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.

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.

It’s November 1977; a young, deeply religious, Sikh man with God in his heart and obedience in his soul, moves in spirit from Bombay, India, to conquer the world with a purpose to fulfill a dream of succeeding in a foreign country.That country – Canada!

With a courageous outlook in life and a willingness to confront change, Mr. Rachhpal Gupta, after deep thought and prayer, makes a decision that will prove to be one of the most important ones in his life. To move from his homeland to face the unknown, leaving his security at home, not knowing what he may face ahead in the future.

In the month of November, in the cold beginning of a Canadian winter, Rachhpal Gupta arrives in Canada with only about $5.00 in his pocket.Trusting in his Creator to guide him, he felt secure in his faith that he would be supported as needed to get a start in a new country, Canada. 

The brotherhood of his Sikh comrades came to his rescue, and the Temple of support offered was all that was needed to help him along. 

Rachhpal acquired a job in Lynn Valley, BC as a machinist and worked there for five years. What a great way to make a step up from where he was. But a step forward was always on his mind, and after working at another job in restaurant management he decided to take the ultimate plunge. 

Another courageous action would be taken – to open a restaurant.  On Feb 1, 1978, India Gate Restaurant would open to caress the taste buds of the Vancouver Down-Town Community. 
 
Vancouver residents would be treated to a surprise of Cultural Cuisine that they had never experienced before. The adventure of two cultures meeting proved to be a marriage of gourmet enjoyment and a friendship grew and grew and over time a dream would be realized.

The young man who left his parents farm in India was now a success story, blessing his parents with a story of achievement that would leave them feeling fulfilled in spirit.

A new day would dawn when he was introduced to his love of his life and he married in 1974 to Satinder Gupta. Satinder, a well-educated lady studied to be a teacher but decided she would join her husband in achieving the restaurant dream of success together.

Word of mouth was spreading and an article by James Barber gave an additional boost to the restaurant’s popularity. 

Life was good; the restaurant business delivered. After hard work late nights and early morning rising with the sun shining bright to each new day, blessings were bestowed upon this deeply religious Sikh Canadians.

Mr. and Mrs. Gupta would later have two beautiful children, Jagdeep, a doctor and the other, Gurmeet, dedicated to the family restaurant business. To this day, after sixteen years and working eight to twelve hours a day seven days a week, Gurmeet is still working hard to keep the “Gate to India Food” open. It is one of the most successful Indian restaurants in Vancouver and one of the first. 

Gurmeet Gupta has found many challenges in keeping the restaurant flourishing with the change in economic currents highs and lows. Real estate prices are soaring. Businesses in Vancouver are coming and going and established clientele having to move away from the downtown core left Gurmeet with the constant need to promote and he had to find ways to bring in new customers and is always working extra hard to deliver in quality of food, service, and pricing.

His synergistic approach seems to be paying off. Having found that right balance is always a smart and productive way to go forward. 

With the cost of living going up and the fluctuation of the dollar being a concern, it is difficult to afford high wages and keep productive, quality staff that enjoy working in the restaurant industry. Despite the challenges India Gate has a bright future ahead and will remain,

The Gate Way to an India Cuisine to be lived, loved and remembered.From all the staff at AJJ and from all the Canadian and international public you have served over the years, May the sun never set on your success. 

Columnist, Patrick Vancrooner 

Known for his signature – ‘Music for the Planet’, Ricky and this large star-studded ensemble will play compositions from his latest album ‘Shanti Samsara – World Music for Environmental Consciousness’. This album was launched in the presence of world leaders at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, Paris COP21, and has since gained a following with numbers running into millions.

Oh yes, he’s played the field, with fifteen studio albums released in international markets and over 3,500 commercials for radio and television. He even scored music for the opening ceremony of the Cricket World Cup 2011, which was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Grammy® Award Winner aside, Ricky is a US Billboard #1 artist, an internationally renowned Indian Music Composer, Conservationist and Professor, who has had the honor of performing twice at the United Nations General Assembly, NY, among other famed venues around the world.

Ricky is a recipient of the United Nations ‘Global Humanitarian Artist’ award. Among other awards under his belt are ‘Producer of the Year’ at the South African Music Awards (South Africa), ‘Album of the Year’ at the Zone Music Awards (New Orleans), ‘Global Indian Music Award’ and ‘Mirchi Music Awards’ (India), and Centre for Conscious Creativity’s ‘FutureVision’ Award (Los Angeles).

