It was confirmed Ranjeev “Raj” Sangha, 41, was killed in the 14600 block of Southview Drive in the Panorama Ridge neighborhood around 11:45 a.m.

The investigation team believes that it was targeted murder and the primary evidence reveals that suspect was using a black four-door sedan, that was burning in 12000-block of Cambie Road in Richmond, about 100 meters from a pedestrian path.

Raj Sangha was one of the closest longtime friend of Mr.Suki Pangalia (CEO of AAJ Magazine ) and has known him for more than 20 years. Suki was also the founder of Rangeela Dance School and Raj never failed to support him for all the competitions and events that Rangeela Dance School hosted and was involved.

“He volunteered, and was helping students to organize competitions and shows,” he said. “His main goal was to promote the art of the Bhangra and to give these kids a platform to excel,” adds Suki.

His organization was truly exceptional and unique giving opportunity to individuals with different backgrounds, whether it be students, doctors, engineers and beyond.

AAJ Magazine and Media Group are grieving the death of the pioneer Mr. Raj Sangha who was always a step ahead in bringing up the traditional culture of Punjab into the community.

All his friend and family are devasted by the shocking news and will be going through a tough time.  As we mourn the loss of such a massive icon in the Bhangra industry, we remember his contributions and achievements. We remember just why Raj is and always will remain as, a man who has inspired the community, and a man with a good heart.

The entrance was decorated with beautiful Rangoli, brass lamps and sitar music flowed through the hallway and auditorium.  Gold, red, green and other beautiful colors were everywhere, it was like a slice of India.  The program started of with the lighting of the lamp followed by the Indian and Canadian National Anthems and the inaugural speeches by both Indian and Canadian dignitaries. The Stars of the North Drum group performed a song that flowed into a group vocal performance by Pandit Jasraj School of Music. The grand Chanda Mela drum performance by the Vancouver Malayalee Samaja ended with the presentation of certificates to the participating organisations. The inaugural cultural program started off with a classical Bharatanatyam piece presented by Mandala Arts, followed by a Bhangra dance from the Royal Academy of Bhangra before the intermission.

The second session started off with Shiv Tandav by Varad Ashram Inter-Cultural Service Humanitarian World Association and later we had vibrant performances by Kashmiri group and Bharatiya Tamizh Sangam. This section included performances from various states of India, including a folk dance from Haryana, Dandiya Raas from Gujarat, Nryutendrajalam from Malayalee Association, a Telegu folk dance, and the famous Bihu dance from Assam. Thamil cultural association presented a Senthamil Nadu folk dance, and there was a Giddha dance from Punjab.  We also saw a dance on Shiva by Nandanum school of Bharatanatyam before the session closed.  All these beautiful dances were presented with authentic costumes, slide projections, and beautiful stage decorations, while the acoustics of the hall enhanced the sound of the music and footwork.

Besides these wonderful performances, delicious food, snacks, excellent chai and coffee were all served at nominal rates.  The dosas, vadas, and chaat were all very fresh and tasty. I had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Raishma Bhan, who along with other beautiful ladies, presented the Kashmiri dance.  This was the first time that the Kashmiri group participated in Namaste Canada and they did a fabulous job.

UBC student Vaishnavi Sridhar had this to say ”Namaste Canada beautifully showcased the colors of India in the Metro Vancouver area. All the performances were a feast to the eyes and I thoroughly enjoyed them. I especially loved the beautiful performance by the Developmental Disabilities Association and the high energy Kalbelia performance by the India Cultural Association of Vancouver. I am eagerly looking forward to Namaste Canada 2019.”

Mrs. Sonal Munshi from Margi Dance Academy of Kathak dance said “Namaste Canada is a platform provided by CGI Vancouver to bring the Indian … community together to celebrate and share our common heritage and Indian culture. When you think from [the] community perspective, ‘no duplicate’ policy, in terms of participating associations and the dances, adopted this year was a big plus point as most states got a chance to perform and the community got a chance to see some of the state dances they may never have had a chance to see. I wish and hope we will see even more diversity in the years to come. The community came together. A true ‘India in Vancouver’ experience for all but especially for younger generations to experience the ‘Unity in Diversity’ and to see the vast, rich, and diverse cultural heritage of India. To have an ‘Indian Experience’ in a very positive way. I saw during rehearsals that the participants were very enthusiastic. They worked hard even with their busy schedules. For me, it was a wonderful experience working as a part of the team Namaste Canada 2018.”

Mrs. Raishma Bhan of Kashmiris of Greater Vancouver group had this to say, ”I would like to start off by thanking [the Consulate] for offering our Kashmiri group an opportunity to be a part of this amazing event. Our very first experience of performing on the stage has been extremely positive and a great confidence booster. The interactions with the Namaste Canada team were professional and supportive. On the whole, I and my group had an amazing time rehearsing, performing and being a part of this magical team. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate our Consul General, Ms. Abhilasha Joshi jee, for organizing such an amazingly successful event. Also kudos to all the volunteers who worked numerous hours to make this event a success. We hope to continue this relationship for a very long time to come. Jai Hind.”

