Darpan july2016

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J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 16

EXPLORE BEAUTIFUL

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KOMAGATA MARU:

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8 TRENDING SUMMER LOOKS

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ello readers, we are excited to bring to you DARPAN’s July-August issue – filled with interesting reads. As you enjoy the beautiful sunshine outdoors, DARPAN will be your ideal companion giving you exciting ideas on beautiful locations to visit in and around Vancouver or the much-needed advice on summer fitness, makeup, clothes or activities. On our cover is award-winning, Harvard-trained doctor, researcher, media expert, writer, and keynote speaker, Dr. Shimi Kang. The talented doctor has always taken the unconventional path, and the many roles she plays in the community and through her work is proof of her journey. She describes it as the “road less travelled.” Dr. Kang shares with DARPAN her extraordinary journey, research work, and future plans. Read an exclusive interview with the hot and handsome Randeep Hooda. From going through a phase when he had no movies for three long years to having not just one but four releases simultaneously in a year. Plus, appreciation from all quarters for all his histrionics, admiration from the likes of Amitabh Bachchan, and a camaraderie with one of the most powerful Khans of the Bollywood industry – it is definitely an upswing for the actor at the moment. Randeep talks about his passion for acting, upcoming movies, and his love for horses. Enjoy the summer watching interesting films releasing in the coming months. Our Bollywood movie guide features upcoming releases starring Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Akshay Kumar, and other big stars. The Hollywood guide on the other hand showcases animated flicks which can be enjoyed by the whole family. We are also a few months away from our Extraordinary Achievement Awards. If you know somebody who deserves this honour, visit our website to nominate the individual. Send your comments, suggestions and thoughts at editor@darpanmagazine.com or leave a message on our social media sites. Have a great summer!

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KOMAGATA MARU:

MOVING PAST AN

APOLOGY FASHION FORWARD

8 TRENDING SUMMER LOOKS

DR. SHIMI

ART DIRECTOR & GRAPHIC DESIGNER Vinay Giridhar

KANG TM JULYTRAVELLED TAKING THE ROAD LESS / AUGUST 2016 1

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Ashley Stephens

COVER CREDITS Cover: Dr. Shimi Kang Photo by: Varsola Visuals

ISSN: ISSN 1920-4000

2016

HOODA

DARPAN Magazine is published by DARPAN PUBLICATION LTD. DARPAN is a bi-monthly magazine. Any reproduction of the magazine, editorial content, images or advertisement cannot be reproduced or reprinted in any form, without prior written permission of the Publishers. The views expressed by the writers in this publication are not necessarily the views of the Publishers. The Publishers assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Copyright 2016 DARPAN Publication Ltd. All rights reserved. Publications sales agreement no. 41116014

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96

CONTENTS J U LY / A U G U S T

2016

138

COVER

102

STORY

24

92

ENTERTAINMENT

44

132 CELEBRITY NEWS IN PICTURES

96 HOME

138 BOLLYWOOD

102 TECH

Embrace your Small Outdoor Space

The On-Screen Bollywood Journal

IN EVERY ISSUE 10 DARPAN’S 10

140 HOLLYWOOD

56 SALUTES

The Rise of the Animaniacs

Breaking the Cycle of Juvenile Recidivism

Alex Sangha

LIFESTYLE

50 YOUTH COLUMN

16 SPOTLIGHTS

70 RECIPES

Conquer Zero Waste with No Waste

Harnarayan Singh Dr. Kanwal Singh Neel

66 NEWS IN PICTURES

Balwant Sanghera

142 GLOBAL INDIANS

54 BUSINESS PROFILES

Nihar Suthar

Khalsa Credit Union

146 CANADIAN IMMIGRANTS

SmileTown Dentistry

Meet the Narula Family

Chef Alfred Prasad

74 BEAUTY

The Magic of Stick Makeup

Tech for Social Good

104 WEDDING Sonia and Ricky

108 ACTIVITIES

Have Fun this Summer

114 TRAVEL

Olympic Peninsula

144 HOROSCOPE

86 STYLE

Travel like a Pro

88 HEALTH

Take a Seat, but don’t Stay Long

92 FITNESS

Working out in the Heat

FEATURES 12 FEATURE Taking Translink in a New Direction

36

36 SPECIAL FEATURE Moving Past an Apology

62 FEATURE

AUTO

Give where you Live

118 Lexus CT 200h

78 FASHION FEATURE

122 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350d

94 FEATURE

Green Green Everywhere

126 Mazda MX-5 with Sport Package

102 FEATURE

128 Ranger Rover Sport Diesel

Fashion Forward

Book v/s Kindle

110 FEATURE Explore the Wild

134 EXCLUSIVE Randeep Hooda

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108

44 FEATURE

Explore Beautiful British Columbia

134

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s r e eRaed actions Cover Story – Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan I enjoyed reading the May/June issue of Darpan. It had a lot of different articles and Aishwarya’s cover story. Thank you for all the hard work the team puts in. Looking forward to more Darpan issues. – Bharat Kumar

Re: Thank you Bharat for your support and kind words. Each issue is put together keeping our readers in mind. We hope you enjoy this issue. – Editor

