![The South Asian inspiration Awards. The SAIA Awards will honour men, women and youth who are ordinary people with extraordinary lives/experiences from or impacting the South Asian community as role models and will use the gender-neutral positive platform of celebration to create a dialogue on gender equality/equity.](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/SAIA-LogotypeAchieve-Excel-Inspire-08.png)
2022 Award Winners
2022 Award Winners Reception held March 26, 2023 gallery.
2022 CANADIAN INSPIRATION
Presented by Her Honour, The Honourable Lieutenant Governor, Salma Lakhani
![2022 CANADIAN INSPIRATION Winner Nav Bathia
Thank You to the South Asian Community in Calgary, nominees, sponsors and attendees who support SAIA!](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/NAV-BHATIA-WITH-THE-LT-GOVERNOR-1024x892.jpg)
NAV BHATIA
Most of us know him as the Sardarji courtside at Toronto Raptors’ home, Nav Bhatia—the Official Raptors’ Superfan is our Canadian Inspiration award winner.
Mr. Bhatia came to Canada in the early 1980’s when the conditions in India were becoming intolerable for Sikhs. Despite being a highly qualified mechanical engineer, he could not find work in his field, and instead started work at a car dealership – this is a history that resonates with many of our community members. He was so motivated to succeed that he became top salesperson within months and then went on to buy the dealership!
At the core, he is a family and community man, devoted husband, cherished father of daughter and respected member of the community.
We are proud to celebrate Mr. Bhatia with the Canadian Inspiration award—for his good will and promotion of diversity in sport, his philanthropy in sending thousands of children to Raptors games every year, and for creating the Superfan Foundation, which unites people through their love of sport.
2022 INSPIRATIONAL PIONEER
Presented by Her Honour, The Honourable Lieutenant Governor, Salma Lakhani
![2022 INSPIRATIONAL PIONEER Winner HARCHET SINGH HARI
Thank You to the South Asian Community in Calgary, nominees, sponsors and attendees who support SAIA!](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/02-Harchet-Singh-Gill-1024x692.jpg)
HARCHET SINGH HARI
Harchet Singh Hari was born in Panjab in 1925. He arrived with his grandmother, Bibi Khem Kaur, in Vancouver aboard the Empress of Canada in 1932 at the age of 7. They made their way to Calgary by train, and joined Harnam Singh, Ojagar Singh and Sujan Kaur, and the fledgling Hari family on their farm in the Kingsland district of Calgary. In Calgary, Harchet Singh attended Glenmore school that was located just off the family farm. As the eldest son, Harchet Singh worked on the family farm. Later, he shared his time between Calgary and other family relatives in Kamloops and in other parts of British Columbia. Harchet Singh was among the earliest and youngest person of Sikh heritage to arrive in Alberta. He and his family have left an indelible mark on the history of Calgary and the history of the province.
2022 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Presented by Her Honour, The Honourable Lieutenant Governor, Salma Lakhani
![2022 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT Winner DR. MANU DUA (June 27, 1986 – March 14, 2021)
Accepting the award on his behalf was his sister Parul Dua Makkar
Thank You to the South Asian Community in Calgary, nominees, sponsors and attendees who support SAIA!](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/03-Dr-Manu-Dua-Parul-Dua-Makkar-1024x691.jpg)
DR. MANU DUA
June 27, 1986 – March 14, 2021
Accepting the award on his behalf was his sister Parul Dua Makkar
Dr. Manu Dua was a dentist who through a cruel twist of fate passed away from oral cancer. As he faced his own mortality at the age of 34, he reflected on life and wrote a series of blogs, which is now a book called Life Interrupted, Dr. Dua’s Survival Guide.
- He started Montgomery Dental in 2019 and was awarded Best Dentist of Montgomery in 2020.
- He was actively involved in the dental community and greater Calgary community where he volunteered dental services to CUPS and travelled to Peru for mission trips.
- He reduced his fees so patients could access necessary dental care.
- He mentored young people, especially South Asian youth interested in pursuing a career in his field.
Dr. Dua passed away in March 2021, but left behind his words of wisdom. “The dark but beautiful side of facing your mortality at an early age is that you realize that death is the only ever-present factor and it respects no boundaries. The sooner we come to terms with this fact, the faster we can embrace our inner self and take full advantage of the precious years we may have left.”
![2022 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT Winner SUKHDEV SINGH KHERA (October 11, 1934 - October 31, 2020)
Accepting the award on his behalf, Virinderjit Singh Bhatti
Thank You to the South Asian Community in Calgary, nominees, sponsors and attendees who support SAIA!](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/04-Sukhdev-Singh-Khera-Virinderjit-Singh-Bhatti-1024x691.jpg)
SUKHDEV SINGH KHERA
October 11, 1934 – October 31, 2020
Accepting the award on his behalf, Virinderjit Singh Bhatti
Mr. Khera passed away in October 2020, having spent his 86 years as a true sevadar working to reduce barriers and increase access to services for countless people.
