.”
He also encouraged parents to visit him to discuss
their children’s performance. “My belief was
PHOTO BY NU LOOK FOTO
18 MEHFIL September 2004

that if the teacher and parents maintain
communication, it helps the kids in the
classroom.”
In 1992, Atal’s dedication to his students
came to the attention of wellknown
TV and radio personality Sushma
Datt, who invited Atal to appear on her
long-running cable program to share his
thoughts on education. Viewer response
was so strong, says Atal, that he realized
there was a demand for an educator who
could offer students and their parents the
kind of guidance typically not available in
schools or from tutors. Already thinking
ahead to his retirement from teaching in
1999 and the fact that he didn’t want to
“retire and do nothing,” Atal saw the
opportunity to launch a new career that
would allow him to teach parents the
importance of boosting children’s selfesteem
and playing an active role in their
education.
“People asked if they could come see
me for advice and that was the seed of an
idea,” says Atal, who has been a private
educational consultant for the last 14
years. “I’m not a tutor. Essentially, I help
students with their study skills, their time
management, course selection, career
choices and to develop a focus because if
they don’t have a focus, they don’t get
interested in learning. Schools teach them
subjects, I teach them how to learn.
When I meet with parents, I try to make
it clear to them that children need selfconfidence
and that the origin of selfconfidence
is in the home. Many children
don’t get as much validation from parents
as they should.”
Among the many young people who
have benefited from Atal’s philosophy
“that without education you cannot
unlock the door to the future” are his
own two daughters, whose photographs
are featured prominently in the Atals’
Burnaby home. Anjali, 33, is a former
teacher who now works in private industry
and Ami, 30, is a lawyer working in
Paris, France. Despite the distance, says
Atal, they are a close-knit family. “We end
up visiting them three or four times a year
and they visit us three or four times a
year.”
In between those visits, the energetic
65-year-old spends 30 to 40 hours a week
working with students and their parents,
fuelled by the conviction that he’s blessed
to have a chance to make a real difference
in people’s lives.
“If you turn around one child in one
year of teaching, and if you teach for 30
or 40 years, that’s an achievement of a
lifetime. There’s such tremendous power
in teaching so how can you give anything
but your best?” ❐
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MEHFIL September 2004 19

C OVER
Making the
GRADEby K.M.
Sandhu
20 MEHFIL September 2004

You don’t have to be a genius to get great grades. In fact,
few people are born with a knack for numbers like Sir
Isaac Newton, think with the relative speed of an Albert
Einstein or deliver prose like Charles Dickens. For those that
are blessed with genius, achieving straight A’s in high school
or a 4.0 GPA in university may be a breeze, but for the rest, it’s
often a matter of long hours of studying.
Whether you’re about to enter your first year of university or
have children in elementary school and want to help them
improve, strategies and techniques exist that can improve academic
performance.
From memory–boosting tools to effective note-taking, educators
and top students agree that the right skills and strategies
can make the difference between success and failure — or
mediocrity and the honour roll — in high school and beyond.
“There are things one can learn about learning that will
make a difference,” says Milton McClaren, professor emeritus
of education at Simon Fraser University. “One of the worst traps
that kids fall into is believing they’re just not smart, and that if
they didn’t get it genetically there’s nothing they can do about
it. I’m not saying having good study skills will convert everybody
into an A-plus student but there’s lots of compelling evidence
that they will sure make a difference.”
“Study skills are very important,” agrees Gabriel Pillay, student
recruiter-advisor at the University of British Columbia. He
advises students to “take a seminar or ask your guidance office
for suggestions regarding studying.”
On the following pages, education experts describe the techniques
and habits that help students succeed and advise parents
about how they can help their children get the most out of
school. We also profile several outstanding university students
and recent grads who reveal their strategies for success in the
classroom and beyond.
PHOTO BY RON SANGHA
MEHFIL September 2004 21

F EATURE
Find the Right Environment
Gabriel Pillay, student recruiter-advisor
at UBC, recommends students find a
“space that is comfortable and conducive
to studying.” This may vary from student
to student but it should include everything
you need to do your homework so
you’re not wasting time looking for tools
and reference books.
Ravin Kaur Sandhu, 21, who was a
regular on the honour roll throughout
high school and is now working towards
a BA in social work at SFU, made a point
of “studying in the same spot” in her
room every day and keeping her room
free of distracting clutter.
Reshma Chaskar, winner of SFU’s
Dean’s Convocation Medal as top student
in her undergraduate class in 2004, also
believes in eliminating distractions.
“Study in a quiet area, which will help
you focus more on the task at hand,” she
advises. “If you try and juggle too many
things at once — watching TV, talking
on the phone, listening to MP3s —it will
take you much longer to complete your
homework and you’ll be more likely to
make careless errors.”
Gurbir Dhadwal, who received the
Governor General’s Silver Medal —
awarded to the top two undergraduate
students at Simon Fraser University
— when he graduated with a Bachelor
of Science degree last spring, says he
“rarely studied in the same place” during
high school. “When I was in high
school I played on many sports teams
and was involved in numerous student
clubs. Sometimes I would find myself
doing my homework in the school
foyer before practice. Other times, I
would do my homework at home on
the dining-room table at 11 p.m. The
key is to try different things and see
what works for you even if it goes against
conventional thinking.”
Tackle Assignments Promptly
Whether it’s working on assignment or
studying for a test, one of the worst traps
Primer for Parents
Research shows that students whose parents are involved in their
education perform better in school — but it’s important that parents
know the difference between being supportive and stifling.
“The child should always feel the parent is their advocate, not their
adversary,” says Milton McClaren, professor emeritus of education at
Simon Fraser University. “Some parents feel they need to hound the
student all the time and look over their shoulder, but I recommend
being present, staying in contact with what the student is finding success
with and what they’re having difficulty. The child needs to feel
there’s an open avenue of communication. The old idea of if you get
a bad mark on a test, you go home and get whacked, that’s not helpful.
There are kids who still fear that and there are parents who think
if you don’t do well in school, you’re going to be in trouble at home.
I don’t think that’s the right approach.”
Reshma Chaskar, who recently graduated with first class honours
from Simon Fraser University’s Bachelor of Business Administration
program, says her parents were always a source of support, never
stress.
“They would not place blame or too much pressure on me, but
rather offer encouragement and support,” she says. “ They emphasized
that the most important thing is that I tried my best — as long
as they knew I had done this, they were happy.”
If a student is having difficulty in a course, McClaren advises parents
to seek help — and to do so sooner rather than later. “Talking to
the counsellors or the teachers involved or seeking outside assistance
is a good idea,” he says. “Usually, academic problems don’t
just go away. You have to actually pay attention to them and get some
remediation.”
Mathematics, in particular, is an area where parents should step
in immediately if a student is experiencing difficulties, says
McClaren.
“Take the problem seriously. There are many students who have a
lot of talent, a lot of potential, then they run into Math 11 and get
hammered on the head and it really sets them back. If your son or
daughter is running into problems with mathematics, leave no stone
unturned. Find another teacher if you have to, get a tutor, go to a special
class. Saying things like, ‘Work harder’ is useless. If it’s a conceptual
problem, if students just don’t get it, get help right away.”
Gabriel Pillay, student recruiter-advisor at the University of British
Columbia, offers parents the following advice:
• Ensure students are focusing on dong work well, not just a lot
of work. Be involved in the school and get to know the teachers and
counselors. This will keep parents informed of what’s going on.
• Be supportive of work well done. Remember, not everyone gets
As, nor should everyone be expected to.
• Communicate to children what you are hoping for as a parent
but remember to listen to hear what your son or daughter is hoping
for in their future.
• Really care about the answer to the question: “How was school
today?” or “What did you do today?” The answer should never be: “It
was OK, I did nothing.” Make learning important and something
worth talking about.
• Listen, be supportive of what their son/daughter wants to study;
encourage any type of learning.
“Parents should be interested in what their children are doing and
make sure they show that interest,” says Pillay. “However, being interested
doesn’t mean to be controlling.
“It is important that parents understand how their son or daughter
is becoming an adult and taking on their own responsibilities in relation
to their education,” says Pillay.
He recommends the book Don’t Tell Me What To Do, Just Send
Money: The Essential Parenting Guide to the College Years by Helen
Johnson and Christine Schelhas-Miller. “Although the book is written
from the perspective of the American post-secondary experience,
the lessons learned and advice applies to the Canadian post-secondary
experience.”
22 MEHFIL September 2004

students can fall into is procrastination,
says Milton McClaren, professor emeritus
of education at SFU. “Telling yourself
‘I’ve got an assignment due, I’ll do it
tomorrow, then the next day, and the day
after that’ will lead to a vicious spiral.
When things pile up, the pile seems overwhelming
and then you think, ‘I might
as well not begin because it’s too big and
I can’t do it.’”
Sharanjit Kaur Poonian, 20, a highschool
honour roll student who won an
entrance scholarship to the University
College of the Fraser Valley, where she
Power Tip
Break it down
Feeling daunted by a large amount of
material? Break it down into manageable
“chunks,” advises educational expert
and SFU professor emeritus Milton
McClaren. “You have to know how to cut
it down into smaller pieces to make it
more learnable and to make it more
memorable,” says McClaren. “Some
students have only one strategy — to
underline everything in the text book, to
try to highlight everything but that’s
quite different from having a repertoire
of study skills. You can cut things down
in all sorts of ways. You can write points
down on flash cards, you can use sticky
notes, you can create bubble diagrams,
you make lists — these are all basic
forms of ‘chunking” to make information
more accessible. You don’t read a text
book cover to cover, you have to learn
how to chunk it.”
The same goes for completing a project.
Instead of allowing yourself to feel
overwhelmed and putting it off until the
last minute, you’ll be better equipped to
tackle a major assignment right away if
you break it down into the following
manageable tasks and fit them into your
schedule so that the last one will be
completed by the deadline.
• Decide on a topic.
• Begin to gather research material at
the library or on the Internet.
• After becoming familiar with the material,
create an outline.
• Ask your teacher to take a look at your
outline and suggest any changes.
• Take notes — and don’t forget to keep
a list of sources for your bibliography.
• Now that you’re familiar with the
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• When you’ve finished writing, proofread
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MEHFIL September 2004 23