Come Dine with Me

The restaurant article in the last issue was very interesting to read. I have visited a few of the restaurants mentioned and they serve delicious food. A wonderful article for food-lovers! – Sarah Kapoor

Re: Sarah, the restaurant feature was included to help

our readers enjoy the long summer days with different and mouth-watering food. Thank you for your support. Readers looking to subscribe can visit our website www.darpanmagazine.com – Editor Serving Surrey & Delta

Fitness

Celebrity Pictures

Re: I’m glad you liked the article Mayuri. Fitness should

Re: Yes, Varsha, the Bollywood beauties sizzled at

be included in our daily lifestyle. Enjoy the summer and stay fit with outdoor exercises. – Editor

the Cannes Film Festival. We will continue to feature latest Bollywood news and images for our readers to enjoy. – Editor

Outstanding Agents, Outstanding Results

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The Cannes spread of Bollywood actresses was simply gorgeous. I loved all the outfits Aishwarya, Mallika and Sonam were wearing. Please continue including exciting events in your magazine. – Varsha Patil

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editor@darpanmagazine.com or leave us a message on our social media:

I loved the article on ‘A Playground Workout for your Inner Child,’ it was very helpful. I am definitely going to try out the exercises mentioned. Thank you. – Mayuri Vas

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DARPAN’S 10 1 Tell us about yourself.

can also be victims of oppressive laws and policies. We must stand in solidarity and support each other especially during tragic times like these.

I am an author, social worker, and advocate for equality and human rights, and have worked as an instructor, clinician, counsellor, case manager, social worker, and youth counsellor. I currently work as a team leader for a mental health team with a health authority. In addition, I have a thriving side counselling practice in North Delta where the majority of my clients are Punjabispeaking or South Asian. I have obtained my Registered Clinical Social Worker (RCSW) designation which is the highest clinical designation in social work in BC. My social discussion book, Catalyst, was a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards 2014.

6 How has this incident impacted the LGBT community here?

This incident could have happened in Vancouver. Anyone can walk into a gay bar and kill members of the LGBTQ community. If we don’t condemn these actions then we condone it and it in effect gives permission for others to do the same thing. Society needs to say enough is enough. This type of violence is not acceptable in any civilized society. You have a right to voice your disagreement with us or who we are but you do not have a right to take our lives and that of our youth.

2 You are a founder of Sher Vancouver and Dosti Project, do tell us about these organizations and the work involved?

Sher Vancouver is a social, cultural, and support organization for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Queer (LGBTQ) South Asians and friends. It is affiliated with the Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) Society. Sher provides advocacy, counselling, information, referral, peer support, social activities, volunteer opportunities, and outreach presentations to combat racism, bullying, and other forms of discrimination. We want to create safe spaces where people can seek support and help to deal with sexuality and gender issues. Dosti, meaning “friendship,” is an anti-bullying project from a LGBTQ and South Asian perspective. Sher sent young adults into high schools in Surrey, Delta, Langley and Vancouver to share our coming-out stories and some of the challenges we face growing up as gay and brown. These workshops were really an eye-opening experience for many South Asian youth. For many, it was the first time they have ever met a gay brown person. Sher feels it’s important for gay brown people to have support from their peers to come out. Many gay South Asians are forced into marriages and lead double lives. This is harmful to both husband and wife as both partners are deprived of a loving healthy relationship that is natural for them.

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7 How welcoming is Vancouver towards the queer community?

Alex SAnghA Award-winning author, social worker, advocate for equality and human rights, recipient of Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal for social work, and founder of Sher Vancouver

parts of the world, homosexuality is illegal and our LGBTQ friends are persecuted if not executed in some countries. We have a duty to advocate for equality and fundamental human rights for everyone everywhere. Our beautiful corner of the world can provide support and strength and a blue print to implement improved laws for LGBTQ people around the globe. 4 The First Annual Surrey Pride Parade recently took place. How was the response towards it?

The parade was amazing, there was atleast 1,000 people there. The parade is a good sign that Surrey is becoming a diverse and cosmopolitan city. More and more will come out to the parade every year. Sher Vancouver was proud to be a part of the first Surrey Pride Parade. The Sher contingent was atleast 25 to 30 people strong. Sher will continue to attend Surrey Pride and represent our community.

3 You are the Grand Marshall of the 2016 Vancouver Pride Parade. What are your views about this event?

5 The recent Orlando shooting has got the LGBT society in the news. What was your reaction towards this incident?

I was selected as a Grand Marshall in the Role Model category; I feel very honoured and blessed. Someone told me that I might be the first Sikh that has ever been a Grand Marshall of any major pride parade in a big city. The Vancouver Pride Parade is one of the largest in North America and has hundreds of thousands of people who come out to show their solidarity. People from all backgrounds, gay and straight alike, are welcome to attend and show their support. I feel we can all be “role models.” We can set an example for other countries. In India and many

I was deeply saddened by this news. Almost 50 innocent young people were gunned down; many of them were people of colour. Their lives and potential bright futures were taken from them. It seems obvious to me that the killer was confused and had many issues to deal with. However, the actions of one person should not stereotype an entire community. It is important for the South Asian community to condemn these actions to prevent a societal backlash. The South Asian community at large is vulnerable. We are a minority group; we are also targeted. We

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Vancouver is very welcoming towards the LGBTQ community. Sometimes it’s difficult for visible minorities to fit into the larger LGBTQ community because of cultural and social reasons but that is exactly why Sher Vancouver exists. We have grown to over 600 members now. Sher Vancouver is hosting regular social events and activities. 8 Do you think people are more understanding or receptive towards LGBTs after the incident?