- He immigrated to Calgary from India in 1987, where he was a Delhi police officer for 14 years and studied to become a criminal lawyer. He practiced law there for 15 years.
- Upon arriving in Canada, he established the Dashmesh Culture Centre and took on the role of longstanding president where he mentored many young people, along with establishing the Dashmesh Culture Senior Citizens Society.
- Using his background as a lawyer he committed to improving access to justice and legal services, using his time and energy by providing South Asian seniors with assistance in all sorts of paperwork and resolving issues.
- He also continued to support folks in his home district of TarnTarn, by providing families with financial aid for medicine and health care, marriages of daughters and home repairs. He also established the Shir Guru Anga Charitable Hospital Khadoor Sahib, which helps the less fortunate.
- Most notably, one of his most proud achievements was winning a high-profile pension case, reinstating thousands of pension dollars for elderly residents in NE Calgary. This landmark case garnered him a public apology from the Government of Canada in 2017.
![2022 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT Winner AMAR SINGH MANGAT (May 26, 1935 - September 28, 2022)
Accepting the award on his behalf, his grandson, Gurvir Mangat
Thank You to the South Asian Community in Calgary, nominees, sponsors and attendees who support SAIA!](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/05-Amar-Singh-Mangat-Gurvir-Mangat-1024x691.jpg)
AMAR SINGH MANGAT
May 26, 1935 – September 28, 2022
Accepting the award on his behalf, his grandson, Gurvir Mangat
Amar Singh Mangat was a Kenyan Olympic field hockey player and active sevadar in the City of Calgary who passed away just this September at the age of 87.
- He was born in Naro Moro, Kenya in 1935 and was a lifelong field hockey player, starting with his school teams and eventually playing the for the Sikh Union Club Nairobi, one of the leading field hockey Clubs in Africa in the 1950’s.
- He represented Kenya as a member of Kenya’s Team at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games scoring three goals, with Kenya finishing sixth in the Games.
- Mr. Mangat immigrated to Canada in July 1969 and took up an active role in hockey, playing for Alberta in the National Championships from 1969 to 1972 and then becoming an umpire in 1976.
- He also organized sports day for the India Canada Association in 1970 representing the Sikh Society.
- He spent many years as an active sevadar as President of the Sikh Society Calgary and on the Board of Trustees.
- Up until the time of his passing, he was the oldest surviving Kenyan field hockey Olympian.
2022 COMMUNITY CRUSADER
Presented by George Chahal, MP and Danielle Aubry, SAIA Board Member
![2022 COMMUNITY CRUSADER Winner SANIA CHAUDHRY
Thank You to the South Asian Community in Calgary, nominees, sponsors and attendees who support SAIA!](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/06-Sania-Chaudhry-1024x691.jpg)
SANIA CHAUDHRY
Sania Chaudhry is a full-time lawyer in Calgary and is also a part-time student at the University of Calgary, Faculty of Law in their Masters of Law program, with her research focusing on critical race theory.
- She is a published writer, with her op-ed highlighting intersectionality and mental health in the legal profession recently published in the Globe and Mail along with having published other articles on equity, diversity and inclusion issues in the legal profession and elsewhere over the years.
- She is the Founder and Board Chair of the Alberta Chapter of the Canadian Muslim Lawyer’s Association, and just recently spoke on gendered Islamophobia.
- In 2022, she was appointed to the Alberta Anti-Racism Advisory Council.
- Throughout her young legal career, she has consistently sat on boards and committees, serving the legal and greater communities. She is currently President of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers – Western Chapter, a board member of Centre for Sexuality, and on the board of directors of the Canadian Bar Association Alberta Chapter, as well as sitting on no less than nine other committees, many working in the equity, diversity and inclusion space.
![2022 COMMUNITY CRUSADER Winner HUMAIRA FALAK
Thank You to the South Asian Community in Calgary, nominees, sponsors and attendees who support SAIA!](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/07-Humaira-Falak-1024x691.jpg)
HUMAIRA FALAK
For the past decade Humaira Falak publicly shared her story of overcoming the impact of domestic abuse and building a successful life.
- Not only does she have a demanding role as Program Coordinator for Action Dignity Society, she is a full-time mom of two daughters and part-time student working to complete her Masters in Interdisciplinary Studies.
- She led the Community-Based Primary Prevention Initiative and the Healthy Relationships Program promoting grassroots strategies to address gender-based violence.
- She is also the co- chair for Ethno-Culturally Diverse working group of Calgary Domestic Violence Collective and a member of Trauma Informed Collective and Calgary Alliance for Common Good. She has volunteered with the United Way, Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association, Women Centre, Calgary Seniors’ Resource Society and many ethno-cultural organizations.