Ricky has also been conferred with the title ‘Youth Icon of India’. In the last year, ‘Real Leaders’, a signatory to the United Nations, named him one of the ‘100 Real Leaders’ who ‘inspire the future’, alongside legends like Bill Gates, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Angelina Jolie. This was a moment of pride as he was the sole Indian on that list. The House of Commons, Parliament of Canada, also awarded Ricky for his ‘Outstanding Musical and Humanitarian Achievement’ recently.
As Ricky is gearing up for the concerts he says, “I’m absolutely honored and thrilled to perform in Canada, which is one of the most Environmentally Conscious nations of the world. My music, my work and my life is dedicated to the cause of environment, so reaching out to thousands of people who are already connected with nature at both, Holland Park and Simon Fraser University, is very special to me. The amazing Surrey City Orchestra will be in attendance as well, with two of Canada’s finest musicians, Grammy® Winner Jennifer Gasoi and Grammy® Nominee Ron Korb, and that makes it all the more special!”

Here’s where you can be a part of the experience:

July 22, 2018 (Sunday): 7pm at Surrey Fusion Festival, Holland Park (Free entry for public)

As we eagerly await the Global Symphonic Experience, Ricky Kej lets us in on something, “I have a very special musical dedication to this beautiful country,Canada, and I can’t wait to reveal it! I am grateful to our organizer Vivek Savkur and our generous sponsor Sharn Bhinder and Gold Key Life Insurance”

Here are some nutrition tips to help you feel your best during Ramadan.

1. Stay Hydrated – Drink Lots of Water

Drinking fluids is important as it keeps your body hydrated and replaces any water lost during the day. The risks of not drinking enough water are headaches, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. The best beverage choice is water. Keep a reusable water bottle or glass of water with you during non-fasting hours and make a note to sip water frequently.  If you do not enjoy the taste of plain water, add fruit slices and herbs to your water for more flavour. Try adding cucumber slices and mint, or lemon and lime wedges to water. Avoid beverages that contain caffeine like coffee, excessive tea, and some sodas. Caffeine dehydrates the body. Instead choose water, herbal teas, and other decaffeinated beverages most often.

2. Break the Fast with a Balanced Snack

At Iftar, meaning the meal after sunset, the day time fast is broken by eating a snack. A traditional, healthy choice is eating 1 to 2 large dates and 1 cup of low fat milk. Dates are a dried fruit high in potassium, magnesium, vitamin B6, and fibre, and milk is a good source of calcium, water, and potassium. This combination helps replenish electrolytes and rehydrate the body. You can replace dates with other dried fruits such as prunes, apricots, figs, raisins, and peaches. Other ways to include more fluids in the day is enjoying a bowl of lentil soup or a stew. Not only will this add extra fibre but hydrate your body as well.

3. Eat A Balanced Meal at Iftar and Suhour

Eating a balanced meal shortly before the next day’s fast begins (Suhour) and after your Iftar snack is important to help you feel your best. The best nutrients to include in a meal are a combination of complex carbohydrates, fiber, and protein.

Good complex carbohydrate choices are whole grain bread, pita, oats, cereal, brown rice, and wild rice. They provide a variety of nutrients to your body like B vitamins, iron, magnesium, and fiber. The fiber in these foods will help you digest food slower and keep you full for longer.  Whichever complex carbohydrate you choose, it is important to pair it with a protein food. Protein helps repair and heal injuries when you get hurt, and build a good immune system. Protein can come from vegetarian foods and non-vegetarian foods. Good protein choices are meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and meat alternatives such as baked beans, lentils, nuts and seeds, and nut butters. Balance your plate with a serving portion of fibrous and vitamin rich fruits and vegetables. Fibrous fruits include bananas, apples, berries such as a banana, apple, berries, tomato, and cucumber.

Here are some meal ideas:

• Oatmeal topped with sliced almonds, chia seeds and fresh or frozen berries.
• Whole grain toast topped with smashed avocado and hardboiled egg. Add a side of unsweetened yogurt and berries.
• Scrambled eggs with spinach and feta wrapped in a whole wheat pita and a fruit on the side.
• Tandoori spiced chicken breast, rice pilaf, and steamed vegetables.
• Lamb sprinkled with fresh herbs like thyme and parsley pan roasted with potatoes and carrots.

4. Avoid processed, fried, and foods with a lot of added sugar

Since non-fasting hours are limited, it is important to limit foods that provide little to no nutritional value. Avoid indulging in highly processed foods like cheese buns, fried foods like samosa and pakoras, and sugary foods like sweets and desserts. You may be offered these foods during non-fasting hours by others or you may be used to keeping them in your home. Just remember while they may fill you up right away, they will not provide you with lasting energy through the day. Instead, choose whole foods packed with nutrition that will hydrate your body before the next fasting day begins.