Every community has homophobic and transphobic people. I feel it’s due to a lack of understanding and ignorance. Once you meet LGBTQ people and have them as friends then you’re less likely to hate them. Some gay people even suffer from internalized homophobia which means they do not like themselves for being gay, which is very sad. It is my hope that everyone is true to their sexual and gender identity and can be proud of who they are and live the life they were created to live in peace and happiness. 9 What are your future plans with regards to the LGBT community?

My future plans are to continue to host regular social events for peer support and provide an outlet for LGBTQ South Asians to find support. If we can save even one life then we are doing a great service for the community. LGBTQ youth are at high risk of suicide, depression, addiction, and even homelessness due to abandonment or rejection from their parents. We in the South Asian community must respond to ensure none of our LGBTQ youth have to suffer in such a circumstance. 10 Is there any message you would like to give readers to understand the LGBTs better?

My message is that we are all brothers and sisters. We come from a common origin and we are all a part of humanity. We need to start treating each other like family and this means to support and love each other. Love and unity will prevail over hate.


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DARPAN FEATURE Tapping in to the Compass Card brings both convenience and congestion.

TAKING

TRANSLINK We see consumers using it everyday and we see them drawing

IN A NEW

DIRECTION

the benefits of

By Ashley Stephens

it,” Translink’s spokesperson, Jennifer Morland, told DARPAN. “It’s really easy to use and people are enjoying the auto load. We are just recommending everyone get a Compass Card.”

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t’s been years in the making but with the closure of all fare gates recently on April 4, 2016, Translink’s “new transit fare card for Metro Vancouver has arrived”...finally. The long-awaited but perhaps not much-anticipated project began in 2007 when turnstiles were ordered to be installed at all Skytrain stations in an effort to reduce fare evasion and cut down on crime. Almost 10 years later,

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the Compass Card is finally fully operational. So how has Translink fared now that their new fare system is in place? “When they first brought the Compass Card in, I was against it,” says daily transit user, Tina Keefe. “I thought it was a waste of money and would be too confusing for people. Now that I’ve used it for a bit, I actually quite like it and find it easy to use. It saves

me time as I can load it online or right at a station instead of having to find a retailer to buy a monthly pass.” The convenience of online access, especially the automatic reload feature, has given the card a big boost in popularity. “We see consumers using it everyday and we see them drawing the benefits of it,” Translink’s spokesperson, Jennifer Morland, told DARPAN. “It’s really easy to use and people are enjoying the auto load. We are just recommending everyone get a Compass Card.” The website dedicated solely to the Compass Card (www.compasscard.ca) touts several reasons to register your card, with benefits only available to those who sign up online: to protect the balance on your card if it is lost or stolen to store financial information for future purchases to set up automatic reloads or pass renewals Use of the Compass Card also saves riders money as a one-way fare would normally cost users $2.75. With the card, only $2.10 is deducted from the loaded balance for the same trip while simultaneously eliminating the worry of having the correct amount of change.


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“Now that I’ve used it for a bit, I actually quite like it and find it easy to use.”

DARPAN FEATURE

“It would be amazing if I could load my Compass Card online with PayPal or through my debit.”

A downside to the cards is the potential for a two-hour delay when loading funds online. Users have run into countless problems boarding a bus or train before their funds have been processed, reporting up to 12-hour delays, making the online option counterproductive and inefficient. Unfortunately, commuters still have complaints about the online process. “It would be amazing if I could load my Compass Card online with PayPal or through my debit,” says Alice Rose Stearn, despite praise for the system as a whole. Her comments were

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echoed by many other users who found the online options limiting. Another downside to the cards is the potential for a two-hour delay when loading funds online. Users have run into countless problems boarding a bus or train before their funds have been processed, reporting up to 12-hour delays, making the online option counterproductive and inefficient. “I don’t like it very much,” says an anonymous daily Translink customer. “You frequently need to tap more than once and that’s awful when you’re running to catch the bus. It gets very complicated keeping track of how long your fare has been used for; it’s so easy with the ticket showing you the time.” Glitches with card errors at gates and online inaccuracies have also been cause for concern but should improve as the system continues to evolve. Perhaps the biggest complaint coming from commuters is the lack of turnstiles for entering and

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“Our stations just weren’t built with the Compass in mind.”

exiting busy Skytrain stations. It’s causing delays and a whole lot of headache at times when users are rushing to make their connection or get to work on time. “Our stations just weren’t built with the Compass in mind,” says Katie Lee, who compared the system to other major cities with similar cards but a better infrastructure for fare gates. “The reason these systems work in other cities is because they’ve installed enough gates for the amount of people using trains on a daily basis. There’s already a huge mess of people coming off the trains and trying to go up on their single escalator. Now there’s even more of a backup of people trying to tap in and out.” And with gates not opening quickly or machines taking too long to register a “tap,” crowds are constantly building.