- Due to her incredible professional and personal contributions, she became the face of Calgary United Way’s, “What Local Good Looks Like” and was declared an “Inspired Albertan” by CTV Calgary.
Humaira is an in-demand public speaker who has spoken on various platform on issues impacting racialized communities across the city.
![2022 COMMUNITY CRUSADER Winner AMANPREET SINGH GILL
Thank You to the South Asian Community in Calgary, nominees, sponsors and attendees who support SAIA!](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/08-Amanpreet-Singh-Gill-1024x691.jpg)
AMANPREET SINGH GILL
Amanpreet Singh Gill was President of Dashmesh Culture Centre (DCC) from 2019-2022. He brought in a new and refreshing era of community building and advancement.
- In three short years, he set into motion many initiatives quickly and effectively with a long-term vision to look into the future with a view to taking action in the present.
- Under his tenure, the DCC embarked upon two critical capital asset projects – the expansion of the main Gurudwara building to accommodate community resources and then eventually the planning and fundraising of the long overdue Mata Sahib Kaur Ji Women and Children’s Transitional Housing Project.
- He spear-headed a long list of community collaborations to support not only the Sikh-South Asian communities but the greater Calgary community. Some of these are
- No Hungry Tummy Initiative;
- DCC Food Bank;
- COVID-19 Vaccinations at DCC;
- retrofitting of the old fire house which is currently located at the site of the Transitional Housing Project to the south side of DCC to provide the space for community services;
- helping elders through inclusion and technology;
- Khalsa School Grounds; and many others.
- His leadership has increased the visibility of the Dashmesh Culture Centre which has a lasting impact for the collaborations and relationships in the South Asian community and greater Calgary community.
Amanpreet is a small business owner, running an excavating company and with his wife is raising two young children.
![2022 COMMUNITY CRUSADER Winner SYED HASSAN
Thank You to the South Asian Community in Calgary, nominees, sponsors and attendees who support SAIA!](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/09-Syed-Hassan-1024x691.jpg)
SYED HASSAN
As a new immigrant to Canada in 2009, Syed encountered some challenges while completing his MBA. After overcoming his own challenges, he decided to help others who may be facing similar challenges.
- He started by training new immigrants and others in the art of job searching and when he saw the range of different issues immigrants and seniors faced, he expanded his community service to gatherings for various celebrations for seniors and the homeless, distribution of winter clothing drives, Coffee with Seniors and delivery of fresh food to struggling families.
- He is the President of non-profit organization, Love with Humanity Association, with a mission of reaching out to all regardless of racial, religious and ethnic background.
- He has also started three very successful initiative
- the Multicultural Outdoor Library started in 2018 on his own front lawn, has grown to 26 physical library structures across various neighbourhoods in Alberta;
- the community outdoor food banks started in 2019, again on his front lawn, with the motto “take a blessing, leave a blessing” has grown to nine outdoor food banks;
- the new clothing food bank was started this year to help new immigrants, refugees and struggling families facing a variety of economic pressures.
2022 Still going strong
Presented by Gurmit Sarpal, Community Member and Balwinder Marwaha, SAIA Board Member
![2022 Still going strong Winner ROSSBINA NATHOO
Thank You to the South Asian Community in Calgary, nominees, sponsors and attendees who support SAIA!](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/10-Rossbina-Nathoo-1024x690.jpg)
ROSSBINA NATHOO
Rossbina Nathoo is the founder of Focus on Seniors, a volunteer run organization which she started in January 2007 as a grass-root initiative supporting 50+ adults in NE Calgary.
- Focus on Seniors gained popularity and momentum with its innovative “spiral engagement approach” and was incorporated as a non-profit organization in July 2011. With Rossbina’s strong leadership and driven group of strong supporters, they are doing a lot with minimal funding.
- They are committed to making a difference in the lives of isolated and vulnerable seniors all across Calgary, leading social support projects for seniors in the South Asian Community and collaborating with various organizations all across the city.
- She has been instrumental in informing service delivery for racialized seniors as she understands their unique challenges and barriers including providing services to the South Asian Seniors in different languages, understanding the cultural lens, and connecting them with the relevant resources.
- She has done some truly amazing work in bridging the gaps between mainstream service providers and racialized seniors, actively reaching out to vulnerable seniors and has been providing them with much needed social supports.
- Rossbina says she has been trying to bring about a transformational change in the lives of marginalized seniors by advocating for them on various platforms – and what we see is that she is not only trying but absolutely succeeding.