STELLAR STUDENTS
AJNESH PRASAD
Age: 20 Hometown: Surrey
Currently studying: After completing
my BA (honours) in political science at
Simon Fraser University, I will begin the
MA program in the same discipline at
Queens University in Kingston, Ontario.
Academic awards include: Queens
Graduate Award, Queens University;
Conference Award, Simon Fraser
University; Gandhi Peace Award, Institute
for the Humanities at SFU; 2002-04 first
class honours, SFU
Career goal: Either law school or a PhD
before commencing my professional
career.
Have you always had a positive
attitude towards school?
My positive attitude towards school manifested
when I realized that education is a
practice of freedom. As Indo-Canadians
we have a collective colonized history
which encumbers some of us from maximizing
our opportunities and happiness. I
have found that education is an avenue
through I can address such concerns for
myself and others.
What role did your parents play in
your academic life? My parents have
been, by far, the most important contributors
to my scholarly achievements.
Throughout my elementary and junior
high years they attended parent/teacher
conferences and ensured that they were
actively involved in my academic development.
Moreover, they have provided me
with unfaltering emotional support to
which I have turned to on many occasions.
Do you make a point of reading
over your assignments or tests
before handing them in? Reading my
test answers over improved some of my
results significantly. As a rule of thumb, I
use every minute permitted for writing any
test. Whenever I finish early I review my
responses to assure that I did not make
any careless mistakes.
What advice do you most often
give to students? The one piece of
advice I most commonly give out to other
students is to pursue those things that are
of interest to them. If academia is your
objective, then decide which discipline is
right for you. For some it may be the hard
sciences or business and for others it
may be the humanities or fine arts. Each
area of study has its own merits, it’s just a
matter of deciding where you can best
carve your own niche.
PHOTO BY RON SANGHA
24 MEHFIL September 2004

made the dean’s list her first year, is a firm
believer in starting assignments or studying
for tests as soon as possible. “One of
the most important things that I always
did in high school was to start on an
assignment as soon as it was assigned,”
she says. “If you begin working on something
as soon as possible, you always have
plenty of time to fine tune any small
errors.”
Karen Birak, 21, who recently graduated
with a BA in communications from
SFU and plans to go to law school, also
attributes much of her academic success
to tackling assignments immediately. “I
always make a point to write up a quick
outline or speak to my teacher about
assignments as soon as they are assigned,”
she says. “Once you know what you have
to do, and how you are going to execute
it, it’s smooth sailing from then on.
Being aware of what your teacher expects
of you in the assignment is crucial so you
can gauge what approach to take and
how much time is required to complete
it. Even if you are not going to complete
your homework until the night before it
is due, at least take a look over what you
need to do on the day it is assigned.”
Ask for Help, Ask Questions
Too many students are reluctant to ask
for help when they don’t understand
something, says McClaren. “The outstanding
academic students that I’ve
interviewed tell me that one of the major
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Don’t just do homework, study
“Effective students don’t just do
what’s asked,” says Professor Milton
McClaren. “For instance, if you’ve got
five math problems to do for that night’s
homework or you have an essay you
have to write for English, that’s homework.
If you want to become effective as
a student, you have to study, which
means making the material your own.
You have to create your own organizational
structures, your own diagrams,
your own notes, your own flip charts,
whatever you use. That sometimes
means going ahead two or three chapters.”
On the rare days when you don’t have
any homework, don’t ignore your
books. Use the time to familiarize yourself
with upcoming material.
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MEHFIL September 2004 25

STELLAR STUDENTS
GURPREET MAHIL
Age: 25 Hometown: Abbotsford
Recently graduated from: University
College of the Fraser Valley with a BA.
Academic awards include: UCFV athletic
and academic scholarships.
Career goal: To become an elementary
school teacher.
Have you always had a positive attitude
towards school and studying
or was there a turning point during
your secondary school years? I didn’t
always have a positive attitude but in
Grade 9, after receiving my first D, my
outlook on school changed and I wanted
to prove to myself and to others that I was
capable of getting the highest mark in the
class.
What role did your parents play in
your academic life? My parents
emphasized school work, work ethic and
behaviour. Instead of always looking at the
marks, they looked at my work ethic mark.
Some experts say nutrition and
exercise play an important role in
helping students with academic
performance. Did you find this to be
the case? Playing sports helped me
become more organized. I knew I had a
limited time after school to finish my
homework. When you’re playing sports
you are more conscious of what you are
eating and you will make it a priority to eat
healthy and more frequently so you are
less tired in the morning and have more
energy throughout the day. By being active
and involved in sports, you are able to
release stress and make new friends.
If a student has a poor result on an
exam or a project, what can he or
she do to keep from being discouraged?
I always think to myself: One of
the greatest basketball players of our century,
Michael Jordan, did not make his
Grade 8 team. We should look at our setbacks
as motivations to achieve our goals.
What advice do you most often give
to students? As a peer tutor in high
school, I encouraged students to set
goals. Sometimes students get discouraged
because they do not see the rewards
right away of their hard work.
Would you say attitude and effort
play as important a role as natural
ability? ATTITUDE+EFFORT=SUCCESS
while NATURAL ABILITY-ATTITUDE-
EFFORT=FAILURE
PHOTO BY RON SANGHA
26 MEHFIL September 2004

differences they’ve seen between themselves
and students who aren’t successful
is that students who aren’t won’t ask for
help and therefore they just struggle
along. Effective students say they get
help right away, whether it’s by finding
another kid who can do it to show them
or by going to a parent or a teacher. One
way or another they get help — and they
tend to get it right away.”
“Don’t skip what you don’t understand,”
adds Pillay. “Ask for assistance.
The teacher is there to teach you, not
simply instruct you . . . Going for extra
help and tutoring is not always a remedial
issue, but can be looked at as a way to
get ahead.”
Chaskar suggests students “read over
assignments as soon as you receive them.
If there is anything that you do not
understand, do not be afraid to ask questions.
It is much better to clarify something
while you are in class or the next
day rather than the night before the
assignment is due. Sometimes we may
feel embarrassed to ask a teacher, friend
or parent a question because we think
that we will look stupid. However, perhaps
there is a problem with the question
and other students are experiencing
the same difficulty”
“If I ever needed clarification about
an assignment or exam, I would harass
my teacher as much as possible so that I
knew exactly what to expect,” adds
Poonian. “Nothing is worse than to put
so much effort and energy into an
assignment, only to find out that you
have missed something important.”
Take Effective Notes
When it comes to taking notes, the key
is quality, not quantity, says McClaren.
“Most teachers give cues to students
about what is important, what they want
you to remember, what your priorities
are. Effective students learn to pick up
those cues and to note those things
down,” he says.
Being able to identify key concepts
and facts is important in high school but
even more so at the university level, adds
McClaren. “Universities are notorious
for besieging students with content.
Professors don’t organize things for students,
so they have to have good notetaking
skills.”
Poonian says that she avoided writing
down everything mentioned during
class lectures in high school. “I made
sure not to go overboard with my notes,”
she says. “Instead, what I would do was
make note of something that the
instructor tended to emphasize over and
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STELLAR STUDENTS
BIRINDER KAUR
MANGAT
Age: 19 Hometown: Surrey
Currently studying: Honours biochemistry
at the University of British Columbia
Academic awards: Canadian Merit
Scholarship Foundation National Award
($50,000); Canada Millennium Provincial
Award ($16,000); B.C. Provincial
Scholarship ($1,000); Governor General’s
Award for highest academic average at secondary
school
Career goal: A career in medical research
and teaching. Ultimately, I would like to use
medicine to help underprivileged communities
in developing countries.
What role did your parents play in your
academic life? My parents and sister have
been (and continue to be!) my biggest source
of support throughout my academic career.
Early on in my schooling years, they would
make it a point to ask about my homework,
teach me study tips and discuss the importance
of education. My parents made it a priority
to know my teachers and my specific
course work. They created an enriching
atmosphere in which intellectual ideas were
continuously discussed. They have given me
the strength and means to strive for my
dreams.
How can a student keep from being
discouraged after receiving a poor
mark on an exam or a project? First,
they should meet with their teacher and ask
for extra help or resources. Teachers are
always willing to help students who are genuinely
interested in improving their grades.
Next, they should review the material again
and try to correct their own mistakes.
Catching your own mistakes gives you confidence
in your abilities. Lastly, having faith in
yourself and your abilities is the best antidote
for discouragement.
What advice do you most often give to
other students? When I peer tutored students
at my high school, the advice I gave
most often was to “use your homework planner
book.” Many times students do not do
well in school because they forget to do their
homework. The planner is helpful in creating
homework schedules and following through
with them. Throughout my high school years,
the most useful book I owned was my homework
planner.
Do attitude and effort play as important
a role as natural ability? Definitely.
The saying, “Success is 99 per cent perspiration
and one per cent inspiration” is extremely
relevant in academics. Students who put in
the time and effort to learn will always be
rewarded in the long term. Relying solely on
natural ability is far riskier than spending time
to practise the concepts.
PHOTO BY RON SANGHA
28 MEHFIL September 2004