May this Ramadan be filled with joy and prosperity for you and your loved ones. Enjoy this time with family and bond over a healthy, wholesome meal.

The Word “Nowruz” is made up of two words of “Now” and “Ruz”. In Farsi, “Now” is translated to new while “Ruz” is defined as day. Therefore, word by word, Nowruz means new day. this is a very fitting name as it appropriately stands for the spirit of the Persian new year which is about the end of Winter, the birth of Spring, and a fresh start for those who have been celebrating it for centuries.

A Brief History of Nowruz

A peculiar aspect of Nowruz is that it is celebrated by a diverse group of ethnicities across the globe. As much as some have denoted Nowruz as a secular holiday, it could be partly traced back to the religious tradition of Zoroastrianism. This ancient religion was started by the prophet Zoroaster in the 6^th century BCE. An indispensable tenet of Zoroastrianism is man’s connection to nature. Nowruz is Mother Nature’s call for us to embrace its beauty, inspiration, and its love. It is as if nature allows us to reboot our souls before starting a new beginning, a new journey, and an enlightenment.

Who Celebrate Nowruz

Besides Iran, Nowruz is celebrated in countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Turkey, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, India, United States, and Canada. Keep in mind that the above list is not exhaustive. Across Europe and Australia, Nowruz is celebrated among those from Middle East and Central Asia.

Landmark Traditions of Nowruz

Chahar Shanbe Souri: The Ancient Fire Jumping Tradition

Every year, on the last Wednesday of the year that is about to end, Chahar Shanbe Souri, is celebrated. Word by words, it can be translated as red Wednesday. On such date, people gather and lit bonfires and jump over them. Fire, in ancient tradition, would grant its bright glow and energy to us while taking away our sickly yellowness. In British Columbia, Iranian, Afghan, and Kurd communities celebrate Chahar Shanbe Souri at Ambleside Park and/or Lafarge Lake.

Haft Seen Table: Table of 7 S’s

The word “Haft Seen” is made up of two words, Haft and Seen. Haft in farsi means number 7 and Seen Is the Persian letter for word S. Haft Seen Table is by far the quintessential embodiment of the Nowruz celebration. It is very rare to find a home without a Haft Seen Table decoration around the new year. Be it elaborate or minimalistic, below are some of items that are present in Haft Seen Table:

Seeb (Apple)à standing for health and beauty

Serkeh (Vinegar)à standing for patience

Sabzeh (Sprouted wheat grass)à standing for renewal nature

Sir (Garlic)à standing for good health =

Sumac (Crushed spice of Berries)à standing for the spice of life

Sekeh (Coins)à standing for wealth

Samanu (Wheat Pudding)à standing for sweetness.

Interestingly, Haft Seen Table can also include Qur’an, the holy book of Islam, or the Shahname, an epic story of Persian Kings and princes that was written by Persian poet Ferdowsi in 1000 BCE.

Sizdah Bedar: The last Day of Nowruz Celebration

On the 13^th day of the Nowruz celebration, families spend their time in nature. It is as if this massive picnic takes place. Families share food, sing, dance, and all in all enjoy their time in nature. The word Sizdah Bedar is literally interpreted as getting rid of the 13^th. I remember not really being able to enjoy Sizdah Bedar fully as I was always thinking about school tomorrow and to be quite frank I was never ready to go back. I am certain my parents can relate as adults also went back to work on the day after the Sizdah Bedar.

“In my heart you are the mirthful ray
You are the caring, though my companions they
Happy is the world with the Nowruz and with the Eid
You are both my Eid and my Nowruz today”

Rumi

The gala was put together by organizer Shanjeelin and her brother, Anish Dwivedi, who promise that next year’s event will also possibly see the participation of First Responders from the neighbouring United States, as well as representatives from commonwealth member countries. 

First responders are routinely exposed to traumatic events during their duties, which can lead to long-term stress related illnesses. As such, it is very important for first responders to take care of their mental well-being. 

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a mental illness. Some symptoms of PTSD include a deep sense of helplessness, abnormal fear, feelings of devastation, flashbacks from the event, a feeling of numbness, aversion to social contact, or avoidance of situations that might trigger memories of the event. Some physical responses may include depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, panic attacks, irritability, anger outbursts, difficulty with concentration or memory, feelings of vulnerability, fear of normal every-day activities, or feeling overwhelmed by the smallest of tasks. PTSD is treatable. However, if left untreated, PTSD symptoms can become worse. Some documented cases include addiction to drugs or alcohol; chronic pain, hypertension or physical maladies; self injury; overwhelming fear of death; compulsiveness; personality changes; and self destructive incidents, to name a few.  