![2022 Still going strong Winner DR. S LAL MATTU
Thank You to the South Asian Community in Calgary, nominees, sponsors and attendees who support SAIA!](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/11-Dr-S-Lal-Mattu-1024x689.jpg)
DR. S LAL MATTU
Dr. S Lal Mattu was born in India and raised in Kenya. He completed his B.Sc; M.Ed and Phd in Psychology.
- Like many East Africans of South Asian origins, his father always told him that “education” was the road to greater things in life.
- He is a pioneer in many meanings of that word. Being one for the few South Asians in Alberta in 1967, he formulated programs for educating students with learning disabilities, which did not exist.
- In 1992 he decided to open his own private school for children with special needs, the Third Academy, which has now been in operation for over 25 years and has 195 students.
- Dr. Mattu has been a principal leader in helping Universities to change the education program so that teachers can deal with students with disabilities. His work has been instrumental in our province and in our schools.
- He is also a specialist in providing psychological assessments to South Asian students experiencing difficulties in academic and social/emotional anxiety using a cultural lens and understanding. He has been a keynote speaker at the UN, Spokane and United States to talk on this subject.
- He is the President for Punjabi Council of Commerce, bringing businessmen and women together and organizing seminars with successful business owners in the city.
2022 RISING STAR
Presented by Nav Bhatia and Meenu Ahluwalia, SAIA Board Member
![2022 RISING STAR Winner HARVEER GILL
Thank You to the South Asian Community in Calgary, nominees, sponsors and attendees who support SAIA!](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/12-Harveer-Gill-1024x689.jpg)
HARVEER GILL
Harveer started her volunteer work as a 6-year-old serving food and water at a homeless shelter alongside her mom.
- It is no surprise that when she was 12-years old, she was the youngest and first ever South Asian female voted in as a Youth Ambassador for YouthLink’s Crime prevention summer campsby the camp leaders. Youthlink is an organization which educates and delivers crime prevention education to families and youth. As Ambassador, Harveer helps bridge gender gaps in the crime prevention space, hoping to inspire more of her peers to challenge themselves and learn about career paths that are not traditionally associated with their age, gender or background.
- Her first volunteer event was with KidsPlay Foundation, doing a Toy Drive at Dashmesh Culture Centre for children that couldn’t afford Christmas presents.
- She has been an active participant with KidsPlay Foundation since 2020, and has been volunteering with the Calgary Police Youth Foundation, Empower Magazine and CADETs – all initiatives dedicated to helping youth strive and reach their full potential and to steer youth from heading in the direction of a lifestyle of crime – which is her passion.
![2022 RISING STAR Winner KASHAF AMANULLAH
Thank You to the South Asian Community in Calgary, nominees, sponsors and attendees who support SAIA!](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/13-Kashaf-Amanullah-1024x689.jpg)
KASHAF AMANULLAH
Kashaf Aman is a third-year mind sciences student in the faculty of kinesiology with a minor in rehabilitation at the University of Calgary.
- In 2019, she established a non-profit called Sahal Association whose goal is to advocate for disparities such as domestic violence, mental health, child labour/marriage and raise funds for girl’s education in Pakistan, using social media platforms to raise awareness and by hosting regular events at the university and in the community to collect funds to support a school in Northern Pakistan called Outliers’ Secondary School for girls.
- Kashaf is also committed to raising mental health awareness and to destigmatizing mental issues by creating safe spaces and normalizing talking about mental health.
- She was involved in carrying out a research study with the Maskan Women’s Shelter focusing on women who experienced domestic violence and are now living in shelters.
- Kashaf’s next initiative, as a past athlete and athletic trainer, is to start a mental health club for athletes on campus in 2023.
- Kashaf will be starting research on neuropsychiatric disorders/neurobiology of chronic diseases this summer all with the goal of putting her research to work in reducing stigmas and obstacles faced by youth in the South Asian community.
- Alongside her academic and community work, Kashaf works as an optometric assistant and runs a small Arabic calligraphy business.
![2022 RISING STAR Winner HAZOOR CHANA
Thank You to the South Asian Community in Calgary, nominees, sponsors and attendees who support SAIA!](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/14-Hazoor-Chana-1024x693.jpg)
HAZOOR CHANA
Hazoor Singh Chana is our youngest recipient having turned 14 during the nomination period. He was born and raised in Calgary, and sports are his life.
- He plays minor hockey and strives for hockey excellence. e’s a leader on his hockey team and is committed to improving his skills and encouraging his fellow teammates.
- While Hazoor strives for and achieves academic excellence attending the Renert School where he is actively involved in the school community.
- He is also involved in the greater Calgary community, he actively volunteers in the community with the Roman Catholic Church Kids Against Hunger and the Dashmesh Culture Centre Food Bank.
- In addition to all of that, Hazoor is an entrepreneur. During the pandemic, he started a small business selling a home made chai blend that he learned to make after having many hot cups of chai with his Dadaji.