over again. I also found that if I briefly
scanned over my notes before I went to
bed at night, that I remembered almost
everything the next day.”
Dhadwal found that “actively trying
to understand the material” while taking
notes in class was a major time-saver. “If
you have a clear and organized set of
notes from class, it is much easier when
preparing for an exam to study your
notes than it is to study hundreds of
pages in the text,” he says.”
Stress Reducers
It’s no secret high school can be stressful
but there are things students can do to
minimize the pressure.
“The more balanced a life a student
has, the less stress they will feel,” says
Pillay. “It is important to have a life outside
of school work. Students should
have some regular involvement in an
extracurricular or community-service
activity. This will allow them to develop
better time management, which is a crucial
skill that will serve as the key to success
in post-secondary school. Work
smarter, not harder.”
For tips on determining what is
important and not important, urgent
and not urgent, Pillay recommends students
read 7 Habits of Teens by Stephen
R. Covey.
Dhadwal says getting involved in
sports taught him important lessons
about organizing his time. “Being
involved in sports helps structure your
life,” he says. “If you know you have
practice after school on certain days, you
begin to create a schedule for when you
do your homework and when you go
out.”
Gurpreet Mahil, 25, who attended
the University College of the Fraser
Valley on both academic and athletic
scholarships and recently graduated with
a BA, says being involved with extracurricular
activities not only helped him
manage stress but also made high school
more rewarding. “Being involved in all
aspects of school helps students realize
there is more to life besides the academic,”
he says.
“Maintaining balance in life — staying
active, hanging out with friends and
socializing, participating in community
events” helped her manage school-related
stress, adds Chaskar.
Since falling behind may be the No. 1
source of stress for students, Pillay
emphasizes the importance of staying on
top of course material. “Remember to
keep up to date on readings and to take
notes on key concepts and ideas to help
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MEHFIL September 2004 29

STELLAR STUDENTS
RESHMA CHASKAR
Age: 23 Hometown: Vancouver
Recently graduated: from SFU in June with a
first class honours Bachelor of Business
Administration.
Academic awards include: Dean’s
Convocation Medal (top student in undergraduate
class); Finalist in Queen’s Inter-Collegiate
Business Competition; SFU Open Undergraduate
Scholarship; Alumni Scholarship
Career goal: A career in consulting in the IT
industry. I started working in July as a business
analyst with a global consulting firm (Accenture).
Was school always a priority for you?
It was during my senior years in high school that I
began to understand the importance of post-secondary
education. Once I had set some goals in
place, I realized I would need a certain grade point
average to support these goals. Consequently, I
began applying myself more fully to my studies
and placing education as a high priority.
Did you take a different approach towards
your strongest subjects as opposed to
those that you found more challenging?
Yes, definitely. For me, subjects like math and
statistics do not come very easy. I still manage to
do well in these subjects, but this is only because
I devote extra time and effort to improving those
skills. An individual strong in calculus may only
need to study three hours for an exam, and I
would probably have to study at least five hours
for the same exam. A good method to improve
skills in subjects where you are weak might be to
partner up with a friend. For example, if you do
well in English but poorly in physics, you might
agree to help out a friend with his/her English in
exchange for some physics tutoring.
What can a student do to keep from being
discouraged after receiving a poor mark
on an exam or project? Try and put it behind
you. Remember that we all have our bad days.
See where you went wrong and can improve on
for the next time. Talk with your teacher and ask
for advice. Giving up is taking an easy way out:
Many people face challenges and obstacles in
achieving their goals, so persevere.
What advice do you most often give to
students? One of the most frequent tips I gave
as a peer tutor was to keep up with readings and
assignments. It is difficult to catch up once you
fall behind, especially if an exam is near. As well,
always try to set realistic goals and be willing to
work hard if you want to improve.
Would you say attitude and effort play as
important a role as natural ability? I
believe that attitude and effort are more important
than natural ability. It is very easy to label people
as being “smart,” but often we do not pay attention
to all the effort and work that is actually going
on behind the scenes. Ambition, determination,
and perseverance go a long way in helping to
achieve your goals.
PHOTO BY RON SANGHA
30 MEHFIL September 2004

with later reviews.”
“School was rather enjoyable when I
didn’t procrastinate,” says SFU grad
Ajnesh Prasad, who is headed to Queens
University on a full scholarship to study
for his MA in political science. “Duly
tending to my assignments allowed me
to maintain peace of mind and a relaxed
environment around me.”
Birak found that staying organized
was the key to keeping stress to a minimum.
“Planning ahead, asking extra
questions, comparing notes and ideas
and keeping track of progress all kept
me somewhat at ease,” she says. “I used
my agenda religiously and made sure I
knew what the week ahead looked like
in advance.”
For Poonian, the key to managing
stress during high school was communicating
with parents, teachers and
friends. “If I ever felt stressed out, I
could always talk to my parents,” she
says. “Releasing some of that pent-up
frustration can do wonders for an individual’s
morale. And if I ever did feel the
pressures of school creeping up on me, I
would immediately voice my concerns
to my teacher. The key to a stress-free
high school experience is to talk to those
around you who care about you the
most.”
Sandhu advises students to make
room in their daily schedule for something
they enjoy doing. “I take out about
30 to 60 minutes a day to do something
I enjoy. It could be as simple as going for
a walk or shopping for some new
clothes.”
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Surround Yourself with Positive,
Motivated People
“Be careful about your selection of
friends,” says McClaren. “Don’t hang
around with kids who are sending constant
negative messages that school is just
a joke and a waste of time and you’re a
dweeb if you do it.”
Pillay agrees that “hanging around
peers who don’t have goals or ambitions
to succeed” holds students back.
Dhadwal echoes the experts’ advice. “I
have found being involved in sports and
student clubs has always helped me feel
stress free. Hanging around with students
who are energetic, upbeat, and
motivated is an easy way to maintain a
positive attitude.”
Make Health a Priority
Skipping meals and leading a sedentary
lifestyle is not only bad for the body but
(continued on page 36)
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MEHFIL September 2004 31

STELLAR STUDENTS
KAREN BIRAK
Age: 21 Hometown: Vancouver
Currently studying: For an MPA (Master
of Public Administration) at the University of
Victoria. Future goals include attending law
school in the next five years.
Awards/scholarships include:
Western Businesswomen’s Association
Leadership Scholarship; Association of
Neighborhood Houses of Greater Vancouver:
Good Neighbor Award
Career goals: To work in public relations in
the non-profit sector and to eventually pursue
a career in public law.
Have you always had a positive attitude
towards school and studying?
In order to excel at something, you really
have to enjoy it. I know school doesn’t always
sound like “fun” but if you can take a genuine
interest in what you are learning, it will help
you stay curious, focused and dedicated to
learning more. Self-motivation is the key to
my academic success.
What role did your parents play in
your academic life? My parents divorced
when I was very young. My mom has always
encouraged my sisters and I to achieve our
personal best, no matter how big or small the
project. She never put any pressure on us to
do well academically – if we did not do well,
we would only be cheating ourselves.
Although, just to reassure her, I always pasted
my report cards on the fridge because I
knew how proud she was of me! Together,
parents and students need to set mutual
expectations and goals that will nurture academic
success.
If a student receives a poor mark on
an exam or a project, what can he or
she do to keep from being discouraged?
First and foremost, students need to
define realistic goals and expectations for
themselves. Both students and parents
should realize that whether it is a C+ or an
A+, it should reflect personal best. As long as
you can say, “I know I tried my best and prepared
as much as I could have,” then you
should have confidence in the mark you have
achieved. To improve marks, there are many
options such as tutoring services offered at
school or privately, extra help from your
teacher, advice from friends, skill-improving
websites, books on tips to do better, etc.
Would you say attitude and effort play
as important a role as natural ability?
Sure, it’s nice if good grades come to you
with ease but that’s not the case with all students.
Anyone can do well in school — all it
takes is effort and desire to maximize your
potential.
PHOTO BY NU LOOK FOTO
32 MEHFIL September 2004

Get Involved, Stay Involved
Tips for parents of elementary-school students from education consultant Anand Atal
Beginning when their children are in elementary
school, parents should be involved closely
in the learning process. From reading and
writing skills to time management, it’s important
to ensure that the “tools” for future learning
are firmly in place.
Foster a love of reading
A love of reading is a must and parents need to
model the very behaviour that they want their children
to develop. Help develop a habit of reading for
pleasure and relaxation. Reading books helps
build vocabulary, improves spelling and comprehension.
Children should see reading as a source
of new ideas and fun. Parents can help by arranging
regular visits to a library. Story time each night
will help develop a love of books and reading.
Give your attention
Interaction with adults helps children learn a
variety of skills that TV or other forms of entertainment
cannot impart. Children should be given
maximum possible one-to-one attention. Make a
habit of taking time daily to play with your child
in a variety of settings.
Boost self-confidence and self-image
Children need regular encouragement to help
them develop healthy self-confidence. To be effective,
the praise should be timely and genuine.
Keep in touch with your child’s teachers
Right from primary grades, keep in regular touch
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with your child’s teachers. Parent-teacher interviews
are an excellent investment of your time.
Both the mother and father should try to meet
teachers together. Make sure that the teacher is
fully aware of your strong interest in your child’s
progress. Continue going to these interviews until
your child finishes high school.
Encourage writing
Encourage children to express their thoughts on
paper in an age-appropriate way. Children can
write thank you notes on behalf of parents, help
prepare shopping lists, keep a journal of summer
activities, etc.
Homework and home-study are a must
Both homework and home-studying are essential
for your child to fully absorb what is learned at
school. Homework is the completion of assignments,
while home-study is review of material
covered in the class to achieve mastery over it.
Make sure that there is a place — and regular
time — where your child can finish homework
comfortably and without distractions. Use the following
guide to determine a schedule for homework
and home-study: On weekdays: Grades 1-4
— half an hour to an hour; Grades 5-7 — one to
two hours; Grades 8-9 — one-and-a-half to twoand-a-half
hours; Grades 10-12 — a minimum
of two-and-a-half hours.
Be role models for your child
Your child should see you reading, working
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through problems and learning from mistakes.
Introduce your child to other positive role models
such as relatives, family friends and successful
individuals in the community.
Go over your child’s report card regularly
with him or her
Avoid too much emphasis on negative aspects during
this discussion. Be sure to applaud your child’s
efforts and progress with honest, timely praise.
Maintain a term-by-term record of progress.
Communicate your concerns with the teacher
promptly. Be proactive in dealing with a potential
difficulty.
Limit time spent on entertainment
and phone calls
Many researchers believe that one to two hours on
weekdays is the maximum time a child should be
allowed to spend watching TV, listening to music,
surfing the Internet, chatting on the phone with
friends, etc. A child needs enough time for homework,
home-study, reading, family interaction,
exercise, household chores, visits to the library, etc.
You may also establish daily no-TV and no-phone
time zones in the evening.
Get involved
Know what is going on in your child’s life —in
school, in the classroom, at home and outside.
Make sure children see in you the qualities you
would like to see in them one day. ❐
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604-877-1501
MEHFIL September 2004 33