A study published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry concluded that Canadian public-safety personnel such as police officers, paramedics, firefighters and correctional workers experience “substantial and heterogeneous difficulties with mental health” at much higher rates than the general public. More than a quarter of 5,813 participants (26.7 per cent) reported symptoms consistent with two or more disorders. In 2017 so far, it’s estimated that 52 first responders have committed suicide in Canada. 

There were a total of 914 overdose deaths in all of 2016, an increase of almost 80 per cent over the number of deaths in the previous year (510). Firefighters who were often the front-line workers in the Down Town East Side, were feeling the strain after responding to the thousands of overdoses in 2016 alone.  

Earlier this year, BC Emergency Health Services began offering paramedics psychological resilience training, in large part owing to the province’s opioid crisis, but also so members are better able to navigate the acute stress they encounter on the job. While seeking help, many first responders face financial challenges in addition to a lot of other challenges. At the end of the day, these first responders are still human beings and they do have emotions; their lives are impacted by tragic events that they have to deal with in the line of work that they do.  

While addressing the guests that were attending the gala, Deputy Chief Paulette Freill referenced an article “Somewhere in America it’s likely a First Responder died last night” by Phil Zachary. The article talks about first responders who lost their lives in the line of duty. For Abbotsford Police Department, this bring backs memories of November 6th when the APD lost a member who was responding to a 911 call. It had been reported a 60-year-old armed man was trying to harm the public. Const. John Davidson responded to that call and was shot by the suspect while protecting the community. In her speech, Deputy Chief Paulette Freill said, “There is no preparation for running into danger. It’s a calling for a first responder, it’s not a job. We run into danger when other people run away from it because we want to help people. First responders deserve gratitude and I would like to thank Shanjeelin and Anish Dwivedi for organizing this first responder’s dinner to show gratitude. Many people think that first responders are like characters in the movies. They put on their uniforms, run into danger, save people, dust off their uniforms, get back in the car and are ready to do that the next day. But it is not like television; there is far more to it than that. [As quoted from the article by Phil Zachary] ‘Ironically, most first responders don’t perish in cinematic fashion . . . Many die in auto or training accidents, from heart attacks, asphyxiation or heat stroke. Like those of us who aren’t sworn to serve and protect, public safety officers typically perish in ways that are decidedly normal. And that’s why they deserve our gratitude. You see, a case might be made that what motivates men and women to wear the uniform is some John Wayne vision of swooping into the most dangerous circumstances of our lives, saving us from our own calamities, then dusting themselves off and hopping back on the truck to play it out again and again, like some weekly television drama. But the statistics would indicate that lives of first responders are antithetically punctuated by the cadence of tedium and the haunting mindfulness that there’s no such thing as routine . . . If heroism is illogical, insensible and something that cannot be scripted, then every first responder is inherently a hero, regardless of whether or not he or she ever saves a life, discharges a bullet or, for that matter, does anything even remotely heroic. [A first responder’s] greatest calling is to stand always ready.’ One in three officers is dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder while on the job. Being able to be that person who helps someone in their time of emergency is a gift that you really can’t understand unless you do it.” 

The organizers of the First Responders Gala have committed to making this an annual event where first responders and their spouses will be invited to attend at no cost to them. The idea behind this event is to show appreciation, and also for first responders to network and connect so that if need be they are able to reach out for peer-to-peer counselling. The organizers would like to take this opportunity to thank community members such as Nasir Kamrudin of Surrey Honda, for stepping up and supporting the cause.   

1) You feel as if you are “walking on eggshells” around this person. This could pertain to feeling physically threatened or feeling scared to share your opinions out of fear of someone’s emotional reactions to what you have to say. If you find yourself hesitating to speak up, or feel like you have to be very cautious around someone, consider it a red flag for a negative and unrewarding relationship. 

2) You don’t feel healthy, and there is no exact medical explanation for your ailments. This could be inexplicable aches and pains, respiratory issues, chest pains, etc. These physical or biological symptoms that doctors are having trouble explaining could be a sign that something is stressing you out – and it could be one of your relationships. It could be your partner, your sibling, your parent, your coworker, etc. Our bodies are very good at detecting things. For example, when something gets stuck in our eyes, we start tearing. When we are stressed, our hair starts to fall out. When we eat something toxic, our body tries to vomit it out. As such, our body can most certainly react to stressful people in our environment as well. Consider what is on the back of your mind, and tackle it. 