- When he does have spare time, he is an avid fan of the Calgary Flames, Toronto Blue Jays, and of course the Toronto Raptors – but he will watch any sport that has a score!
2022 OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN SPORTS
Presented by Nav Bhatia and Amtul Siddiqui, SAIA Selection Committee Member
![2022 OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN SPORTS Winner DAMPY BRAR
Thank You to the South Asian Community in Calgary, nominees, sponsors and attendees who support SAIA!](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/15-Dampy-Brar-1024x659.jpg)
DAMPY BRAR
Dampy Brar is the co-founder of Apna Hockey with Lali Toor from Edmonton.
- Apna Hockey was created in April 2017 and in the five years since, the Apna Hockey founders have volunteered with local food banks and food drives with various non-profits; donated their time on the ice under the Apna Hockey banner and advocated for anti-racism and gender equity in the game of ice hockey through conferences, public speaking and working with the media not only for social change in hockey but in our communities generally.
- Apna Hockey is the first South Asian hockey network representing the South Asian community in all things hockey which supports the development of professional, junior, minor and recreational hockey players across North America. Apna Hockey now works with NHL teams to create South Asian programming for youth in the community.
- Apna Hockey is the continuation of Dampy’s love of hockey, as Sportsnet write, Sonny Sachdeva recently wrote “After a legendary start in hockey in Sparwood, B.C., Dampy Brar played pro all over the U.S. But today, his true mission is teaching the South Asian community the game he loves – and teaching the hockey world about his community.”
- 2020 was a big year for Dampy and Apna Hockey as Apna Hockey received the coveted NHL Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award, being the first time South Asians won the award in its 100 year plus history and Dampy has been named one of 2020’s Most Compelling Calgarians.
![2022 OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN SPORTS Winner HARPAL SANDHU
Thank You to the South Asian Community in Calgary, nominees, sponsors and attendees who support SAIA!](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/16-Harpal-Sandhu-1024x715.jpg)
HARPAL SANDHU
Harpal Sandhu is best known as Coach Harp. He has been working with and developing the skills of young leaders in sport for 35 years.
- He has experienced the life skills and benefits of being involved in sport at a young age. A football player in the 80’s and 90’s, he found that being on an American football team gave him a sense of brotherhood and taught him how to deal with adversity, attention to detail, and teamwork.
- He is a strong advocate for mental health and is a dynamic motivational speaker.
- His passion for reducing barriers and helping at risk young athletes overcome obstacles motivated him to establish SASDA, the South Asian Sports Development Agency, in 2017 to mentor, guide and create opportunities for South Asians to get involved in sport and away from drugs, gangs and violence, which is a similar mandate of KidsPlay Foundation where he became a lead volunteer in 2020.
- Coach Harp also established The Coach Harp Organization Inc.in 2021.
One of his favourite sayings is “There are good people and bad people out there – that’s just life. The best thing you can do is just keep living with a big heart and remember the incredible value of a smile.” Coach Harp is one of those good people and he is all in to help young people find and excel at their sport.
2022 OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN ARTS,
CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT
Presented by Arjan Singh and Lata Patel, SAIA Board Members
![2022 OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN ARTS, CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT Winner HARNARAYAN SINGH
Thank You to the South Asian Community in Calgary, nominees, sponsors and attendees who support SAIA!](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/17-Harnarayan-Singh-Gurneet-Marwaha-1024x712.jpg)
HARNARAYAN SINGH
Accepting the award on his behalf, Gurneet Marwaha
Harnarayan Singh is a play-by-play commentator on Hockey Night in Canada and now a national bestselling Author with his recent memoir, One Game At A Time – My Journey From Small-Town Alberta to Hockey’s Biggest Stage.
- Born and raised in small-town Alberta, Harnarayan has risen through the broadcast ranks as a prominent media personality in Canada’s favourite sport, as the first person of Indian descent to host Hockey Night in Canada as well as be one of the main play-by-play commentators.
- He got his start with Hockey Night in Canada commentating in Punjabi, paying out of his own pocket to fly from Calgary to Toronto each weekend.
- His pursuit of his passion has paved the way for future generations to pursue their dreams within sports media and entertainment. Harnarayan has challenged the norm for inclusion, diversity and equality within the media world.
- Through his community service in programs he makes hockey a more welcoming place for everyone. Some of the programs include:
- NHL’s Hockey is for Everyone program,
- Ambassador for the Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup,
- NHL’s Fan Inclusion Committee,
- Herb Carnegie Initiative,
- on the board of HEROS, a charity that uses hockey as a mentorship tool for at-risk youth.
- Sikhi and his seva at the Guru Ram Das Darbar and his family, especially his two young children, help him maintain balance.