STELLAR STUDENTS
SHARANJIT KAUR
POONIAN
Age: 20 Hometown: Abbotsford
Currently studying: History and English
at the University College of the Fraser
Valley.
Academic awards: Honour roll student in
high school from Grades 8 through 12;
UCFV entrance scholarship; Dean’s list at
UCFV.
Career goal: To become a history professor
teaching the history of Indo-Canadians
in B.C.
Have you always been a strong student?
Once I hit high school I realized the
importance of a strong work ethic and how
my early actions in life would help to bring
me continued success in the future.
Do you make a point of reading over
your assignments or tests before
handing them in? I always read over my
work over and over again before handing it
in. I find that the second or third time I look
over my test, there is always something that
I can fix that impacts my overall mark. As for
assignments, by finishing them earlier, there
is more time to proofread and catch any
errors before your teacher does. Checking
over any type of work, whether it’s a test or
assignment, is definitely a crucial step.
If a student has a poor result on an
exam or a project, what can they do
to keep from being discouraged?
The most important thing that I have learned
is to speak to my instructor so that I can
improve the second time around. There is
no point in getting discouraged with one
mark; it is much better to look ahead and
see how you can improve so that one mark
becomes insignificant in the larger scheme
of things.
What advice do you most often give
to students?
I have tutored many young students and I
tell them never be afraid to speak up.
Whether they have a question about a test or
assignment or they’re concerned about their
own marks, if a student can learn to communicate
well with his/her instructor early
on, it is much more beneficial in future educational
situations.
Would you say attitude and effort
play as important a role as natural
ability? I would say that effort and attitude
are even more important than natural abilities.
If somebody is dedicated and motivated,
there is nothing that can stop him/her. A
positive person who is highly motivated will
easily achieve more in life than a pessimistic
individual who has all the talents at his/her
fingertips. In the end, it is your attitude and
will and determination to achieve that will
decide your future.
PHOTO BY NU LOOK FOTO
34 MEHFIL September 2004

Why Should You Call Me
for Your Mortgage?
STELLAR STUDENTS
GURBIR DHADWAL
Age: 23 Hometown: Golden
Currently studying: Graduated with a
BSc in molecular biology from Simon
Fraser University this spring. Beginning a
post-baccalaureate program in kinesiology
this fall.
Academic awards include: Governor
General’s Silver Medal (awarded to the
top two undergraduate students graduating
from SFU); Golden Key Scholar
Award (awarded to 12 students worldwide
for excellence in community service,
academics and leadership);
Biological Sciences Merit Award (awarded
to the top student studying biology at
Simon Fraser University); Simon Fraser
University Honour Roll (awarded to students
with above a 4.0 GPA)
Career goal: To become a doctor.
Have you always had a positive
attitude towards school? I have
always enjoyed learning. I was fortunate
to have a number of teachers who
inspired and motivated me along the way.
From a very young age I have always
made an effort to try my hardest at anything
that I have attempted.
Do you take a different approach
towards your strongest subjects as
opposed to those that you find
more challenging? I spend more time
on my weaker subjects than I do on my
stronger subjects. By working efficiently
on the subjects that I am good at I can
save time to spend on my weaker subjects.
I believe that if you are not naturally
talented at a particular subject that it is
still possible to succeed by putting in
more time and effort.
What role did your parents play in
your academic life? My parents never
pushed me to succeed academically.
They did support my learning, however,
by encouraging the use of the library and
by purchasing books and supplies that I
needed.
Did you make a point of reading
over your assignments or tests
before handing them in?
Proofreading tests is always important. I
know a lot of students who can’t wait to
get out of the classroom once they reach
the end of the test. If you spend four
hours studying for a test it doesn’t make
sense to leave the test 15 minutes early.
Those 15 minutes of checking over the
test can make a huge difference in your
grade.
If a student has a poor result on
an exam or a project, what can he
or she do to keep from being discouraged?
Look at the project and try
to figure out where you went wrong. All
too often students never look at exams or
assignments that they get back from their
teachers. If you figure out the types of
mistakes you made, you will do better
later on and you will be less likely to get
discouraged.
Would you say attitude and effort
play as important a role as natural
ability? I think that everyone has natural
talents and natural weaknesses. I believe
that some weakness can be made up for
with effort. However, I think that it is
more important to focus on your
strengths.
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MEHFIL September 2004 35

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Cover Story: Making the Grade
(continued from page 31)
for the mind, points out Pillay. “If you
don’t feel well, you won’t be thinking too
well — feed your body to help keep your
mind fed. You need to be engaged in
something to keep your health up since
poor health will only heighten your stress
and anxiety levels.”
“No matter how busy my day may be,
I always make time for breakfast,” says
Poonian. “Once I have had a healthy
breakfast, I know I will be attentive and
alert. Of course, nutritious eating
shouldn’t stop at breakfast as lunch and
supper are equally as important — a bag
of chips and a can of pop just won’t cut
it.”
“Through experience, I learned that
poor diet and lack of exercise wears you
out faster, both mentally and physically,”
says Birak. “Exercise doesn’t have to be at
a gym or at some track; going for walks
or jogs between destinations or following
a video at home can be enough stimulation.
And check in with your parents for
some old Indian tips of food sources that
supposedly make you more intelligent!”
“The saying ‘You are what you eat’ is
quite accurate,” says Chaskar, who never
skips breakfast. “If you eat junk all the
time, you’ll feel like junk. Some form of
physical activity is important as well.
This doesn’t necessarily mean working
out in the gym for an hour each day. I
have always enjoyed participating in
intramurals and sports like tennis and
volleyball. Balance is very important.”
Don’t Count on Cramming
“Students shouldn’t get in the habit of
cramming for tests,” cautions Pillay.
“Ideally, the night before the test should
be review, not cramming. Remember
that cramming does not work in university;
professors expect you to understand
concepts, not facts.”
“If you’re trying to learn the stuff for
the first time the night before the examination,
you are in serious trouble,” adds
McClaren, “because certainly in senior
courses and in university, that’s not going
to work.”
Chaskar warns students that cramming
is no substitute for thorough preparation.
“You may be lucky to do well on
some exams by cramming for a few
hours, but this strategy is not successful
overall and will not serve you very well in
university,” she says. “By having a plan in
place, you will be on top of your game
and live a much less stressful life than
your classmates.” ❐
36 MEHFIL September 2004

2004 SUCCESS
PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
PROFILES
OF
Vision of Success
Ask optician and entrepreneur Bhupinder
Oberoi about his vision for the future of his
business and he’ll probably say “lots of satisfied
customers.”
After establishing a strong clientele through
his reputation for offering reasonable prices
and excellent customer service in Abbotsford,
Oberoi is focusing his attention on his second
store — Royal City Optical.
“It’s a very good location, very central and
with easy access,” he says of the 900-squarefoot
store located on 10th avenue and 6th street
on the border of Burnaby and New
Westminster. “We’re very busy and growing
every day. Our motto from the very beginning
has been to treat people like family,” he says.
But business wasn’t always so brisk for
Oberoi. In fact, when he opened his first store,
Gladwin Optical, in 1993, times were rather
tough.
“A friend who had a successful optical store
encouraged me to get into the industry,” he
says. At the time, Oberoi, who has a masters
degree in political science, was working in a
shake and shingle mill to make ends meet.
“There were so many things to learn. I went
to school for two years,” he recalls.
Fortunately for Oberoi, he had the support
of his wife, Gurpreet, who helps him run their
Abbotsford location, and the financial backing
of his silent partners — brother Jas and sisterin-law
Parm.
“Their support was critical. It allowed me
to focus on the customers and learn,” says
Oberoi.
Today Oberoi and his partner in Royal City
Optical, Kiran Singh, are bringing that knowledge
and experience to customers in Burnaby
and New Westminster.
Like Gladwin Optical, Royal City Optical
offers friendly service, a great selection of
name-brand sunglasses and frames, a twoyear
guarantee and, of course, great prices.
“We also have great deals on coloured contact
lenses like Freshlook, and disposable,
daily-wear contacts,” he says.
Oberoi will offer sight exams soon at Royal
City Optical, a service that he has been providing
to his Abbotsford customers for more than
three years.
“For people that are age 19 to 64 we can
check their eyes for vision with an automatic
sight test machine,” says Oberoi. “It’s really
very convenient for people — you don’t need
to make an appointment and it only takes
ten minutes but is very accurate.” And best of
all — it’s free.
GLADWIN OPTICAL
604-864-8803
ROYAL CITY OPTICAL
604-526-5050
PHOTO BY NU LOOK FOTO