3) You are always arguing with the person. Small arguments are considered healthy for any relationship, but constant blow-ups are not good for anyone. If you are struggling to meet common ground with someone and always fighting, you should consider making some changes. As you get to know someone better (and for longer) there should be a shift towards understanding him or her and communication should improve, rather than get worse, over time. 

4) There’s always drama. Would there be less drama in your life if a certain someone wasn’t a part of it? Some drama can keep life interesting and bring people closer together; but incessant turmoil can become a major source of stress and displeasure. If someone has tried to physically assault you, or is hurling hateful and degrading comments at you, you are better off cutting this person out of your life. It should be noted that physical assaults are easy to detect, but mental abuse is harder to spot. Be mindful of people who try to manipulate your mind, lower your self esteem, and generally make you feel bad about yourself. 

5) You find yourself being isolated from important people in your life. Is someone trying to make you feel like your close friends and family members don’t have your best interests at heart (while you know without a doubt that they actually do)? This isolation is potentially a sign that this individual may attempt to control you and doesn’t want anyone to interfere when they do. 

6) The relationship is starting to feel like a competition, where you two are going back and forth trying to hurt each other. Once this cycle starts, be sure to put a stop to it or end the relationship. The past shouldn’t be continuously brought up to hurt someone in the present. Mistakes should be used as a tool for growth, change and progress in a relationship. 

7) Walls are being put up when important topics should be discussed. Communication is key for any successful relationship. If someone is putting up barriers, throwing tantrums or running away when important things need to be discussed, something is wrong. These types of reactions are toxic and immature. 

8) You feel like this person is bringing you down rather than lifting you up. Pay attention to your gut feelings. If you feel like someone is getting in the way of your goals, dreams, ideas or other relationships, consider making some changes or cutting them out of your life. Otherwise, you will begin to resent him or her for the opportunities that could of been had. 

9) You feel like you are always giving, while the other person is constantly taking. Are you always bailing this individual out of problems that they themselves have created? Are you always going out of your way for this person, while they never do so for you? Does the relationship feel imbalanced with hard evidence to support your feelings? If yes, it’s time for an important discussion. 

10) You feel like you can never do anything right. If you are always “wrong” in someone’s eyes, no matter what you do, the relationship is definitely wrong. Some people cannot accept their shortcomings and will project their issues onto you. You have three options with these types of individuals: either you can understand and accept that this is how the relationship will be, or you can try to convince the other person that they need to change and are making you feel this way, or you can end the relationship.  

This year, be mindful of those you surround yourself with. Life is short, and shouldn’t be wasted on people who don’t add to your life in a positive way. You can’t always choose who enters your life, but you can choose how often you interact with them.  

If you are at a crossroads in your relationship, and cannot figure out whether you should save your marriage or end it, take some time to think about some very important things. First, recognize that your happiness is at stake. Many people in our community end up living a life that is a lie, for the sake of their parents; to protect their reputation, and out of fear of “what other people will say.” Some people may argue that happiness is not the end-all-be-all factor. To be honest, happiness is connected to your mental health. If you live unhappily, you are essentially ruining your life – this precious gift that has been offered to you. Recognize that confining yourself to an unhappy marriage is like sending yourself to jail – albeit a mental prison instead. “What people will say” should not take priority over your happiness and your peace of mind. “Other people” are not going to be the ones walking in your shoes, passing the time and living through the days. They are not going to pay your bills, and protect your children. They are simply an audience, and they will talk about you, no matter what you do – good or bad. People will talk about you whether you “walk a straight line” or you don’t. Many of us confine ourselves to toxic relationships because we don’t want to disappoint our parents. If your parents truly care about your wellbeing, they will want you to be happy, and they will understand your decision. 

If you are truly miserable in your marriage, prior to finalizing a divorce, consider couples therapy or independent sessions with a psychologist or counsellor. Sometimes, we have unresolved issues from our childhood that we are accidentally carrying into our adult relationships. It is often difficult for a person to see what they are doing wrong in a situation. By opening up to a third party in confidence, we are able to obtain an unbiased perspective from a knowledgeable professional. Studies have shown that all forms of psychotherapy lead to individual growth in one way or another. Talking out loud leads to insight, which leads to understanding, and enables us to make changes in our day to day lives. More often than not, counselling will improve your relationships and your mental state. Try hard to fix your relationship, especially if you truly care about the person you are with, and have invested a lot of time and energy into it. Every marriage has hurdles – that is the reality. Everyone will annoy you or irritate you in one way or another. You just have to decide who’s worth the long-term commitment. If you try your best to salvage the relationship, but you are still utterly unhappy, be aware that it is never too late to leave, even though “divorce is not an option” in our community.