![2022 OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN ARTS, CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT Winner TANIA & VISHAL MALPURIA
Thank You to the South Asian Community in Calgary, nominees, sponsors and attendees who support SAIA!](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/18-Tania-and-Vishal-Malpuria-1024x682.jpg)
TANIA & VISHAL MALPURIA
Tania Lemos Malpuria and Vishal Malpuria are the founders and owners of Sparq Productions, bringing over 30 collective years of Bollywood dance choreography experience to Calgary.
- They have extensive experience as producers and directors both on a National (India) and international level.
- They have had many opportunities to showcase their skills.
- Their Bolly flash mob during Stampede.
- Working with Oscar and Golden Globe winner Mr. A.R. Rahman of Slumdog Millionaire.
- Opening for Michael Jackson at his concert in Mumbai, India.
- Putting forward a team for Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II at the 2005 Alberta Centennial Celebrations held in Edmonton.
- While they have received awards and accolades, their community support and giving back to various charitable causes remain a strong focus. They are involved with Canadian Transplant Association, Calgary SCOPE Society, Canadian Red Cross, Kids Up Front, YYCharity, Bullying.org and The SunLife Arts + Culture Pass through the Calgary Public Library Foundation.
- Tania and Vishal encourage a strong sense of health and wellbeing both physically and emotionally in their classes, and actively work to make dance accessible to and entertaining for members of the South Asian Community and beyond through a variety of productions including their annual ONE –a Dance spectacle, bringing different forms and expressions of dance on one stage.
2022 OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN STEEM
Presented by Ria Mangat, The IUD & NE Women’s Clinic (SAIA Sponsor) and Dr. Karim Dharmsi, SAIA Selection Committee Member
![2022 OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN STEEM winner HARDIK PANDYA
Thank You to the South Asian Community in Calgary, nominees, sponsors and attendees who support SAIA!](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/19-Hardik-Pandya-1024x714.jpg)
HARDIK PANDYA
Hardik Pandya came to Canada in 2010 as an international student. Since then, he has successfully provided international business consulting services to a few well-known Indian companies to collaborate with Canadian companies and bring foreign investment into Canada.
- Using his business education and his extensive experience in international business development, Hardik created DryLeaf, a startup by which he is taking the disposable utensil and dish industry by storm.
- DryLeaf uses a 1000-year-old ancient method of using fallen Areca palm leaf leaves from India and molding them, using natural processes, into bowls and plates, which are easily compostable and break down after 60-70 days and can be used as fertilizer. These products are 100% natural and eco-friendly.
- Perhaps the best part about DryLeaf and Hardik’s vision is that the manufacturing facilities are located in a rural part of India where the population is at risk of falling into poverty, malnutrition, child labour, and endemic debt that can lead to bonded labour.
- Dryleaf pays a living wage and helps its workers to develop useful skills. Dryleaf provides workers – 85% of whom are women – the freedom to perform their religion on work site and offer flexible work schedules. Dryleaf is working to introduce child education support for employee’s children.
- Hardik’s has been nominated for the Clean50 Emerging Leaders award in 2020 – leaders who are fighting climate change and advancing sustainability globally.
- He is actively involved in supporting many community organizations including UNICEF Canada, the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce and PCHS Calgary.
![2022 OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN STEEM winner AMRIT KAUR
Thank You to the South Asian Community in Calgary, nominees, sponsors and attendees who support SAIA!](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20-Amrit-Kaur-1024x710.jpg)
AMRIT KAUR
Originally from Calcutta, India, Amrit Kaur founded Mathemagician, an online math tutor and teacher platform for kindergarten to grade 6 students using her proprietary math curriculum to help children understand and become more proficient at mathematics.
- With her background in education and completing her MBA, she combined those credentials with her fascination of Albert Einstein to give rise to Mathemagician and its mascot—Alberta Einstein.
- Amrit has developed a STEM program guide for students from kindergarten through grade 12.
- Since coming to Canada in 2001, she has been an active community volunteer, having served on the The Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth for nine years as a board member, and up until a few years ago, was a youth yoga instructor at the Calgary Corrections Centre offering a twice a week class for 17 years.
2022 PROFESSIONAL LEADER
Presented by Fatima Dhanani, Bri-Mor Developments (SAIA Sponsor) and Balwinder Marwaha, SAIA Board Member
![2022 PROFESSIONAL LEADER winner
DR. HARBIR SINGH GILL
Thank You to the South Asian Community in Calgary, nominees, sponsors and attendees who support SAIA!](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/21-Dr-Harbir-Singh-Gill-1024x689.jpg)
DR. HARBIR SINGH GILL
Dr. Harbir Singh Gill has a family medical practice here in Calgary, with a focus on addiction and mental health.