The final session in the evening brought more vibrant music, colors and many more exquisite dances to the stage. It was a great combination of folk, classical, and Bollywood dances that enthralled the audience. It began with Yakshagana of Karnataka which is an ancient folk art with elaborate costumes, makeup and drama.  Next came the beautiful Varnam in Mohiniyattam style.  The Garba dance, Sambalpuri dance, and Kolattam dance followed to balance classical with folk.  The Developmental Disabilities Association touched the hearts of everyone in the audience with their presentation.  The Koli dance, also called the fisherman/woman dance, from Maharashtra brought nostalgic memories of Mumbai shores to me.  The exquisite and well choreographed Raas Lila in Manipuri style was performed very gracefully.  The Rajasthani Kalbelia costumes and dance were mesmerizing.  As always, Shiamak Davar’s dance presentation provided the spectacular event a glamorous, Bollywood style finale. Best wishes for Namaste Canada 2019.

What are the types of fat?

There are three types of fat: unsaturated fat, saturated fat, and trans fat. Unsaturated fats, such as olive oil, avocado oil, and canola oil, may improve blood cholesterol levels and help keep your heart healthy. Nuts and seeds — like almonds, pecans, and sesame seeds — avocados and fatty fish like salmon are also good sources of unsaturated fats. Saturated fats and trans fats are unhealthy fats that can increase your risk of heart disease as they have shown to increase LDL cholesterol which blocks arteries. Try to lower how much-saturated fat you eat each day by choosing lean meat with no fat on it, choosing lower fat milk, butter milk, and limiting cream.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy fat-like substance in your body. The two main types of cholesterol are called HDL and LDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is often referred to as healthy cholesterol because high levels of HDL can help protect your heart. Whereas, having high levels of LDL cholesterol can block arteries and increase your risk of heart disease. Choose healthy fats, such as unsaturated fats, most often and try to exercise for at least 30 minutes every day. By choosing healthy unsaturated fats and being physically active, you can increase your HDL cholesterol and lower your LDL cholesterol, which will decrease your risk of heart disease.

How can I cook with less fat at home?

When cooking at home, use fats that are high in unsaturated fat to keep your body healthy. Avoid or limit fats that are high in saturated fat and trans fats to reduce harm to your body.

Instead of butter, give flavor to food using ginger, garlic, lemon juice, lime juice, vinegar, spices, and herbs, like fresh cilantro and parsley. Limit foods with cream, buttermilk and sour creams, such as butter chicken, shahi paneer, dal makhani, and kadhi made with chickpea flour.

 Remember to celebrate Diwali by making healthier food choices.

Try our baked paneer tikka recipe to celebrate Diwali with a healthy twist on a favorite.

Baked Paneer Tikka

Serves: 1

Ingredients:

For the paneer:

2 cups paneer, cubed into 1-inch pieces

1 medium white onion, cut into 1-inch cube

1 green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch cube

1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch cube

½ lime

For the marinade:

2 tbsp mustard oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

1-inch piece of ginger, grated

½ cup plain Greek yogurt

2 tsp paprika

1 tbsp coriander powder or cumin

1 tsp garam masala

1 tsp dried fenugreek leaves

Directions:

Mix all marinade ingredients into a large bowl. Add paneer and toss well ensuring an even coat. Cover and set aside for minimum 1 hour. Preheat oven to 430 degrees Fahrenheit. To make skewers, alternate paneer cubes, onion, peppers, and paneer. Place skewers onto a cooling rack and bake for 15 minutes, turning the skewers halfway. For slightly charred tikka skewers, broil for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from oven and squeeze lime juice on top. Enjoy!

Author – Sharon Heer

NRI Institute, a non-profit NGO, celebrated the 30^th year of connecting Indian Diaspora, and organized an award ceremony on October 26, 2018, at the House of Lords in London, United Kingdom. The NRI World Summit – Bharat Samman Global Leader Award 2018 was conferred upon Shelina in  presence of other decorated leaders at the House of Lords London, the second chamber of UK Parliament.

BHARAT SAMMAAN AWARDS are being conferred on a group of select Persons of Indian Origin living in India and abroad for their outstanding achievements in the chosen field of activities for the contribution to the socio-economic development of India along with the country of their adoption.

The award was given to NRIs from 14 countries, including Shelina, who was the only Canadian Woman honored as a global leader for promoting heritage and entrepreneurship. This was indeed a special moment as the award was presented to Shelina for surpassing exceptional standards in her business and community engagements. Shelina was recognized for her of selfless service to the community.

Behind every successful man, there is a woman, but this saying stands not only for the success of men but for the functioning of the whole world. Shelina Mawani was born and raised on the shores of Lake Victoria, Mwanza in East Africa. After managing a series of motels back home for her father, Shelina Mawani moved to Canada in 1983. Being a lifelong businesswoman, in the year 2000, Shelina and her sister Nasim established Nana’s Kitchen. Growing up in a South Asian community without the divisions between different South Asian races that she saw here, led Shelina to want to bridge that divide through her food. Shelina wants the whole South Asian community to be united, interacting and celebration as a single community.

