A community grieves the passing of Manmeet Singh Bhullar

As the news spread of the passing of former Alberta M.L.A. Manmeet Singh Bhullar on November 23, 2015, a deep sense of shock and disbelief dawned on many Canadians that he left us at the far-too-early age of 35.

Bhullar was traveling from Calgary to Edmonton, on Queen Elizabeth II Highway just north of Red Deer, when he stopped to assist a stranded motorist. As Bhullar left his vehicle, a semi-truck lost control while descending a hill and struck him, causing catastrophic injuries that later claimed his life.

Bhullar was born in Penbrooke, Calgary. His family then moved to Whitehorn, also in Calgary, where Bhullar and his siblings attended Chief Justice Milvain and Anne Gale Junior High. Bhullar then graduated from Lester B. Pearson High School. Bhullar developed a reputation as an affable, caring and socially active student.

Bhullar attended Mount Royal University in Calgary before earning a Bachelor of Arts from Athabasca University in 2005. He then completed his law degree at the University of Windsor in 2011, after he had been elected as the youngest member of Alberta’s 27th legislature in 2008 in the Calgary-Montrose riding.

Bhullar become the first turbaned Sikh to hold a ministerial position in government when he was appointed as the Cabinet Minister of Service Alberta in 2011. In 2013 he was appointed as the Minister of Human Services, where he tireless advocated for children in care.

Before Bhullar had achieved success as a politician, he was a well-known community leader and activist. He worked with at-risk youth groups and founded the youth group “Inspire”. He raised funds for various causes, including the Calgary Health Region, as well as helping co-ordinate a walking hunger campaign. Bhullar earned various awards for his charity, including the Alberta Centennial Medal, the Centennial Medallion as well as the Athabasca University Leadership Award.

One of the projects Bhullar was the most passionate about was protecting the Sikh’s of Afghanistan, who live in constant fear of ethnic and religious violence. Bhullar travelled to various places to help find these vulnerable minorities asylum in Canada and in other countries. For more information on this cause, please visit www.saveafghanminorities.ca

Bhullar assiduously represented his constituents, Calgarians and fellow Sikh’s. In his short 35 years he accomplished much and had the potential for more. He was more than a politician and a community advocate: he was a husband, a son, a brother, and a friend. He devoted his life to public service and we are eternally grateful for his contributions and for inspiring a generation of youth to believe in themselves; that one person can make a difference.

We take solace in the fact that Bhullar left this world doing what he did best: helping others.

A kirtan in celebration of his life will be held at the Khalsa School, 6933 124th Street, Surrey, B.C., on Thursday, November 26th, 2015, from 6:00pm to 8:30pm.