- In 2018, Dr. Gill founded the Northeast Addiction and Mental Health Centre for Holistic Recovery (NAM), a not-for-profit organization that provides clinical services to individuals with complex trauma and mental health and addiction disorders with a focus on the South Asian population in Calgary offering services in English and Punjabi to reduce language barriers. NAM also operates a substance-free (recovery) housing program.
- Dr. Gill’s vision is of a shared health care model for the integration of culturally appropriate crisis management in the community setting by combining modern medicine with eastern and western psychotherapy, incorporating Yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, relaxation, religious or non-denominational prayer and seva as tools for helping patients.
- He has served in several leadership capacities in the community.
- Site Chief of the Peter Lougheed Centre Hospitalist Program,
- member of the Public Safety Taskforce with the City of Calgary, and
- affiliated with the University of Calgary Department of Family Medicine, as a teacher and as a researcher.
- He has training in Kundalini Yoga and martial arts through Aikido and says he is blessed to be a part of the Seva team of Guru Amar Das Niwas, whose mission is to support the frail and elderly with love so they may live with dignity and grace.
- He also says that without his incredibly hard-working team, NAM would not be able to have the impact we know it does in the Calgary medical community.
![2022 PROFESSIONAL LEADER winner SERGEANT PABAN DHALIWAL
Thank You to the South Asian Community in Calgary, nominees, sponsors and attendees who support SAIA!](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/22-Sgt-Paban-Dhaliwal-1024x688.jpg)
SERGEANT PABAN DHALIWAL
Sergeant Paban Dhaliwal is a 19-year member of the Calgary Police Service (CPS) who has focused his career on community-based policing, diversity, gang prevention, and youth development and mentorship.
- Throughout his career, Paban has worked in several different areas within CPS, including patrol, community liaison, youth offender management, school resource, diversity resource and recruiting.
- Over and above volunteering for several internal initiatives, projects and committees within CPS and with partner agencies, in 2006 he began spearheading his own initiatives focused on mobilizing the community to build stronger ties, supporting youth and preventing drug, violence, crime and gang activity.
- These initiatives include the
- Wrestling Program at Lester B. Pearson High School,
- the Village Square Community Clean-up,
- Bhangra Program at Terry Fox Junior High School, and
- various gang prevention programs including the Gang Education program with YouthLink – Calgary Police Interpretive Center.
- In 2020, Paban took a key role in bringing KidsPlay Foundation to Calgary. KidsPlay Foundation was co-founded by a veteran police officer in 2015 to keep youth away from crime, drugs, gangs and violence in B.C.
- Paban has dedicated his life and career to community policing, and he continues to influence others to be the leaders of tomorrow with his out of the box thinking and innovative approaches to give youth a sense of belonging.
2022 ENTREPRENEUR / SMALL BUSINESS OWNER
Presented by Sukhvir Matta, Team Singh YYC (SAIA Sponsor) and Meenu Ahluwalia, SAIA Board Member
![2022 ENTREPRENEUR / SMALL BUSINESS OWNER Winner FAUZIA KANJI
Thank You to the South Asian Community in Calgary, nominees, sponsors and attendees who support SAIA!](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/23-Fauzia-Kanji-1024x695.jpg)
FAUZIA KANJI
In 1996, Fauzia Kanji channeled her mother and grandmother’s energy and enthusiasm for good food into what she thought would be a small project.
- She started a home-based business making roti to generate a little income while keeping the family busy.
- The results were so delicious that the product (along with an expanded product offering) eventually ended up on grocery store shelves, hotel, and restaurant menus. Thumbs Up Foods Inc. was born, which was the first company to introduce samosas into the mainstream market. Under the brand name “Serenna’s”, named after a beloved family member, Safeway began carrying the Thumbs Up Foods Inc. products.
- Thumbs Up went from selling 1,000 samosas to 100,000 pieces in the span of six months!
- Fauzia and her business partner, Amin with their entrepreneurial spirit, innovative approach to manufacturing, ability to network and sell, provided a new twist to old-world classics. Their products have been eaten up by a growing and demanding North American market for 25+ years.
![2022 ENTREPRENEUR / SMALL BUSINESS OWNER Winner SARJEET SINGH
Thank You to the South Asian Community in Calgary, nominees, sponsors and attendees who support SAIA!](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/24-Sarjeet-Singh-1024x689.jpg)
SARJEET SINGH
Mrs. Singh immigrated from Calcutta, India as an 18-year old ready to navigate her new world in Canada.
- When her son had barely started kindergarten, she decided to enter the workforce with her goal to join a bank and become a bank teller. She wasn’t successful at getting a job at the bank, so she did the next logical thing – she opened up her own business. In 1991, FairDeal Furniture opened, and she quickly became widely known as Mrs. Singh.