She has watched her company grow from a small family restaurant business to a manufacturing business through North America and chains across Canada. Nana’s kitchen products meet the product quality and food safety standards as required by CFIA, USDA, HACCP and BRC Programs. Nana’s food with a global taste is being sold all the mainstream grocery stores (Superstore, Save On Foods, etc.) and in hospitality, Pubs and restaurants across North America. Their food is being sold to 5000 grocery retail and food service.

Nana’s Kitchen’s mission is to become a household name and they are on their way to that becoming a reality because of the high quality of their Samosas. Their quality is premium and gourmet, especially compared to what is available in the market today and people pay for the quality. They stick to a higher quality of samosa, not the quantity. Their high-quality samosas are more than three times bigger than a typical samosa, with more filling and less pastry than their competitors. They also have smaller sized samosas as well. The quality of the samosas go through lots of checks (heat, temperature, expiry dates) to assure high quality and it makes a difference you can taste. Roughly 30,000 samosas are being made by hand every day, in seven different flavors along with mango date chutneys which are sold in bulk two-liter jars in select grocery stores. They have also just introduced chimichangas.

As a proud supporter of women’s empowerment Shelina’s employees are largely women from foreign countries with minimum English language skills. She says her employees are her backbone, and she wants her employees to grow as the company grows. She is a proud and successful employer who defines her success by sharing her employees’ growth from ground zero to managerial position.

Becoming the accomplished woman, she is today started in her youth and in 1979 she became a chairperson of lioness club. She has since opened the orphanage back home and Shelina was invited to speak for the women’s economic forum in New Delhi about empowering women to believe in themselves and not give up and spoke at Agakhan Alliance in Toronto about the failure to success. She won the woman of the decade award in 2016 in Delhi. In October 2018 she was awarded Bharat Samman Award, where 14 countries were involved. Shelina takes part in a lot of community events to promote the community.

She reveals her secret of success, as the three C’s – conversation, collaboration, and celebration. “We all have at least one million-dollar idea lurking inside of us. To execute that idea, you need somebody for you so, never be afraid to look outside for help. Don’t be afraid to come out, network and share your ideas. Once you succeed that stage then, every walk of life you would say it’s a day of celebration,” says Shelina.

She also feels proud to give credits for her success in the US market to her husband as he played a major role in building the market from zero to what they are today. Shelina says while she was struggling with her business and through the ups and downs to success, her children grew up without her. She stresses the importance of spending time with your family and kids, and to not ignore anything important on the road to success. She feels lucky that her kids are doing well and that they tell her that she has worked hard for them. A message she has for entrepreneurs is to do your research before you do anything, be humble, no stress, no ego, even in difficult times, spend time on yourself and family, love and laugh, change your attitude and always listen to your customer.

Behind every successful man there is a woman, but behind Shelina’s success, she gives credit to her sister and husband, along with her family and staff.

How did you become interested in Indian music?

During 1967 I was living in Haight-Ashbury when Ravi Shankar gave his performance at the Monterey Pop Festival. The next morning, the Grateful Dead blared the reel-to-reel tape of that performance out of their window on Haight Street. A large crowd formed in the street to listen to it, including me. As far as I can remember, that was the 1st time I ever heard Indian classical music. A few weeks later Linda Ronstadt and Kenny Edwards of The Stone Ponies, who were friends of my roommate, brought a sitar to our apartment. Kenny was trying to learn how to play it, à la George Harrison. There was a record shop in the South of Market neighborhood which carried a few Indian records for $2.99 each, and I bought LP’s of Sharan Rani playing Lalit & Kaunsi Kanara, Panna Lal Ghosh’s Shri & Yaman, Pt. Ramnarain’s Patdeep with a dhun in Khammaj, and the Ali Brothers singing Kalavati & Gawoti. I listened to those recordings over and over, which is why I still remember them today. That was my introduction to Indian classical music.

What made you want to devote yourself to Indian music?

In the late 60’s I lived at Mt. Shasta. I became interested in bansuri and met a disciple of Panna Lal Ghosh’s son-in-law Devindra Murdeshwar who showed me the basics of bansuri playing and manufacture. At that time I had friends who were studying at the Ali Akbar College of Music in Berkeley and they gave me material to practice. In 1971 I began studying full time with G. S. Sachdev and Ust. Ali Akbar Khan at AACM. During the first 5 years or so of that study, I had the time to practice three or four hours a day and developed the basic knowledge of flute music and technique. After about 5 years of that, I realized how much I didn’t know and had to make a decision as to whether or not I would put in the time and effort to complete the task. Obviously, I decided to go ahead, but now almost 50 years into it, I know it will never be complete. The more you know, the more you see needs to be done. I’m still making progress, though. Daily riaz is so much a part of my life I don’t feel right if I don’t practice.