IN BUSINESS
Promotional Feature
Business
Furniture Retail
Year Started
1986
Key Personnel
Jeet Jaswal, Founder and President
Jag Jaswal, Founder and CEO
Showrooms
MJM Furniture, Surrey: 34,000 sq.ft.
MJM Furniture, Abbotsford: 26,000 sq. ft.
MJM Furniture, Coquitlam: 54,000 sq. ft
Signature Interiors, Surrey: 20,000 sq. ft
Product Range
MJM Furniture: Mid to high-end
Signature Interiors: High -end
Keys to Success
“We are customer driven. That means
doing whatever it takes to satisfy the
customer. Marketing, purchasing, merchandising
are all important but nothing
is as important as customer service.
We make sure our customers
know we appreciate them — it’s
because of their continued support that
we have succeeded. Our goal is simply
to continue to offer the best products at
the best prices with the best service.”
Locations
MJM Furniture, Surrey
13570 - 77th Ave.,
604-596-9901
MJM Furniture, Abbotsford,
3209 South Fraser Way
604-864-8148
MJM Furniture, Coquitlam
1311 United Blvd,
604-524-1656
Signature Interiors, Surrey
13581 - 77th Ave.,
604-596-4409
Signature
Interiors
by MJM
Brothers Jeet and Jag Jaswal are
busy men these days. That’s
because as the founders of MJM
Furniture the pair have just added over
70,000 square feet to their operation —
more than doubling the floor space (and
furniture on display) in four showrooms.
The two brothers, who have been in
the furniture business for more than 20
years, got their start working at their
uncle’s furniture stores in northern B.C.
They started out by unpacking crates
and making sure the warehouse was
clean and orderly. Eventually, they
graduated to the sales floor, where both
of them excelled.
“We started at the best place we
could ask for — right at the bottom,”
says Jeet. “Of course, we didn’t think
that at the time.”
But those early experiences, he says,
helped the two of them develop the confidence
to go into business for themselves.
In 1986, after moving to the
Lower Mainland, they opened MJM furniture
with a total staff of seven.
Today, the Jaswals employ more than
50 people in four stores, including the
recently opened 54,000-square-foot
MJM location in Coquitlam.
“We felt it was a good move to offer

PHOTO BY NU-LOOK FOTO
our customers in that area an option
closer to home, as well as to tap into
the growing market. United Boulevard
is exploding and has become a real
shopping destination,” he says. “It’s
great for the consumer.”
Two months ago, the Jaswals
opened Signature Interiors, located
next to the original MJM Furniture off
Surrey’s King George Highway and
77th avenue.
“Over the years we’ve always
focused on customer satisfaction and
have steadily increased our line of
products to try and meet their needs,”
says Jeet. The company’s philosophy
has also been to stay ahead of the competition
by being the first to offer new
product lines, being aggressive with
their marketing, and purchasing in
larger quantities to bring costs down.
“The consumer is ever more
demanding, so businesses have to keep
on their toes and come up with creative
solutions to meet those
demands,” he says.
While MJM Furniture stores carry
a variety of products for every taste
and budget, Jeet says consumer
demand for higher-end product has
been growing over the past several
years.
“There are a lot of people who want
something different and unique, or
higher quality but often it’s just not
within their budget,” he says.
With four locations the company
can buy direct from manufacturers in
container quantities. That allows them
to keep the cost of furniture, which
only a few years ago would have been
prohibitive, down to a level customers
can get excited about.
“Furniture is a big part of a home
and people don’t want to compromise
quality if they don’t have to,” says
Jeet. “That’s what Signature Interiors
is all about — making that higher
quality product more affordable. It
gives people better choices. So now
you don’t have to compromise.”

PHOTO BY NU LOOK FOTO
2004 SUCCESS
PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
PROFILES
OF
Fashion
on the Cutting Edge
When it comes to fashion, Roop Dulai likes to
push the boundaries of style. That’s one reason
she and her mother Kulwinder decided to open
a fashion boutique with designs that incorporate
elements from the catwalks of Europe.
“Europe is so much further ahead of North
America,” says Roop, who hails from London,
England, one of the fashion capitals of the
world. “Our collections bring a unique blend of
Indian and European style to Canada — it’s
really the cutting edge of Asian haute couture.”
The mother-and-daughter team offers
designs ranging from the simple and sophisticated
to vibrant and extravagant.
“Whatever your particular taste may be,
our outfits are designed to flatter — we want
people to feel like a million dollars,” says Roop.
While Organza, located in Surrey, B.C.,
offers many readymade outfits, clients can also
take advantage of the company’s made-to-measure
services, which allow clients to custom
order outfits in any size, shape, cut and colour.
“If you have your heart set on a design from
a movie or have something specific in mind, or
you know what you want but can’t quite
explain it, we appreciate this and will work with
you to ensure the final result is nothing less
than perfection itself,” she says.
Roop works with clients to help them choose
from an unlimited array of designs, fabrics,
embroidery and colours. “Whether you want
a classic look or a modern twist, whether you
want a corset, fishtail lengha, embroidered
sari or an elaborate train set with Swarovski
crystals, we at Organza have no limits,” she
says.
After the client approves a sketch of her
dream outfit, it is sent to India and England.
“Our team of professional tailors and artisans
will translate your dream outfit into a beautiful
finished result,” says Roop, adding that
Organza caters to women of all figure types.
“We create elegant and sophisticated outfits for
full-figured women, too.”
Organza also carries a full line of accessories
— including shoes, purses, bangles and
other costume jewelry. And to stay on top of the
latest trends, Roop arranges for new merchandise
shipments every six weeks.
“Between our wide selection and our dedication
to customer service, we make sure that
Organza is the ultimate shopping experience,”
says Roop. “The only thing that can hold you
back is your imagination!”
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MEHFIL September 2004 41

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42 MEHFIL September 2004

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52 MEHFIL September 2004

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Jewellery: American diamond
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Right: Turquoise georgette suit
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Jewellery: Silver kundan set
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MEHFIL September 2004 53

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MEHFIL September 2004 59

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60 MEHFIL September 2004

Q&A: Veterinary Controversy
(continued from page 17)
took his whole education in English.”
MM: What are you asking for in your
lawsuit?
JB: “What we’re asking for in addition to the
damages, which would be the damages suffered
by the plaintiff in this case, is a declaration
setting aside the bylaw. There is no
dollar amount attached; it’s not customary to
do that. The measure of damages in this case
would be the difference between what he
(Singla) would have earned with Dr. Bhullar
as opposed to the job that he’s managed to
get in Alberta.
“There are a number of other people in the
same boat and if this gentleman is successful,
then others will undoubtedly sue. The
main thing is the principle relating to the
test.”
Valerie Osborne: Registrar of the B.C.
Veterinarian Medical Association:
Mehfil Magazine: The Foreign
Veterinary Graduates Association
charges the B.C.V.M.A is being discriminatory
against foreign vets by
requiring they score 93 per cent on
an English proficiency test. They
claim the real purpose of the test is
to keep foreign-trained vets, who
tend to charge lower fees, from practising.
What is your response to that
accusation?
Valerie Osborne: We cannot fix fees, we cannot
force fees on our members and we don’t
do that. The BCVMA does not recommend
any fees. What they’re (Foreign Veterinary
Graduates Association) are pointing to is
something called the fee guide which, unfortunately,
is a bit of a misnomer. The fee guide
is a survey of the fees charges across B.C.
by veterinarians and all it is is a straight
average (of fees) across the board. It does
not take into account the overhead factors,
which are highly variable, or any of the other
things that would result in reasons why
some veterinarians are charging a fee different
from another one. For instance, in a
downtown Vancouver setting your overhead
fees are going to be much different than in a
rural B.C. setting. If you’re a full service hospital
then your overhead fees are going to be
significantly higher.
MM: The foreign vets claim they are
now being required to score 93 per
cent on an English proficiency test,
but you claim that is not the case.
What is the case?
VO: English competency tests are not
(continued on page 75)
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MEHFIL September 2004 61