“It gets very complicated keeping track of how long your fare has been used for; it’s so easy with the ticket showing you the time.”

While many commuters find Translink’s newest endeavour to be poorly executed and often confusing, the transit authority realizes the Compass Card is not without challenges. “One of the things we were working on with customers was that customers were tapping in but they weren’t tapping out of this system,” explains Morland. “That meant they were paying three zones instead of one zone, but now with the gates closing, you will have to tap out to get out of stations. That will make sure the customers are charged the correct fare.” Change isn’t always easy, to have on hand or to adapt to, and the Lower Mainland’s transit users seem to be taking the updates in stride, albeit a slower stride than they’d like. The benefits don’t quite outweigh the challenges yet but, with the exception of space at the gates, users are hopeful the Compass Card has Translink heading in the right direction.


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DARPAN SPOTLIGHT

Harnarayan Singh ACHIEVING HIS GOALS BY SHANEL KHALIQ

Singh hosts Hockey Night in Canada on OMNI TV, possibly the only National Hockey League game broadcasted in a language other than English or French.

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ew of us can say that they stuck to their childhood aspirations. But Harnarayan Singh, a well-known sports broadcaster, did. “I still have a grade four project I did, where I had written, ‘When I grow up, I think I want to be a hockey commentator or critic’.” Singh hosts Hockey Night in Canada (HNIC) on OMNI TV, possibly the only National

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Hockey League (NHL) game broadcasted in a language other than English or French. A few months back, the Punjabi broadcaster got further recognition after his commentary on player Nick Bonino scoring a goal went viral and became a Twitter sensation. What made this moment special for him was that “it just wasn’t the fans, but the team, players and coaches also enjoyed the call.” TM

The incident now occupies a special place in his heart: “It’s been such a memorable and special experience, especially being able to see how much publicity we received in the US because of it. I’ll never forget being able to surprise the Pittsburgh Penguins players in their dressing room, walking in saying BoninoBonino-Bonino, having Mario Lemieux chat about the call with us, and also, being a part of the championship celebrations with the fans there.” Singh’s passion for hockey dates back to the time he learned how to walk. He recalls wearing Oiler’s pyjamas and the Gretzky hockey sweater since his early school days. He began playing in school and continued to do so till junior high. Meanwhile, he became more and more obsessed with learning everything about the sport. “I was memorizing the jersey numbers of players and team statistics, collecting countless hockey cards and always re-sorting them over and over again, while also trying to play the role of Gretzky in any ball hockey games I played. Through junior high and high school, I began winning a lot of fantasy hockey pools and I would live, breathe and speak hockey all day with my teachers and classmates,” recounts the Wetaskiwin-born. According to his family, Singh was always a “storyteller” – that, combined with his love for hockey, got him interested in sports broadcasting as well. Whenever there was a game on, he would go all around the living room emulating commentators and analysts. It was in high school that he got his first break – to cover the school’s news and sports on the local radio station in Brooks, Alberta. That is when he realized that he might have a shot in the industry. Coming back to HNIC, each show requires long hours of preparation. Not only does Singh have to stay up to date on hockey news at all times, he has to make sure to follow the 30 different teams in the entire league. Preparing for each show is a process that begins about a week in advance. After having conference calls, the team decides what story lines will be focused on in the show. “Basically, you want to be totally up to speed on what’s happening with the teams you’re covering. That includes stats but also storylines in terms of injuries, contracts, who’s doing well, who isn’t, who’s playing with who, what’s working, what’s not and the reasons why,” he explains, “For a broadcaster, you want to have the player’s numbers and names memorized too because the game is played at such a fast speed, you can’t be second guessing who has the puck.”


Not only is the show a need for the community, it is filling a massive void for the sport of hockey. I’ve met parents who’ve told me that their children are playing minor hockey after being inspired by the show.” Singh has been associated with the show for almost a decade now. Growing up as a hockey lover, he had not foreseen that hockey would be broadcast in Punjabi someday. Today however, when Punjabi is the third most spoken language in Canada, he sees it more as a need of the day. “We receive feedback that Punjabi people have a stronger camaraderie at work now because they can participate in conversations about hockey,” he says. It is also serving as a way for immigrant families to bond with their children and grandchildren and connect to Canadian culture. “Families tell us their grandparents adore the show because it’s a way for them to participate in Canadian culture. Not only is the show a need for the community, it is filling a massive void for the sport of hockey. I’ve met parents who’ve told me that their children are playing minor hockey after being inspired by the show,” says Calgary-based Singh. The sports broadcaster feels that educating ethnically-diverse communities is something that hockey as a sport needs to do more of in order to diversify. The existence of opportunities is not as well-known due to which he feels that not as many children from minorities are participating. “For example, it’s talked about that hockey is an expensive sport. However, what’s a lesser known fact is that there are so many resources for families to help decrease the cost. You can easily get used equipment that is still in mint condition. There are programs that provide equipment free of cost to families who cannot afford it,” he explains. Singh credits the HNIC team for bringing hockey home to the Punjabi community. They try to combine food, humour, music and all other community characteristics into the show to help expand their fan base. “I do believe though, that it is just a matter of time before we start seeing more diverse names in the NHL. The Edmonton Oilers drafted Jujhar Khaira, who is originally from Surrey, and he played a number of games in the NHL last season and is looking to hopefully be a stalwart in the team’s lineup for years to come. There are more Punjabi players coming up through the junior ranks in the Western Hockey League and the Ontario Hockey League,” he says summing up.