In 1975 I found the bamboo on Kauai which I have used to make bamboo flutes ever since. It was not native to Hawaii but it was brought by the ancient Polynesians who used it for a variety of purposes. They planted the stands of bamboo I use more than 1,000 years ago. As of right now, 2018, I have made about 41,000 flutes. About 32,000 of those were made from the bamboo I cut myself in Hanakapiai, a valley on Kauai. About 1,000 were made from the same species from Fiji, another 6,000 from a related species imported to me from Assam, with the rest being from various sources. Good flute bamboo has long nodes with a meter or so between the knots. Hanakapiai is my home-away-from-home and I feel a deep connection to it. I’ve spent about a year of my life there cutting bamboo. Now I’m getting old to carry 40-pound backpacks of green bamboo, but I’m still there in spirit. Today I make a number of different kinds of flutes, and several Broadway musicals such as The Lion King and Miss Saigon use my flutes in their orchestras. In flutemaking I’ve branched out somewhat away from Indian music, but I still only perform classical and light classical pieces. For myself, I’m not interested in fusion, but I make flutes for many fusion players.

Do you also teach this oral tradition and feel a responsibility to help others to learn and sustain the musical form for the future?

After I had studied for about 20 years, I began teaching. Here in Silicon Valley, there is a large population of South Asians, and most of my students are Indian, with the occasional Pakistani and Afghan. I teach in the traditional way, by ear, and with endless repetitions. I begin with easy material and gradually move to more difficult pieces and rags. On bansuri, we play the Komal notes – the flatted notes – by partially opening the holes, and that is a difficult technique to master. I try to establish a respect for classicism in my students. Many people today fail to distinguish between the rag and the scale used for the rag. That is to say, they simply regard the rag as a scale or mode. In truth, every rag has its own vocabulary and grammar, and people don’t want to put the practice in to master that. Each rag has been defined and refined by generations of master musicians who played that rag and has hidden nuances which must be learned from someone who is proficient in the tradition. Indian music has been cheapened by people who simply reduce the rag to a scale.

How is teaching itself also valuable to you as a performing artist?

Teaching music is a vast experiment in cognitive science. Each student learns differently. A teacher has to try to find the method or material which will allow the individual student to progress. In that way, you have to be your own best critic. A common-sense constant reappraisal of whatever you’re playing and teaching is constantly in order. There are at least two different kinds of practice. The first is improving and mastering the material in which one is already proficient and the second is trying to assimilate new skills and material. There’s always something else to work on. The skill of self-evaluation is critical for the student, teacher, and performer.

What are some of the insights you have gained from daily practice and the betterment of your craft both as an artisan and performer/teacher?

The thing I tell my students over and over is, “When you get the piece right, that’s the beginning of your practice, not the end of it.” However well one plays, one can always make it better. With flutemaking, the most important factor is respect for the bamboo itself. The flutemaker cannot simply impose his will on the bamboo. I have learned to pay close attention to each piece of bamboo in order to bring the best flute out of it. Probably the first 1,000 flutes I made, around 1970-72, weren’t very good. Then I got the hang of it. Bamboo is an irregular substance. It’s not like a pipe or a plastic tube. Those irregularities can ruin a flute, but they can also enhance it if handled well. No two flutes are exactly alike, just like people. The principles of acoustic science must guide flutemaking, yet at the heart, it remains an art.

Have you noticed changes in the audiences for the music or in the students teach over the last few years or more?

Teaching music is a vast experiment in cognitive science. Each student learns differently. A teacher has to try to find the method or material which will allow the individual student to progress. In that way, you have to be your own best critic. A common-sense constant reappraisal of whatever you’re playing and teaching is constantly in order. There are at least two different kinds of practice. The first is improving and mastering the material in which one is already proficient and the second is trying to assimilate new skills and material. There’s always something else to work on. The skill of self-evaluation is critical for the student, teacher, and performer.

We know that we create the why we are surviving from our own perspective. But in the broader scheme do we really know.

The mystery of how we came to exist and why we are here has always been a sought after goal. What is for certain Man progresses to the degree he applies science to the universe of self, others, the physical universe and all of life. Man has evolved to be a “cognitive-being,> “The ability to become aware of being aware of knowing how to know answers as a basis of the science of one’s own being and at a cell level”<.

The higher mind of Man has given him the opportunity to reach into the unknown subjective reality of his own existence.  The science within has been suppressed from without and Man’s pursuit of knowledge has been thwarted with the ever increasing sinister ideology that Man has no need or potential to study his own mind or spiritual destiny.

The materialistic concept of man however has been adopted as reality and truth. The psychology of the day is that man has only an animal consciousness that resides in the brain and that is the limit of his ability to study or apply himself through his intelligence of the pursuit of knowledge of himself.

With this narrow view of Man he no longer can reach a higher level of survival spiritually with the assistance of the cell.

The evolution of the spiritual essence of life requires a person’s participation to move through each experience as it presents itself to progress to the next level of existence that brings him a step forward and upward toward the ultimate Goal of Life. Failure to will prevent a person from achieving necessary knowledge for a person’s benefit in their quest for the answers they are pursuing and to have an increase in survival potential.

Suicide is the act of ending ones progress towards the ultimate goal. One must view the immortality of oneself and living as an opportunity to achieve freedom through the life one is living. Freedom from unawareness of the spirit and Freedom from not knowing that one can know in this life time no matter the conditions we find ourselves in.  As long as we can live to be aware and become more aware of who we and others are as a spirit we should seek to survive.