May
2004
WEDDINGS
Nrinder Nindy K.
Nann, 28
From Merrit, B.C.
David James
Fernandes, 31
From Thornhill, ON.
Nrinder Nann had just endured a redeye
flight from Vancouver to
Montreal when she first saw David
James Fernandes in the lobby of a hotel.
Whatever fatigue she may have been feeling
didn’t keep her from noticing the
“cute, artsy looking guy with curly hair.”
“I gotta get to know that guy,” Nrinder
told her cousin, who had accompanied
her to Montreal for a youth conference.
Nrinder and David became instant
friends and stayed in touch via e-mail
while she attended Simon Fraser
University and he completed his studies at
the University of Toronto. Eventually, they
both ended up working in Ottawa and their
bond — forged from common political,
social and musical interests — continued
to grow stronger.
David’s proposal was touchingly spontaneous.
“We were riding the bus on our
way to the subway after having dinner at
David’s mom’s house,” recalls Nrinder.
“He turned to me and asked if I would
marry him — no ring, just a loving look
into my eyes.”
She said yes — and echoed his proposal
a few months later while they were
on a bus. “This time, Nrinder turned to me
and asked if I would marry her,” he says.
They decided against diamond rings
— “We chose not to support that industry,”
they explain — and opted for simple
wedding bands of brushed stainless steel
with a small inset of gold.
On their wedding day — after a traditional
Sikh ceremony — the newlyweds
faced both man-made and natural challenges.
“My turban fell off while suffering
the obstacles Nindy’s cousins set up for
me when I went to her house for the doli,”
admits David.
The weather wasn’t any more cooperative
than Nrinder’s cousins.
“It rained all day and my brother carried
around this HUGE blue and white
umbrella to shield us,” recalls Nrinder.
“And then, at one point, he was holding
my bouquet, too. It was a sight to see —
6 feet, one inch, 200-something pounds,
all smiles and carrying a bouquet in one
hand and an umbrella in another.”
The couple celebrated with close family
and friends at a dinner and dance in
Merritt — “It was the best party we’d been
to in Merritt. And, no, we didn’t play any
country music,” says Nrinder — and
again at a reception in Toronto in August.
Before returning to their home in
Ottawa, the couple honeymooned in a
cabin in Sooke, B.C.
“Never underestimate the power of the
ocean, trees and a hot-tub overlooking it
all,” says David.
“It was a serene, peaceful, romantic
and magical spot.”
WWW.RONSPHOTO.COM/WEDDINGS
Astrological sign:
Occupation:
Hobbies:
Pet Peeves:
What they say
about each other:
Her
Capricorn
Community-based activist,
organizer and educator
Art, photography, resisting oppression
Patriarchy, racism, classism, ageism,
ableism, heterosexism . . . all the
ways in which society robs humans
from living love-filled lives.
“He’s super funny and goofy,
smart, creative and passionate!”
Him
Aries
Graphic designer and
budding filmmaker
Art, film, fighting bad guys
with my super team
Ditto — but I’d also add
sports utility vehicles and wars
fought for oil.
“She’s intense, hilarious,
smart, creative and visionary.”
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62 MEHFIL September 2004

May
2004
Madhu Brar, 27
From Kitimat, B.C.
Sandesh Hayer, 28
From Duncan, B.C.
Madhu Brar was touched by all
the romantic details that her
boyfriend, Sandesh “Sandy”
Hayer, included in their New Year’s
Eve date — there were flowers,
candy, candlelight and dinner at a
classy downtown restaurant — but
she was a little puzzled by his
behaviour.
“He was acting really weird and I
remember thinking what is wrong
with him tonight? He was so tense
and on edge,” she recalls. “When
yet another awkward moment of
silence went by I was just about to
ask him what his problem was that
night. That was when he got down
on one knee and proposed.”
She accepted and he slipped a
custom-designed ring onto her finger.
But by the time the wedding was
a few days away, the couple were
feeling a little overwhelmed by all
Astrological sign:
Occupation:
Hobbies:
Pet Peeves:
What they say
about each other:
Her
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Sports, hanging out with friends
Clutter, traffic
“He’s handsome, smart, funny
and outgoing.”
the details that demanded their
attention.
“A couple of days before the wedding,
we were both so stressed with
all the running around and having
family telling us that this had to be
done or don’t forget to do that,”
recalls Madhu. “We were talking
about it all and at the same time we
said, ‘Let’s take off to Vegas!’
“We actually contemplated that
until Sandy’s mother overheard the
conversation and yelled at us: ‘Don’t
you dare!’”
In the end, despite all the prewedding
pressure, they were both
glad they hadn’t taken the Las Vegas
route but were surrounded by family
and friends on the most memorable
day of their lives.
“If we were to pick one moment
that it all sunk in, it was the drive to
the park to take pictures,” says
Sandy. “We were husband and wife!”
“We just kept giving each other
glances and even though neither of
us said anything, we knew how each
other felt: truly happy,” says Madhu.
The newlyweds began their honeymoon
with a week in Whistler
before embarking on a Caribbean
cruise where they combined
romance with a little danger.
“We swam with — and got to
hold — sharks, and had the best
time,” says Madhu.
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MEHFIL September 2004 63

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WEDDINGS
June
2004
Preena Sandhu, 27
From Surrey, B.C.
Paul Sahota, 27
From Surrey, B.C.
Soon after Paul Sahota and Preena
Sandhu walked into the same chemistry
lab during their first year at the
University of British Columbia, they discovered
that test tubes and chemicals weren’t the
only kind of chemistry they’d be dealing with.
“We were lab partners assigned by our last
names and we spilled a lot of acid and ruined
a lot of experiments because we were more
focused on getting to know each other rather
than completing our assignments,” says Paul.
“We joke that we had a type of ‘chemistry’
even then,” adds Preena. “We became best
friends over the next three years and by the
time we were graduating with our BSc
degrees, we knew we would have a future
together. Our friendship evolved into a love
that we cherish today.”
The two medical students picked the wedding
date well in advance so they could enjoy
their big day during a lull in their busy schedules.
“Although we had our thaaka two years
prior, when Paul was in first year of medical
school, neither of us was prepared to be married
until this year,” says Preena.
Wanting to wear the same kind of traditional
bridal attire that the women in her family
had worn for generations, Preena entrusted
the details to her mother and grandmother.
“I grew up with my Biji and mother telling us
stories of how the daughters in our family
used to look at their wedding ceremonies all
the way back to their days in Pakistan and I
wanted to continue the family tradition,” she
says. “I basically left my entire wedding outfit
in the hands of my mother and grandmother.
It took a while, but I feel lucky that they put so
much love into my wedding. I’m also lucky
that Paul was so cooperative in my helping
with his outfit.”
The couple chose an outdoor setting —in
the garden at the Aston Pacific Hotel in White
Rock — for their traditional Sikh wedding. As
Preena waited in a room with her bridesmaids,
Paul arrived on a horse. “My bridesmaids,
who were watching his arrival, told me
he looked like a raja,” recalls Preena. “They
were peering over the balcony, narrating the
whole event, making me more anxious to see

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him since I had not seen him in
his complete outfit to date. When I
actually sat down and looked to
my right, I felt so happy. Paul
looked like everything I imagined
he would.”
Her groom was just as delighted
with her. “Preena was the most
beautiful bride I had ever seen. My
little nieces thought she was a
princess, and I thought so, too.”
After the ceremony, Preena’s
brothers carried her from her parents’
home in a doli. “The doli
ceremony was so heartfelt I couldn’t
help but cry,” says Preena. “My
parents wished me well in such a
touching way that I’ll never forget
it. Furthermore, as my doli arrived
Astrological sign:
Occupation:
Her
Taurus
UBC medical student
Career Goals:
“To become a good doctor
in whatever field I choose.”
Travelling, shopping, skiing,
Hobbies:
playing basketball.
Pet Peeves: Hypocrites
What they say “Paul is friendly, caring,
about each other: fun and honest.”
Keys to a happy
relationship:
at Paul’s driveway, his entire family
welcomed me by throwing
flowers on my doli as we neared
the doorway. It made me feel so
welcomed and cherished in his
family.”
“The whole day was memorable
for me,” adds Paul. “From
my uncle from India tying my turban
in the morning to the doli at
Preena’s house to our reception
night. However, one thing I’ll
never forget will be how amazing
Preena looked. I’ve never seen
anyone carry themselves the way
she was able to.”
The newlyweds honeymooned
at several resorts in Jamaica and
today live in Surrey.
Him
Scorpio
MD, anesthesiology resident
“If I still have the energy after
specializing in anesthesia, a fellowship
in intensive care medicine.”
Playing hockey, skiing, and X-box
Dishonesty
“Preena is funny, charismatic,
loving and sincere.”
Mutual respect, understanding, communication
and a sense of humour about life.
Want to share your story? Email a photo along with your contact
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MEHFIL September 2004 65

BEAUTY
Fab to be
Flamboyant
After a long, hot summer that
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To complement fall fashions
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Reflecting fall’s flamboyant
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This Fall
Sultry Pop Star:
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Smooth a creamy foundation
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For neutral, shimmery eyes,
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(continued on page 68)
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BEAUTY
(continued from page 66)
blush or a golden peach blush and
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For glossy metallic lips, use an
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Classic
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Sure, Gwen is a platinum
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CUISINE
Susie Grewal | Pam Gosal
Honeymoon & Holiday Specialist
Glassy Junction Bar & Grill serves up more than drinks.
A Classy Indian Bar & Grill
604-527-4211
7616-6th Street, Burnaby
Fax: 604-527-4177
Sukhi Sanghe
Real Estate/Development
• Residential
• Commercial
Mortgage Financing
604-240-3485
Broker/Lender fees may apply
Don’t be misled by the words “bar
and grill” on the sign outside
Surrey’s Glassy Junction. It may
be a bar and grill, but owner Jazz Grewal
offers his customers more than just a variety
of draft beers and the usual bar
snacks.
“We wanted to do something a little
different,” says Grewal, who has been in
the restaurant industry for close to 20
years. “The idea of an Indian bar and grill
has a lot of appeal and is fairly common
in England.”
And judging by the bustling atmosphere
during lunch, the six-month-old
restaurant seems to be a hit with Indians
and non-Indians alike.
With more than 80 items on the
menu, Grewal and his staff serve everything
from spicy appetizers to exotic
Indian dishes — including several types
of kebabs — as well as fish, shrimp and
mixed grills.
The restaurant’s two chefs received
training from two of the best known
chefs in the Indian subcontinent. Chef B.
Heer, who has twenty years of experience,
was trained by master chef P.L. Sharma
and worked with him for former Prime
Minister Indira Gandhi. Tandoori chef
Abdul Qayum Chaudhry was trained by
renowned Pakistani chef Kari Shabade.
In addition to the impressive menu,
the fully licensed restaurant boasts ten
beers on tap, six televisions and two projector
screens for entertainment and a
seating capacity of 175. Coming soon is
an outdoor patio with a live barbeque
and clay oven.
“People like the variety and the atmosphere,”
says Grewal. “We want this to be
a place where people can come and have
a great time, relax and enjoy some good
food.”
Karahi Chicken (Serves 4)
1 tbsp fresh garlic paste • 1 tbsp fresh ginger paste
1/ 2 medium size tomato cubed
1 medium sized onion largely chopped
1lb chicken thighs, boneless
1 tbsp soy sauce • 1 tsp salt
1/ 2 tsp green chillies • 1/ 2 tsp garam masala
1 tbsp canola oil • 1/ 4 tsp dry cumin
1/ 4 tsp dry coriander
Method
In a 12 inch frying pan add canola oil. Next add dry
coriander and cumin. Stir for 5 to 10 seconds and
add chopped onion. Cook the onion until lightly
browned. Add fresh garlic and ginger pastes. Then
add chicken thighs. Stir well for one minute. Add
soy sauce, salt, fresh green chillies and garam
masala. Cook at medium heat for about five minutes,
covered. Add cubed tomato and cover again
for an additional five minutes, stirring occasionally.
Once chicken is cooked, pour into bowl and decorate
with fresh chopped coriander and ginger.
70 MEHFIL September 2004