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Dr. Neel has been bestowed with a number of accolades over the years. Most recently he received an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from the Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) for his commitment to the community in education, athletics and community service.

Dr. Kanwal Singh Neel Humanitarian at Heart BY SHANEL KHALIQ

Dr. Neel is the Coordinator for the SFU Friends of Simon Tutoring Project. He has also been a community volunteer for over 40 years.

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r. Kanwal Singh Neel is a renowned name in education and community work throughout the country. The internationally-acclaimed educator believes that the greatest benefit of education lies not only in what you have learnt, but also in learning how to learn. The passion for education was something Dr. Neel acquired early on. His father had spent many years teaching science and

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his mother Punjabi. He himself had been coaching athletes with the Richmond Track and Field Club during his undergraduate years and so teaching in some form or the other became his true calling. For Dr. Neel, this vocation is simply fulfilling. “As a teacher I believe that education is a key element in fostering social responsibility, which breaks racial and cultural barriers,” he shares. TM

Peaceful coexistence and diversity were also themes that featured in Dr. Neel’s life from a very young age. His parents immigrated to Kenya from India in the 1950s. This is where he acquired primary education, and living amidst a multicultural community he learned to speak five different languages – Punjabi, English, Kiswahili, Hindi and Gujarati. He was also involved in the Boy Scouts, St. John First Aid, activities at the Gurdwara, and other organizations in his growing years. In 1969, his family moved to Canada. After completing his high school diploma at Steveston Secondary School in Richmond, Dr. Neel went on to acquire a B.Sc in Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of British Columbia (UBC). In 1977 he acquired his Teaching Certificate at UBC and began his teaching career with the Richmond School District. It was in 1994 that he conceived and cohosted a television series called Math Shop, produced by Knowledge Network, that helped students visualize math problems and understand complex and challenging concepts. “Each of the sixteen half hour shows that we taped would start by identifying a contextual problem; teach the mathematical concepts that would enable


Photos: Kwantlen Polytechnic University

us to solve the problem; finally apply the concepts learnt and solve the problem. To this date a generation of young adults acknowledge that they honed their mathematical skills by watching the award winning Math Shop,” says Dr. Neel. In 1999, during his tenure as President of the British Columbia Association of Mathematics Teachers (BCAMT), Dr. Neel had the opportunity to travel across BC and identify that Aboriginal students across the province struggled with mathematics in the classroom particularly. He then went on to focus his Doctoral Thesis research on finding ways to address this problem and produced math education resources for the Haida, Squamish and Stó:lõ Nations. At present, Dr. Neel is the Coordinator for the SFU Friends of Simon Tutoring Project, providing students as tutors to immigrant and refugee children. Besides being an educator, Dr. Neel has also been a community volunteer for over 40 years. He was the founding director of the Punjab Cultural Association, where he actively promoted the arts through Bhangra since the 70s. “I believe in fusion and educating the various communities of Canada about their distinct culture and history,” says Dr. Neel, who has in the past coordinated the 75th Anniversary of the Komagata Maru Incident, hosted many community events/fundraisers, and officiated international level Racewalk and Track and Field meets. “It is our past that informs us about the present, that shapes our future. Since 1989, when I coordinated events during the 75th Anniversary of the Komagata Maru incident, I have been actively reminding Canadians that we need to be vigilant so that in the future we don’t revisit a time when there was open exclusion and discrimination,” states he. Dr. Neel has been bestowed with a number of accolades over the years – namely the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for recognition of his significant contributions and achievements in 2012; Prime Minister’s National Award for Teaching Excellence in Science, Technology and Mathematics; and most recently an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from the Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) for his commitment to the community in education, athletics and community service. According to Dr. Allan Davis, President and Vice-Chancellor of KPU, “Kanwal has inspired hundreds of students and teachers throughout his career in education. He demonstrates a passion and commitment to the success of all learners.” A man who leads by example, Dr. Neel’s advice is to use education as a means to help others. “Continue to learn and live with passion and be an agent for change in helping those that are not so fortunate with compassion,” he sums up.

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DARPAN SPOTLIGHT

Sanghera has dedicated a vast majority of his life to community service.

