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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.