Serving Vancouver’s West Side with Fine indian Cuisine
“I thought I’d died
and gone to heaven
when I paid a
visit to Maurya.”
— Robert Mines
The Westender
604-742-0622
1643 West Broadway
Vancouver
Dining Room • Patio • Banquet Facilities
Open 7 Days a Week
Call for Off-Site Catering services for your special occasions
THE CRITICS’ CHOICE
There is only one...
Original
TANDOORI
Indian Cuisine
SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1987
689 East 65th Ave. (at Fraser)
Vancouver • 327-8900
7548 - 120th St., Surrey
604-592-8900
ORIGINAL TANDOORI & CHAT HOUSE
7233 Fraser St., Vancouver
604-327-8901
TANDOORI GRILL
201 - 4368 Main St., Whistler
604-905-4900
HANDI KING
110 - 3790 Canada Way, Burnaby
604-430-1600
Sharnjit
Chef/Owner
Fully Licensed • Eat in • Take Out • Delivery • Catering • Open 7 Days a Week
Classy Indian food in a classy atmosphere
Chilli Kebob, Malai Kebob, Haryali Shish Kebob
Curry in a Hurry-Goat, Lamb, Chicken
Kulcha Chana, Karahi Paneer
The finest selection of drinks!
Super Class Catering
Out of 320 Items at
Very Reasonable
Prices.
On site catering available for Birthdays,
Anniversaries and Office Parties.
#101 - 7577 King George Hwy, Surrey
604-591-7979

HEALTH & FITNESS
by Shefali Raja, B.Sc., RD Community Nutritionist
DR. H.S. BHANGU
Lunches
THAT MAKE THE GRADE
EYE EXAMS GLASSES CONTACTS
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8966-120TH ST.
(NEAR PENNY’S PRODUCE)
604-592-5480 604-588-3937
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Education and healthy eating are
inextricably linked. Good nutrition
contributes to improved
attendance and increased concentration
at school. Following are tips on creating a
healthy and delicious lunch.
For some variety, use whole grain pita
pockets, bagels, wraps and Wasa or
Ryvita crackers to prepare sandwiches,
instead of bread. Try bite-size versions for
younger children.
Cook an extra large ham, chicken or
roast so that leftovers can be used to make
sandwiches. Be creative with your sandwich
fillings — try hummus with grated
carrot, tuna with sliced apple and raisins,
lower fat cheese with cucumber and
sprouts, egg salad with ketchup.
Leftovers such as lasagna, chili, burritos,
stew, casserole or hot soup make a
great lunch, especially on a cold day.
As part of a complete lunch, include
foods such as fruits or vegetables and
items such as low-fat yogurt, light cheese
strings, nuts and seeds, pretzels, small
muffins and natural granola bars. Keep
in mind that most Canadians do not get
the recommended five to 10 servings of
vegetables and fruits a day.
Crunchy vegetables and fruits such as
carrot sticks, celery and apples are also a
great finish to a meal and will help keep
teeth clean. Eating a piece of cheese after
a meal can also help to protect against
cavities. Rinsing with water after eating is
also recommended when brushing is not
practical.
Beverages can also contribute to a
healthy lunch. Try different juices that
are 100 per cent juice. Check the ingredient
list and avoid drinks that contain
sugar on the list. (Even juices that don’t
contain added sugar are high in natural
sugar, so limit the amount of juice to one
to one and a half cups per day.) Milk is a
good option; studies show that children
who drink milk at school are more likely
to meet their calcium needs than kids
72 MEHFIL September 2004

who don’t. Keep in mind that skimmed
or partly skimmed (1 %) milk has all the
nutrients of whole milk without the
extra calories and fat. Lastly, water with
ice and lemon or just on its own is always
a wise choice.
Lunch-packing tips
Involve children in preparing their own
lunches. Kids are more likely to eat their
lunch if they have a say in the types of
foods included and if they helped to prepare
and pack it.
To keep the lunch bacteria free, start
with washed hands, clean counters and
clean utensils. Include a freezer pack or a
frozen juice pack to keep foods cold. For
hot foods, foods should be steaming hot
before they go into the thermos. Do not
use leftover foods that are more than one
day old. Don’t forget to wash fruits and
veggies before packing them.
Include at least three of the four food
groups in the lunch to ensure nutritional
needs are met. A balanced lunch will
help sustain energy and alertness
throughout the afternoon.
Cut vegetables and fruit into stick,
slices, quarters and wedges ahead of time
to save time while packing lunch.
Use reusable plastic containers for
sandwiches and other lunch foods. This
makes packing lunches quick and easy,
preserves your food and is better for the
environment than disposable containers.
Use cloth or nylon bags, thermal bags or
lunch boxes instead of paper or plastic
bags.
Place heavy food in the bottom of the
lunch pack to avoid crushing other lunch
items.
Teach children to wash their hands
before eating.
For some children, food allergies can
be very serious. Check with your child’s
teacher about foods to be avoided in
your child’s classroom.
Did you know children often have
less than 20 minutes to eat lunch at
school? For younger children with smaller
appetites, keep portions small; peel
fruit when possible and cut up foods into
bite-sized pieces.
A secret note, sticker or cartoon with
lunch is a nice treat.
Throw away perishable food that is
not eaten at lunch. Do not reuse wrappings
such as plastic wraps and sandwich
bags.
Foods to think twice about
A growing number of Canadian children
are overweight. You can help your children
from putting on extra, unhealthy
outdoor
escapes
After a long, cold winter it’s great to be able to escape from inside our homes. Most of us take
great pleasure in manicuring our lawns, pruning our trees and bushes, and planting colourful
annuals in our flowerbeds and containers. To beautify and protect the stucco, trim and
entryways of your home, choose incredibly moisture
resistant Benjamin Moore Collection Exterior Paint,
available in a wide variety of exquisite colours.
Actual colours may not appear exactly as shown.
www.benjaminmoore.ca
Fleetwood Paint & Decorating
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Surrey, BC V3S 2W4
Tel: 604-572-6607 • Fax: 604-572-6390
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#7-1300 Woolridge Street
Coquitlam, BC V3K 6Y6
Tel: 604-520-6637
Ceiling: 2143-30 olive branch Mouldings: CC-240 late wheat Walls: Old World Wash – 2153-40 cork, 2148-10 foot hills, 2140-20 tuscany green
Furniture courtesy of DeBoer’s (905) 669-9455, DeBoerStudio (416) 630-5369, www.deboers.com, HomeSense 1-866-466-3707, The Robert Allen Group – Canada 1-800-363-3020,
Balmer Architectural Mouldings www.balmer.com Actual colours may not appear exactly as shown.
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604-328-3566
Gogi Sangha
604-377-1852
405 - 12507 80TH AVE, SURREY
604-590-1449
MEHFIL September 2004 73

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pounds by avoiding packing items such
as chips, chocolate bars and snack cakes
in their lunches. Leftovers, as we mentioned
can make a great lunch but don’t
make pizza, which tends to be high in
fat, a regular lunch item. Smaller children,
who have smaller tummies, may fill
up on these types of foods and miss out
on good nutrition.
Keep in mind that pop, fruit punches,
fruit cocktails, Fruitopia beverages,
iced tea with sugar and other sweet
drinks may contain less than 10 per cent
real juice and up to nine teaspoons of
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added sugar.
Products like Lunchables and
Lunchmates can contain 300 to 600
calories and up to nine teaspoons of fat
— not to mention they’re high in salt
and contain no fibre. They also cost
more to buy than a homemade lunch.
Fruit Roll-ups, Fruit Snacks, Fruit by
the Foot and similar products are candy
in disguise. Don’t be fooled by the packaging,
which tends to feature lots of pictures
of fruit and claims that these products
are made with real fruit. In fact, they
contain a small amount of fruit and the
fist thing on the list of ingredients is
almost always a form of sugar.
Granola bars coated with chocolate or
containing chocolate chips or marshmallows
are poor snack choices as they are
high in fat and sugar.
Dry instant soup noodles and mini
snacks are high in fat and salt and low in
nutrients.
Keep the above tips in mind when
buying your lunch from the school cafeteria
or the vending machine.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with
enjoying an occasional treat, which will
not ruin an otherwise healthy diet. In
fact, a treat once in a while will actually
help to develop a healthy and moderate
approach to eating. ❐
74 MEHFIL September 2004