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here’s something to be dice or racism during his teachBY career GARIMA GOSWAMI said about a man who has ing back then, he andedicated a vast majority swers, “No. I was very fortunate Girish Agrawal, Calgary resident, of his life to community service. in theasense that I was always What makes this even well-respected. The main theme hasmore dedicated his summit at remarkable is that he did so as of my life is to focus on mutual Mt. Kilimanjaro towards reforming an ethnic minority in a country respect amongst all cultures.” India’s lacking sanitation. which was initially foreign to After a teaching career, Sanghim. This man is the honourable hera received his Master of EdBalwant Sanghera – a retired ucation from UBC and in 1990 School Psychologist, community became a school psychologist activist, and President of Punjabi with the Burnaby School District. Language Education Association (PLEA). Not only is he a highly decorated man in the form of numerous impressive awards and titles, Sanghera is also a humble individual who applies a simple and positive life philosophy. He holds the belief that intercommunity harmony can be achieved if we all just share a mutual respect for one another. Sanghera’s journey began much like many others in his generation who immigrated here from India. He moved to Canada in 1966 at the age of 25. Roughly a year after that, he moved to Nelson, BC, where he obtained his teacher training certificate and began teaching at Hudson’s Hope, BC. It wasn’t long before his spectacular work ethic was recognized; within his first year of teaching, he was elected president of the teacher’s association. The next phase of his life involved 17 years of teaching in Lillooet, BC. Here too, he was quite active in his local community – he served six terms as city councillor. When questioned if he ever experienced any preju-

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DARPAN SPOTLIGHT

Photo: A Master Media Photography

It was Sanghera’s desire to “promote his mother tongue – Punjabi” that led him to focus on the importance of keeping the language alive and prominent in BC.

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Hard work, dedication, and perseverance served to be the key tenets with which he has been able to achieve such a successful and rewarding career. An average day in Sanghera’s life involves an immense amount of multi-tasking. He plays an active role in the Indo-Canadian community by serving on the boards of numerous organizations. He is part of the Richmond Multi-Cultural Community Services Organization, and the Gurdwara Nanak Niwas Indian Cultural Centre of Canada. He is a former member of the board of directors of the Sikh Alliance Against Youth Violence and a former member of City of Richmond

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Intercultural Advisory Committee. He served as vice-chairman of the board of Langara College, as a Senator at Simon Fraser University from 1994-2001, and as chairperson of the BC Teachers’ Federation Committee of Ombudspersons. The Richmond-based community activist has played an active role in the fight against youth and gang violence in the South Asian community. He currently serves on the South Asian Community Coalition Against Youth Violence. It was Sanghera’s desire to “promote his mother tongue – Punjabi” that led him to focus on the importance of keeping the language alive and prominent in BC. It gave birth to PLEA – an organization that aims to promote the use of Punjabi language. Sanghera shares that his interest in social work relevant to his community first began when he lived away from his family in Hudson’s Hope. “I was the only IndoCanadian teacher in Hudson’s Hope. The two things I missed the most during my time there was my language Punjabi and roti,” he explains.

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Sanghera has received several accolades for his work. In recognition of his efforts, he was appointed to the Order of British Columbia in 2004. He was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002, Solicitor General Community Safety and Crime Prevention Lifetime Contribution Award in 2011, and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. Sanghera, who was named one of the 100 most influential Indo-Canadians by the Vancouver Sun, believes the awards to be “a bonus,” further elaborating that, “the true reward is to see the difference I have made in my community.” Community service is Sanghera’s passion, and he hopes to continue doing whatever he can for his community. “I want to remain as active in the community as possible,” says he, adding that his current goals also involve enjoying the time with his family and grandchildren. Before parting, he states, “We are all Canadian. We should be proud of not only that but our own heritage as South Asians as well.”


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Taking the road less travelled An award-winning, Harvard-trained doctor, researcher, media expert, writer, and keynote speaker – Dr. Kang has always taken the unconventional path, and the many roles she plays in the community and through her work is proof of her journey. She describes it as the “road less travelled.” “I have always taken the path that is the least popular or the least conventional,” she says with pride. BY PETRINA D’SOUZA

Dr. Shimi

Kang

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t is rare that one is brave enough to take the road less travelled and accomplish great things. Yet, that is not the case for Dr. Shimi Kang – in fact, she is the exception who has achieved a great deal through her work, interests, awards and her commitment to society, and her flourishing journey has still a long way to go. An award-winning, Harvard-trained doctor, researcher, media expert, writer, and keynote speaker – yes, Dr. Kang has always taken the unconventional

path and the many roles she plays in the community and through her work is proof of her journey. She describes it as the “road less travelled.” “I have always taken the path that is the least conventional,” she says with pride. The earliest examples of this is her starting medical school at the age of 19, taking a year off to work internationally, and then opting for psychiatry as her speciality. When deciding what speciality to do in medical school,

Dr. Kang was a favourite for competitive, prestigious, and high-paying specialities. But the ambitious doctor chose psychiatry, the speciality called “the orphan of medicine” that many people did not opt for. “I think my journey has always been the right decision for me. It’s made the difference in terms of stretching into new territories, expanding my own awareness, and making an important impact that is desperately needed by society at this moment in time.” It was, in fact, an internship