The Middle class of existence has become the standard by which this society ascends to. A middle class society is catered to while others are neglected spiritually ,emotionally ,materially and in many other ways. The political will mainly in nature addresses the issues around Middle class economic resources and toward the center of keeping a government functioning and essentially this group class to manage the status quo.

We do not get movement away from their primary agenda. If we are truly to look at why the populations of the earth are subject to being wasted we only need to see the failure to invest in the creation of life and its longevity. The resources of earth including people are used from a capitalistic view not from a spiritual context where each being should have a right to life and prosperity that brings.

We have isolated Man into  classes that become our value system of how we should live together and how long.

We need to fully look at the reasons why man is driven into apathy and want to end his life and it’s personal. Everyone has a different story and individual needs to be meant, but the time and efforts are not being put into them to determine what is needed by those that find themselves in a desperate situation. Grouped in classes of illnesses and labelled like sheep they are provided a means to die not survive.

Those that are vulnerable in a society cannot continue to be victimised by an uncaring population indoctrinated into believing all that matters is material gain. The resources of earth can support new life and supply what is needed for those passing through if those resources were not exploited and reserved for a select class of people.

We need new science to evolve and better strategies to managed human life for the highest quality of living available for every human being on earth.

A person from the time life begins to grow and to the end our lives has a purpose. That needs to be the focus. When we look at the desperation on the faces of those suffering in their last days living with no purpose, it is not because it does not exist. It’s because it’s not just material in nature. We hear of the many years of neglect that they have gone through left to lay or sit wasting away because it is not economically feasible to invest in their wellbeing. We must realize that that is our own future if we don’t challenge this inhumanity of our humanity.

The reason one wants to die should not be because they are isolated alone without love from family friends and in general rejected for being who they are as they are. Millions of children are aborted. Millions more are subject to drug addicting medications and die on street drugs. Children as young as babies are prescribed psychiatric drugs and left on them only to lose their potential to grow naturally and are subject to abuse as they hit the streets as addicts.

All of these youth and the growing populations of the elderly will prematurely become sick with incurable deceases unable to recover because of a failure to intervene before it is too late. The answer, taking the life of another before a natural death can occur. The practice of Eugenics is also another growing activity within the medical profession.

Eugenics is  the concept to remove those from society no longer useful or capable to produce quality life. It has been studied and practiced in the US and other countries. Today we have a broad sweep of the human race to suppress populations of all classes considered to be a detriment to others or simply because sharing capital is considered a waist and takes from those who greed for more for themselves and less for others.

Assisted Suicide is awarding death the life of another. That life ceases to be over time and finally neglected and consumed by pain and without purpose a being retreats into an apathy of no return. But it does not have to be this way and we should do all we can to see that is not. We need to support all efforts by groups who can assist others to live and die with dignity and respect naturally. Pain can be managed with medicine. Medicine however cannot provide love, family, purpose, friendship, support and some might say salvation. We need to do better as a society on these issues and help give life to those that can no longer live up to a materialistic standard.

It’s been about an year I had met Dr.Arun Garg, the man behind this magnificent movement called Canada Indian Network Society (CINS), a Non Profit created with a one pointed vision of Wellness for humanity. His noble intentions lead to the one of a kind conference, Canada India Network Initiative – CINI which is held every 4 years bringing the best of the both worlds together, not just in in the Health Care, but the policy makers, politicians, administrators, research scientists, Technology experts as we  all experts in ancient wisdom practices like Yoga, Meditation and TCM.

CINS has conducted 2 conferences so far, one in 2010, second one in 2014 and now the 3rd conference in 2018.

The location of conference was none other than the Simon Fraser University in the City of Surrey, which is a melting pot of cultures, languages and mindsets.

The conference was spread across 4 days from June 8th till June 11th with different mediums of sharing and disseminating knowledge and wisdom from across the globe.

The opening ceremonies saw the cream of the world come together under one umbrella in the Surrey City Hall Chambers which was cohosted in partnership with the City of Surrey.

The evening was filled with a unique fragrance of elegant personalities from within the Lower mainland and across the globe.

The highlight of the evening is the presentation of Life Time Achievement Awards to the Achievers, Builders, Connectors, Dreamers, Healers and the Leaders in the field of Health Care.

The awards were presented to some of the most eminent personalities who have contributed immensely and selflessly to the Human wellness in many dimensions.

The Nine noble change makers who were honored are Dr.Pratap Reddy, Dr.Arvnind Lal, Dr.Gurdev Gill, Dr.Devendra Goel, Dr.Asha Seth, Dr.Simon Sutcliffe, Dr.Gulzar Cheema, Dr.Mike Allard and Dr.Arun Chockalingam.

The evening has also seen some esteemed dignitaries like President and CEO of Fraser Health Michael Marchbank, Counsel General of India Her Excellency Abhilasha Joshi, City of Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner.