Q&A: Veterinary Controversy
(continued from page 61)
unusual, they’re highly common and in fact
most organizations have them. Most professions
have them and most academic institutions
have them. You have to pass an
English competency test to get into university
to be a nurse, a dentist, a pharmacist.
The second point is that . . . when we ask
for 55 out of 60, we’re not even looking at a
level comparable to a native speaker, we’re
just looking for something comparable to
communicate effectively to the wide array of
people you have to deal with in your day-today
practice.
MM: The foreign veterinarians say
that no other veterinarians’ association
in Canada has a similar English
proficiency test requirement and the
BCVMA is the only one. What is your
response?
VO: Ultimately this is purely about protection
of the public and the animals, that’s the
prime obligation of the regulatory body as
well as the profession. That’s all what this is
about.
MM: What is your response to the
legal action launched against the
BCVMA?
VO: We are confident that this measure is
absolutely sound in law and policy and I am
not in a position to comment on any lawsuit.
Dr. Hakam Bhullar, owner of Atlas
Animal Clinic in Vancouver and a
founding member of the Foreign
Veterinary Graduates Association.
Mehfil Magazine: What is the nature
of the complaint the foreign-trained
veterinarians have against the B.C.
Veterinary Medical Association?
Dr. Hakam Bhullar: In all over Canada no
other province requires an English exam if
you study the science of veterinary in
English. The bad thing is that the test of spoken
English, they’re demanding a score of 93
per cent. This is quite high for any person
who has English as a second language . . .
You need this kind of score (93 per cent on
the oral English exam) if you are a CBC
announcer on radio or TV. In the Veterinarian
Act, chapter 476, if the member knows sufficient
English, then he can work as a vet.
MM: Why do you think the BCVMA
instituted the new English requirement?
HB: The association is basically trying to
block new doctors from coming into the
province because most of the Indo-Canadian
vets have low-cost clinics. ❐
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MEHFIL September 2004 75

Shifting Gears
by Veeno Dewan
The British make some of the best 4x4
SUVS in the world, namely by Land
Rover. The company’s Defender,
Discovery, Range Rover and Freelander
four-wheelers have been winning accolades,
respect and admiration for years.
The latest Discovery is definitely one of
the most striking looking sport utility
vehicles available in Canada. It’s a typically
British approach to SUV design — more
stiff-upper- lipped and evolutionary than
smarty-pants revolutionary. The slopes and
shape of the Discovery’s A pillars, the narrow
high fuselage and high stance are reminiscent
of the Range Rover but it’s more a
lithe athletic sprinter than its brawny bigshouldered
sibling. New high-tech jewel
front lights and a groovy looking new grill
jazz up the front end. It’s a distinctive, elegant
looking profile with its cute narrow
skylights and twin sunroofs. Its British all
right — understated, classic and conservative.
Model prices range from $49,000 for
2004 Landrover Discovery SE
the well-equipped S and SE models to
$57,300 for the very well-equipped HSE
model. Special Trail editions, with options
such as special driving lamps, brush
guards, rear roof access ladder, running
boards and badges, are also available.
Technical Summary
The Discovery comes with the new 4.6-
litre V8. It’s a cast aluminum 90-degree
unit that puts out 217 horsepower at
4750rpm. Also new is a smooth-shifting
ZF four-speed automatic transmission
with a torque converter. This transmission
provides permanent four-wheel drive with
ETC (electronic traction control). Variable
high and low range gear ratios maintain
the Land Rover’s legendary reputation for
off-roading and also help its mud-plugging
abilities. A 31-degree angle of approach
and a 21- to 25-degree angle of departure
on slopes allow for a good margin of safety
in hilly areas. The famous downhill
descent control means safe and controlled
maneuvering when negotiating slippery
slopes. Brakes are four-wheel discs allaround
with four-channel ABS.
Classy Interior
Discovery interiors are striking, with the
attractive feel and, most importantly, smell
of real leather. Why is it only the British
seem to do leather interiors so well? Many
storage bins and cubbyholes up front. I
liked the over-sized cup holders that are
logically placed so you don’t ever spill liquid
on the seats or around the front console.
The instruments are typically British
— on the small side, illuminated green at
night and a little idiosyncratic in placement.
The tall, high cabin has the best visibility
of any SUV I have ever driven. Big
windows all around, twin sunroofs and the
skylights mean an interior flooded with
light. There is ample headroom and decent
legroom up front. Optional third-row seats
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15291 FRASER HWY, SURREY • 604-583-7421
76 MEHFIL September 2004

that face front and even have their own
neat headrests are also available, but are
more suited to children. The rear cargo
hatch is accessed by a right-side-opening
tailgate that allows access to a decent 40.5
cubic feet of cargo with the rear seats up
and a capacious 63.3 cubic feet of space
with seats folded.
Standard equipment levels are very
high and include dual-zone climate control,
steering- mounted controls, twin sunroofs,
AM FM /CD stereo, power windows,
power steering, tilt wheel and cruise
control. Options include a premium
Phillips 12-speaker audio system with a
six-disc CD changer, handy rear hydraulic
step, rear AC, self-levelling suspension and
a wide-screen DVD display and player.
The slick interior drew admiring oohs and
ahhs from all who glimpsed it.
Driving Impressions
Acceleration is very quick on the mark,
the engine is a strong and willing performer
and ample torque comes on early
in the mid-range of the tach. The engine
feels bulletproof and more than adequate
for the job of hauling the Discovery
around. The tall, boxy shape is surprisingly
agile and stable on the road despite
what looks like a high center of gravity.
Handling on normal roads is reassuring
and safe. Brakes are easy modulated with a
nice progressive feel. On a little off-road
track I know, the Discovery sailed through
large bumps, potholes and some tricky
dips with aplomb. I know the Discovery is
very much at home in whatever conditions
Mother Nature can throw at it. It’s
an SUV that puts its money where its
mouth is and is still unbeatable off-road.
It’s expensive but sophisticated. Those
superior off-road capabilities are well
worth the money for those who appreciate
performance, quality, value and good
taste.
2004 Land Rover Discovery: from
$49,500 - $57,300
Honda
Buying
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LOUIS SARGEANT
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604-278-3185
CELL: 604-506-3729
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13800 Smallwood Place, Richmond
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604-526-4566
MEHFIL September 2004 77

REFLECTIONS
SARDUL
SINGH
GILL
Sardul Singh Gill was 16
years old when
Canadians of Indian
descent won the right to vote
in 1947. “Up to that point in
time, I think most Asians didn’t
feel secure here at all,” says
Gill, who was born and raised
in Victoria.
“They worked here but
purchased land in India or
other places because they were
afraid the day would come
when the same thing that happened
to the Japanese — who
were packed up in trains and
sent to camps in the Interior
during the war — could happen
to Indians. Up to that
point in time, very few people
in the Indian community built
any property around here
because they felt they would
be left high and dry if they
were asked to leave. When we
got our voting rights, people
felt more secure and I myself
encouraged my father, who had been living
here since 1906, not to buy more
property in India but to establish himself
here.”
After graduating from high school in
Victoria, Gill opted not to get a job in a
sawmill, which was the route taken by
many of his Indo-Canadian peers, but to
go to college to pursue a degree in commerce.
(Gill’s sister, Birinder, also attended
university, eventually becoming a
teacher.) Although Gill’s parents encouraged
his ambitions, others were less supportive.
“I remember one counsellor in high
school telling me I should go into
mechanics instead,” recalls Gill. “And
Sardul Singh and Amar Kaur were married in 1955 in Vancouver.
some friends and relatives tried to discourage
my father from sending me to
school. I think they thought I’d end up
back in the sawmill anyway because
that’s where most people ended up.”
After graduating from the University
of British Columbia in 1956 with a BA,
Gill found a job with Revenue Canada.
“There were better jobs in the oil industry
and other places but there was less
discrimination in the government,” says
Gill. “Private industry wasn’t much of an
option when I was young. I remember
one company telling me straight to my
face that I might not fit in. I got the gist
of that — they didn’t want to hire me
because of my colour.”
Gill says he’s happy to see that Indo-
Canadians no longer face the level of discrimination
that he did. “There was
racial discrimination back then much
more so than there is now. It was overt,
whereas now it’s probably more subtle.
“People today have much more
opportunity. You can pretty well get a job
anywhere and a lot more people have
their own businesses in different areas. In
my time, there was just the lumber
industry.”
Sardul Gill left his job as a supervisor at Revenue
Canada in 1986, after 30 years, to focus on managing
his apartment blocks and commercial properties.
He and his wife, Amar, are the parents of four —
three sons who live in Victoria and one daughter who
lives in Surrey.
78 MEHFIL September 2004

Chaggar & Company
BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS
Criminal Law • Civil Litigation • Personal Injury (ICBC) • Business Law
Tax Litigation • Immigration • Real Estate Transactions
#405 - 5050 Kingsway Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5H 4C2 • 604-434-2400
chaggar&company@telus.net

Bringing You The
Flavours
of India
NOW OPEN IN
CALGARY
5075 Falconridge Blvd, NE
403-590-1611
“Just because you come
from a country that’s far
away doesn’t mean you
have to give up things you
enjoyed in your homeland.
At Fruiticana it’s our
privilege to bring you the
foods you love. That’s why
each Fruiticana location is
stocked with your favourite
products even those hard
to find products from
countries like India,
Pakistan, Fiji and many
more. For us it’s more than
just nostalgia for the place
you left behind. It’s about
enjoying the great taste of
home.”
Tony Singh
Founder & President
Fruiticana
FRUITS & VEGETABLES
Surrey/Newton
604-590-2080
#17 - 13775 72nd Ave.
Surrey
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9196 - 160th St.
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604-588-6620
12855 - 96th Ave.
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604-502-0005
101 - 12758 - 80th Ave.
Abbotsford
Port Coquitlam
604-864-9193 80 MEHFIL August 2003 604-464-0822
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