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COVER STORY

Dr. Shimi Kang is the author of The Dolphin Parent: A Guide to Raising Healthy, Happy, and Self-Motivated Kids and The Self Motivated Kid. The Dolphin Parent combines irrefutable science, unforgettable true stories, and Dr. Kang’s own life experiences as a mom of three and the fifth child of immigrant parents. at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland, during her year off medical school that gave Dr. Kang a closer understanding of mental health. “I was placed in the department of mental health and substance use. It was here that I really saw the worldwide impact of mental health issues,” she recalls. At WHO, she learnt hard-hitting facts like mental health affects one in four people on the planet; depression will be the number two cause of disease in the western world by the year 2020; suicide kills more young people than homicide and war combined; and stress

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is the number one health epidemic of the 21st Century (C). “I was so shocked and also so drawn towards this field. Mental health issues are everywhere – it affects all of our lives,” expresses Dr. Kang, “It was the combination of wanting to delve into the emerging science of the incredible human brain and to understand people’s personal stories that drew me into specializing in this field.” After her Psychiatry training at the University of British Columbia (UBC), a lack of fellowship programs in mental health and addiction in Canada took her to the USA, where TM

she completed a Clinical Research Fellowship at the Addiction Research Program - Massachusetts General Hospital/ Harvard University in Boston. Upon her return from Boston in 2003, Dr. Kang founded the Provincial Youth Concurrent Disorders Program (PYCD) at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver. She is currently also the Medical Director of Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMH) for Vancouver Coastal Health Community Programs, and has a small private practice at False Creek Urgent Care. PYCD was Canada’s first and largest programme for youth between ages of 11 and 24 with both mental health and substance use problems. “Before this program, young people were turned away and told to stop drinking or using drugs and then come back to deal with issues such as depression, anxiety or ADHD. But teenagers weren’t going to do that, they were self-medicating their symptoms and needed help,”


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Dr. Kang is represented as a national celebrity speaker with the Speaker’s Spotlight Bureau and a TEDx Speaker. She is a recognized media specialist known for discussing both common and complex conditions such as health, lifestyle, motivation, leadership, workplace culture, 21st Century skills, and diversity.

Photos: Varsola Visuals, Jonathan Cruz

reveals Dr. Kang, who is noted for the innovative and progressive design of the program. Through CYMH, the medical director oversees many clinics and programs catering from age-two infants to adults. “This position allows me to see the trends that are happening around the world because right now Vancouver is so diverse and has so many immigrants. I can see what’s happening in terms of pressure on children and families through the programs.”

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As clearly evident, youth is the main focus among all these programs. “Youth between the ages of 15 and 24 are most likely to suffer from mental health issues than any other time in their lives. The mix of hormonal changes, issues of identity and independence, plus all the current societal pressures such as social media and perfectionism has led to crisis of stress, insomnia, anxiety, depression and addiction,” says Dr. Kang, explaining her interest in youthrelated issues, “If we can prevent the beginnings of mental


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COVER STORY “My research work, started in Harvard University many years ago and continued through UBC and Simon Fraser University, has been on motivational therapy. The key to lasting health is to motivate people towards healthy lifestyles and change unhealthy behaviours,” shares the Vancouverresident, on the well-known method she has been researching, training and teaching for over 12 years. Dr. Kang believes that motivation underlies the fundamental approach to the immense burden of chronic lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and many mental health issues. “We need to motivate people to take care of themselves, to practise routine sleep and exercise, routine regular social connection, and a balanced diet. These are the basic cornerstones of our health and they are not being valued right now in our current society.” The tools for this therapy are simple but not easy, something as easy as drinking water but difficult to follow. “So almost 90 per cent of us health issues and strengthen balanced lifestyle, values, and character in this age group, we will have a massive impact on the rest of their lives and generations to follow.” This attraction towards youth issues developed early on for Dr. Kang and hasn’t stopped with just cutting edge academic research and innovative clinical programs. In 2010, she cofounded the Youth, Culture, and Mental Health Fund for the BC Mental Health Foundation. Recognizing the high degrees of stigma and the profound need for mental health education among youth, she turned her efforts towards early identification and intervention in a very public way. She joined the Board of the BC Mental Health Foundation as a Director in August 2011 to further enhance this mission. Dr. Kang is a Clinical Associate Professor at UBC where her main area of teaching is on motivational therapy and the science behind encouraging and aspiring people to live their best life.

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“I would like to be an imperfect role model because I believe that’s what real people are and everyone makes mistakes. Despite what you might see externally, I want to be very clear that I have daily challenges and struggles that I try to work through everyday.”