Michael had showered accolades on Dr.Arun Garg’s commitment and dedication to the wellness of the community and how his perseverance and selfless attitude has inspired me to come forward to support CINI in a big way from the time of its inception in 2010. Counsel General Abhilasha’s message was clear in the need to integrate ancient approaches and modern medicine in helping and curing many of the challenges faced by the health community. She emphasized the need for and willingness to support for bridging the health care between India and Canada through initiatives of Government of India like Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) setup exclusively for optimal development and propagation of systems of health care that stood the test of time. Mayor Hepner had no doubt in exclaiming with joy the importance of South Asian community in building Surrey and the many of the initiatives by the City, local Non Profits, Business and Government agencies have come together in creating a truly multicultural city of Surrey. She reiterated her full support for CINI conference and initiatives taken up by various agencies to make Surrey a Healthy City.

The conference was officially opened on June 9th with welcome remarks from Hon. Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, Government of British Columbia and Dr.Arun Garg, the Conference Chair.

The message was clear and loud from the beginning; War on Diabetes is the need of the hour.

There were some outstanding presentations in this segment from our very own Deljit Bains, who is the Leader at the South Asian Health Institute advocating deep transformation in the community through engagement with Gurdwaras, Temples and other Social/Religious gatherings to educate and encourage importance of dietary changes in the food served in these places. There are many Gurdwaras who have adopted healthier, wholesome diet by reducing the amount of Sugar/Carbohydrates in their diet and paving the path for preventing and curing Diabetes especially in the South Asian Community where its prevalence is extremely high. Dr.Gulzar Cheema, former Minister in BC Government also shared his work on ICON –  Intercultural Online health Network (iCON), a community-driven health promotion initiative that supports multicultural communities, patients and caregivers across BC to optimize chronic disease prevention and self-management. The focus of the sessions in this segment was also on the other NCDs – Non Communicable Diseases and different preventative strategies that are taking place in India as well as Canada.

The mood of the conference started to shift from waging a war on the Diabetes on one side of the spectrum to making peace with the Mind on the other side of the spectrum.

Mental Illness, the silent killer of modern times has definitely emerged as the hottest topic of the conference. It definitely broke the silence of the participants, audience and the officials in the Fraser Health and Government as the presentation on Substance abuse and related disorders by Dr.Nitasha Puri rolled in about the need for immediate action in prevention and cure of the crisis. Her work with Roshni clinic, a new clinic to support people in the South Asian community who are struggling with substance use is highly commendable. Presentation by Dr.Suman Kollipara focused on alternative and integrated approaches like Meditation and Self-Empowerment tools in the prevention of Mental Illness through the work of their Non-Profit Peace Tree Innovations Society’s vision of Educate, Experience, Enlighten drew a lot of attention as a way to not only prevent Mental Illness but as therapeutic intervention in healing many of the illness. The discussions followed have stirred many aspects of mental illness which was summarized and collaborated by Dr.Anson Koo, Program Medical Director and Regional Department Head, Fraser Health MHSU and Dr.Victoria Lee, Chief Medical Health Officer and Vice-President, Population Health in the Fraser Health Region of British Columbia.

The session about the Public Health approaches to Palliative Care in India and BC with regards to the work done by Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration was presented by Dr.Doris Barwich, Dr.Gillian Fyes and the discussions were facilitated by Dr.Simon Sutcliffe and Dr.Bob Defaye. The importance of palliative care cannot be ignored with the world which is on a rise with the cases of cancer impacting every single family in one way or the other. Kudos to the advocates like them who selflessly have been steering the palliative care at the grassroots across the globe, especially to the needy who cannot afford terminal care in the complex treatment of Cancer.

The sessions on Leadership in Health triggered stimulating discussions from both sides of the planet with eminent speakers like Dr.Arvind Lal, Dr.Anupam Sibal, Dr.Robert Woolard who brought decades of their experience in shedding light in the need for better practices in the Health care from top down. The need for empowering the Physicians was presented through a very scientific LEADS framework with simple principles of Lead Self, Engage Others, Achieve Results, Develop Coalition, and Systems Transformation. It is interesting and important to note that Dr.Arun Garg and CINI embodies these 5 principle foundations of leadership in their work in building Healthy Civil Society. They have become the founding principles in the success of the vision and mission of CINI’s work with the community across the multicultural and multidimensional landscape.

The evening of the second day of the conference ended with a grand Banquet dinner at the Royal King Palace and Convention Center in Surrey. This is a one of a kind Banquet with people from all segments of life have assembled to celebrate two nations, two cultures, two voices, to become ‘One’ under the Leadership of Dr.Arun Garg and the roof of CINI. The evening saw all sections of the society come together under one umbrella to celebrate life at its best and to create Health in its many dimensions. There were Stalwarts from all walks of life including Business, Innovations, Technology, Education, Universities, Health Care, Politics, Administration, NGOs and Change Agents from all sectors. It was a celebration of Health, Happiness, Food, Music and Culture at its best. The entire Convention Center resonated with National Anthems of Canada and India, presentations from the eminent leaders on the both sides of the world which gave a glimpse of richness of Canada and glory of India as well as the similarities in the democratic power of people of both nations. The convention was like a festive cruise ship carrying thousands across the sea of humanity to new horizons of friendship, partnership and collaboration. The voices of individuals on the stage, with the thumping standing ovation for the noble work of Dr.Arun Garg echoed in the air that evening. The colors of both cultures blending to become One was clearly evident with the Light that emanated from the sense of Oneness. It was a celebration that Heavens would have envied without doubt. The MCs of the evening, Davin Garg and Angelina from Spice Radio have enthralled and entertained the audience with great sense of humor while ensuring everyone was focused on the essence of the program. The performances of classical music and Tabla from the world renowned artist duo of Vancouver, Cassius Khan and Amika Kushwaha mesmerized and transcended the audience to ancient times of India with rhythms galvanizing the hearts and beats moving the souls to ecstasy.