- Perhaps unknowingly, she entered an industry that was and to this day remains dominated by men, and humbly and respectfully pushed gender norms creating a path for gender equality as a businesswoman in Calgary She was one of the first South Asian business women to overcome many struggles and challenges in the ‘90’s without the supports we have now.
- She has influenced and helped so many people over the years, using her furniture company to hire foreign workers, help immigrants settle and helping countless people navigate their first Canadian furniture purchase.
- Not only has she created a legacy in the retail furniture industry, she has maintained a thriving business that continues with the second generation of the Singh Family, run now by one of her daughters and son.
- Mrs. Singh is a dedicated sevadar, having started in the Gurudwara kitchen in the ‘80’s in rented facilities, and then being involved in the creation of the Dashmesh Culture Centre, and then later being involved with Guru Ram Das Darbar, where she recently spearheaded a new kitchen cabinetry renovation project.
2022 OUTSTANDING BUSINESS
Presented by The Honourable Lieutenant Governor, Salma Lakhani and Ravi Natt, SAIA Board Chair
![RED FM 106.7 CALGARY, 2022 OUTSTANDING BUSINESS Winner, is not just an entertainment radio station but a national platform broadcasting in 19 languages with a wider impact developing and showcasing Canadian talent through its Indian Idol singing contest. Thank You to the South Asian Community in Calgary, nominees, sponsors and attendees who support SAIA!](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/25-RED-FM-106.7-Calgary-1024x677.jpg)
RED FM 106.7 CALGARY
RED FM 106.7 Calgary is not just an entertainment radio station but a national platform broadcasting in 19 languages with a wider impact developing and showcasing Canadian talent through its Indian Idol singing contest.
- Red FM is an equal opportunity employer with diversity in cultural and linguistic backgrounds as well as promoting gender equity not only in its hiring practices but on its shows.
- RED FM supports community capacity building through its fundraising and giving a voice to community groups on the radio, maintaining socially and culturally responsible understanding, and strengthening local services ultimately creating empowering and entertaining experiences.
- The annual radiothon on Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birth anniversary has raised
- $500,000 in 2019 in 12 hours for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Peter Lougheed Centre in honor of Mata Tripta,
- over $100,000 in 2020 for Punjabi Community Health Services Calgary, and
- over $800,000 in 2021, again in 12 hours, for the Dashmesh Mata Sahib Kaur Ji Women and Children’s Transitional Housing Project.
- Red FM has also been a pioneer in raising funds and food for victims of the Calgary Flood, helping victims of the Earthquake in Nepal for Red Cross Canada, and the Ukraine War crisis.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, RED FM kept South Asian communities updated in South Asian Languages.
- REDFM is a pillar of our community and for the community.
2022 OUTSTANDING NONPROFIT AGENCY
Presented by The Honourable Lieutenant Governor, Salma Lakhani and Ravi Natt, SAIA Board Chair
![DASHMESH CULTURE CENTRE - DCC
As we know spiritual support and programming is the cornerstone of every Gurdwara, however DCC has expanded its mandate to address social and social justice issues impacting our community. They have had the vision to embrace the highest tenet of Sikhi that is Sewa for Humanity and put it into action with many initiatives. Along with building these assets, what made DCC stand out is how they pivoted their services during the pandemic. Thank You to the South Asian Community in Calgary, nominees, sponsors and attendees who support SAIA!](https://southasianawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/26-Dashmesh-Culture-Centre-1024x457.jpg)
DASHMESH CULTURE CENTRE
We did not seek any nominations for this award as it is given at the SAIA Board’s discretion.
As we know spiritual support and programming is the cornerstone of every Gurdwara, however DCC has expanded its mandate to address social and social justice issues impacting our community. They have had the vision to embrace the highest tenet of Sikhi that is Sewa for Humanity and put it into action with many initiatives. Along with building these assets, what made DCC stand out is how they pivoted their services during the pandemic.
- While the Langar halls and Sangat halls were empty, DCC was innovative by creating an outreach program to support food security not just for the South Asian community but the global Calgary community.
- Along with having a foodbank on their premises, they created partnerships with at least 10 mainstream agencies to provide food to those in need. One example that stands out is DCC’s partnership with Brown Bagging Kids, a local charity that provides lunches to 220 schools in Calgary.
- From June 2020 to until recently, DCC sponsored four such schools and delivered up to 500 sandwiches, wrapped lunch foods on a weekly basis to these schools.
- Also, during COVID, when schools were closed, DCC supplied lunches to about 150 kids who were in a day program at the Genesis Centre while parents worked – DCC ensured these kids were fed during lunch.
- By providing these services, Sewa to the Calgary global community, they are serving humanity as a whole and building intercultural bridges with Calgarians.
We are confident Dashmesh Culture Centre will continue on the Marg of Sewa for Humanity.
See DCC’s many initiatives, here!