The third day of the conference brought immense variety to the table with 2 major sessions on the Integrative Medicine and Health as well as Technology and Innovation in Health industry.

With the advent of Modernization and Innovation, human lifestyle has taken many twists and turns in the past century.

Even though the Modern medicine has been able to help humanity in dealing with many infectious diseases as well as with Critical care, its role has been limited in terms of prevention and care of Non Communicable diseases.

In the last 2 decades there is an eruption of Life style diseases, in a way has gone out of control.

The damage can be contained and very well be prevented and cured with wisdom from ancient times.

The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Ayurveda, Yoga and Aboriginal Medicine can play a huge role in not only bridging the gap in treatment and prevention of these illness, but also bring into light some of these ancient forms of healing that have stood the test of time. The Integrative Medicine and Health had an amazing line up of speakers from Medical professionals, Research Scientist as well as TCM and Yoga practitioners who have reflected on their personal journeys as well as those of patients that they work with on a day to day basis. There is already a strong footprint of these ancient healing practices in Canada and no dearth of opportunity to import more from India especially with world embracing these forms to boost health and wellness. The presentations included importance of Integrative Medicine in the prevention of Dementia, Supportive Cancer care, Food as medicine, TCM, Aboriginal medicine and Integrated Yoga Therapy by experts in these areas. The message is clear that it’s time to integrate these practices with the critical care provided in the hospitals and clinics to help people make the choices when it comes to taking charge of their wellness.

The session on Technology and Innovation definitely gave a kick to the end of the conference where there were presentations about Artificial Intelligence in Health Care, Taking action against Tuberculosis, Role of Technology in access to Health Information, Mobile technologies as well as using Neurotechnology in Youth Depression and Addiction. The discussions around these topics brought into limelight the need for integrating innovation and technology into Health care for efficient and elegant health systems that can deliver quality care. It was evident that there is no escape from technology, but identifying ways to marry them together so that there is seamless integration for faster and better health care, end to end.

There were also two round tables that happened around the Technology and Integrative Medicine. Both the roundtables were focused on identifying research opportunities between India and Canada in building bridges for incorporation of modern innovation on one side and ancient technology on the other side.

At the end, It was clear that there is no one single path to success, but an amalgamation of various practices, technologies, mindsets will create a collaborative platform for people with different perspectives to come together and work in unison for building a robust future. This approach will benefit generations to come.

It reminds the words of the Nobel Laurate and Poet, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore from India:

“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high, where knowledge is free. Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls. Where words come out from the depth of truth, where tireless striving stretches its arms toward perfection. Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit. Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever widening thought and action. In to that heaven of freedom, my father, let my Country Awake.” This applies both to Canada and India and infact the whole world. If we can all work together with pure minds and hearts filled with love we can achieve and attain greatest heights. I see Dr.Arun Garg as an epitome of such courage, confidence, conviction and clarity with which sky is not the limit. We can all create Heaven on Earth, here and now.

Heartfelt gratitude to Harpreet Singh who has brought his famous TV show to the location of the conference and recorded live discussions with some of the eminent Doctors, Scientists and Change makers to help the entire Canada witness the glory of the CINI conference. It goes without saying that the immense support of AAJ Media group and the CEO Suki Pangalia was indispensable in making the conference a huge success with their presence before, during and after the conference in carrying the flag of CINI, Canada and India together.

Also a note about the food that has been served during the conference which has been consciously chosen with a blend of aroma and taste from various parts of the world by boosting the energy for the body, satisfying the senses & Mind while soothing the soul.

CINI 2018 is reflection of strength in Unity in spite of diversity in beliefs, cultures, and ideas. The biggest take away from the conference is clear hope that when the minds are clear, hearts are open, miracles can happen, and there is no other miracle than the conviction of creating a Healthy Civil Society. Heartfelt Kudos to the board of CINS as well as every single individual, volunteer, sponsor who have worked tirelessly to make this conference a mega success bridging the two nations and a billion hearts into One.

The amazing voice of Pta (Panditain) Gargee Siddhanta Dutta enthralled the audience at the Burnaby Hall on the 24th of June 2018 , during the performance organised by Pandit Jasraj School of Music Foundation (PJSOMF).  Dressed in a beautiful silk saree, Pta Gargee was a picture of calm, serene and sophistication on the stage.  She started off with Raag Yaman in Vilambit Ektaal with a short and sweet alaap and proceeded to elaborate the raag in a very intricate way. Later she presented a Hanuman Bhajan in Raag Jog which was greatly appreciated by one and all. Many times, classical musicians are so involved in technique that the emotional aspect of the raag is lost but Pta Gargee, with her skillful technique, was par excellence when it came to the expression of the devotional aspect of the composition. Her presentation was soul stirring and she was completely involved with the spirit of the song. Her second devotional song Shree Krishna Chandra Ne was heavenly and filled with a lot of “Bhav” (emotion) and was a wonderful tribute to her Guruji Pandit Jasraj ji.   Mrs. Nina Budhhadev of Vois Crèatives, The Bandish Network, India Currents Magazine, and a well-known music and art personality in Vancouver had this to say about the concert “I was touched by the Hanuman Ji Ki Rachna in Raag Jog, one of my most adored raags. In the second half the bhajan, ‘Shri Krishna Chandra Ne’ reached me. As always, the PJSOMF evening was warm, welcoming and hospitable.” The compositions that followed were brilliant and rendered beautifully by Pta Gargee.  

Ms. Anjali Joshi, a multitalented musician from Seattle who plays a number of musical instruments like the harmonium, santoor, violin and numerous others, provided exemplary melodious support to Pta Gargee while our own Vancouver based tabla exponent Mr. Amarjeet Singh accompanied and provided outstanding support throughout the entire concert. Amarjeet imparts knowledge of this percussion instrument to students of classical Indian music through The Naad Foundation. I have watched and heard Amarjeet Singh a number of times in Vancouver, but this was among his best performances. Pta Gargee’s young daughter was very comfortable providing vocal support to her mother. Mr. Krishna Teja of Pandit Jasraj School of Music, with his deep voice, was an excellent addition as a vocal support to Pta Gargee. The artists were introduced by Mr. Rohan Khadilkar and the entire evening was filled with an excellent selection of rhythms and raags. The last composition in Bhairavi was a perfect finale to the entire musical evening.  Pandit Jasraj school of Music Foundation has an excellent group of musicians and music lovers who work relentlessly to promote Indian classical music in Vancouver. 

Photos provided by Shishir Gopinath 

I believe that being Mayor is about providing leadership and working in consultation with all elected councilors to build consensus around solutions for Saanich. It also means listening effectively to residents and staff and to actively addressing community needs. In addition, it requires advocating effectively at times with higher levels of government to get great things done for Saanich.

About Fred

Fred is an independent, remarkably effective first term councilor with decades of community service.  A business owner with a Ph.D. in diabetes, he takes an evidence-based approach to policy.  Together with Cathy, his wife, he has 3 college age sons, who motivate him to create a vibrant future for all.

In his first term Fred delivered outstanding results by working as a collaborative problem solver. He successfully brought forward initiatives on housing, economy, diversity, community safety, environment, and solved thorny issues, including the long-standing Gordon Head cattle feedlot problem.

Experience that matters

Experience on council is essential for a candidate for Mayor. These past four years, Fred has studied and learned a tremendous amount how Council works and how to be effective in that group. He has educated himself on how to deliver positive results for residents.  Fred found it possible to build consensus even with a diverse range of opinions. Building win-win solutions that tackle old problems in new ways is one of his strengths.

Of his successes, one Fred is very proud of is helping secure federal funding for co-op housing. He worked on the “You Hold The Key Campaign” with the BC Co-operative Housing Federation and Saanich Council. Fred took a successful resolution to the Canadian Federation of Canadian Municipalities annual meeting. This helped secure extended Federal financial support for this important component of housing.  Separately, he achieved a similar outcome after lobbying for improved Federal support for renovation tax credits for seniors. These enable seniors to better age in place, and stay in their homes.  Having a Mayor who can successfully work with higher levels of government on behalf of residents is key to solving issues that are local, but outside municipal powers.

For rural Saanich, Fred has made a practical difference to local farmers. Working with our farmers, Council and the Peninsula and Area Agricultural Commission, he was able to update our bylaws so that farmers can better protect their crops from predation by deer, geese and rabbits. This helps the farm economy, and improves food security.

A housing advocate, Fred had great success with increasing on-campus student housing. Working with the Union of British Columbia Municipalities, he won unanimous support for a request from the Mayors and Councilors of BC to the Provincial Government. The outcome was some $450 million in financing from the Province wide to address this. The University of Victoria is responding with plans to build some 770 new housing units. This helps us all, as the off-campus students will be able to move on campus, freeing up precious rental homes.

Other key housing initiatives by Fred include advancing opportunities for garden suites in Saanich, small lot family homes, and more multifamily rental housing. There is housing crisis and we need more diversity in our supply. As a director on the Coalition to End Homelessness Fred is also working on supported housing initiatives.  If elected as Mayor, he will continue to this important work.

Meanwhile, as our population grows we need to balance urban development with the maintaining and improving our urban green spaces and our agricultural lands. With good foresight and progressive planning Fred believes we can build an amazing sustainable future together. This includes respecting the Agricultural Land Reserve and our Urban Containment Boundary. It includes environmentally responsible planning and gentle infill where appropriate, particularly on transit corridors.

Economic development is also vital. We need to build our business and commercial activities in Saanich. This will help take the pressure off of our residential tax base. It will help reduce the need of annual tax increases. Mayor and Council must also respect the tax payer, which means spending within our means.

Fred’s guiding principles: Fiscal responsibility; Environmentally responsible housing; Protecting rural Saanich and our natural areas; Support local businesses; Working together.