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are chronically dehydrated, it makes us tired, lethargic, irritable, and have poor memory. And knowing is not doing, but thankfully doing leads to being. So if we drink the water, we feel refreshed, better, rejuvenated. My research has been on how do we get people to the doing,” emphasizes Dr. Kang. Talking about her role as writer, it was the desire to share helpful knowledge that encouraged Dr. Kang to take up this interest. “I realised that the tools I was using were so valuable that the public needed to have them. They needed to be taken out of the professional environment and given directly to parents and teachers, principles and coaches, and people who were working with young people.” She is the author of The Dolphin Parent: A Guide to Raising Healthy, Happy, and Self-Motivated Kids and The Self Motivated Kid. The Dolphin Parent combines irrefutable science, unforgettable true stories, and Dr. Kang’s own life experiences as a mom of three and the fifth child of immigrant parents. It is the first parenting book to become a #1 National Bestseller and has won the 2015 US News International Book Award in Parenting and Family Category. It has been translated and released in Germany, Russia, and China, and will be released in Slovenia, Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand this year. In 2012, when her youngest child was two years old, finding everyone she knew, including herself, in a storm of overscheduling, overindulging, and perfectionism, inspired Dr. Kang to develop the concept of the dolphin way. “There was a conflict between what I knew as a professional, what I was doing as a parent, and what I had experienced as a child of immigrant parents who never had the time or money to push or hover over me. Even though I had the knowledge, I realised that when it came to my own kids, I too was getting caught up in what everyone else was doing.” She adds, “I couldn’t understand why I was having such a hard time rising three kids with all my resources when my own parents successfully raised five kids with much less. All my siblings are hardworking and community-minded professionals including two recently appointed Queen’s Counsels’ lawyers. I couldn’t figure out what my parents’ secret was!” Analyzing it further, she came to the

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(Left) Dr. Kang with husband Jeevan Khunkhun and kids Joesh, Jaever and Gia; (Centre) With her family at the YWCA Awards; (Right) With her father Malkiat Singh

conclusion that children were being deprived of the simple, intuitive things they need. Among these are three essential activities she calls POD – Play, bond with Others, and have Downtime. “It gave me an awakening that we are really in a crisis. We were focusing more on the outside resume of the child and not on the

(Above) Dr. Kang with mother Gian Kaur

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inside – the creativity, connection, character, and values of the individual.” She knew, whether as a parent, educator, colleague, or manager, pushing/hovering “tigers” and directionless/ permissive “jellyfish” hinder internal drive and adaptability. Dr. Kang thus proposed a powerful new model: the intelligent, strong, joyful, and highly social dolphin. By drawing on the latest neuroscience and behavioural research, she shows how this authoritative style with a balanced lifestyle encourages self-motivation and the key 21st C skills she calls “CQ” – communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and contribution. “It is the integration of IQ and EQ. After extensive research from the world’s top universities and organizations, these are the five skills that have been identified for 21st C success,” points out the awardwinning doctor-writer, who is writing her next book titled CQ: the New Science of 21st Century Success. The beautiful doc is represented as a national celebrity speaker with the Speaker’s


COVER STORY Dr. Kang’s message to everyone: There is no success without service. This is something instilled in me at a young age by my parents and Sikh faith that seva, contribution, and service are critical necessities of a human life. We often pursue success but there is no success without service. I would also say pick a good partner. I have to be so grateful for my husband Jeevan Khunkhun who I met as a University student and who has been with me every step of the way on this journey. The only person you need to compete with is yourself, push yourself to your potentials and not worry about other people. And adaptability, the key, specially now in this ever-changing world. Be a dolphin! Be firm in your values, beliefs, passion but adapt and be flexible in how you may go about achieving them.

What kind of role model would you like to be for others? I would like to be an imperfect role model because I believe that’s what real people are and everyone makes mistakes. Despite what you might see externally, I want to be very clear that I have daily challenges and struggles that I try to work through everyday. If I can, others can as well. It’s very important to be genuine and vulnerable and to talk openly about our personal challenges. I did that in my book; spoke openly about my challenges and mistakes as a parent. I had to look inward and struggle and ask myself some difficult questions. And the type of role model I want to be is an authentic person who is perfectly imperfect. Spotlight Bureau and a TEDx Speaker. She is a recognized media specialist known for discussing both common and complex conditions such as health, lifestyle, motivation, leadership, workplace culture, 21st C skills, and diversity. She has contributed as an invited expert to numerous renowned local and international newspapers, radio shows, and television programs. The success of The Dolphin Parent is such that Dr. Kang has now ventured into the world of global social entrepreneurship

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and will be opening the first DolphinKIDS Center in 2017. After reading the book, many parents wanted more guidance on helping their child become more emotionally healthy, selfmotivated, and have these 21st C skills. This gave birth to DolphinKIDS: Kids FutureReady Leaders, Innovation, Leadership and Wellness programmes and centres both in Canada and India. “These centers will include an online curriculum, after-school programmes, and an actual centre where we are teaching the six critical life skills which make success “EASIER”– Emotional wellness, Adaptability, Social leadership including public speaking, Innovation, Ethics/identity and Resilience. These six life skills are the important ingredients of 21st C success,” discloses Dr. Kang, excited about the new venture. With all that the hard-working South Asian has achieved, it is a given that she has earned numerous accolades along the way. As a result of her endeavours and outstanding community service, Dr. Kang was honoured with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012, Sikh Centennial Foundation National Award in 2015, and 2016 YWCA Woman of Distinction AWARD for Health and Wellness recently. She has received five national awards in the field of addictions and mental health including the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry Research Award and an American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Award. Talking about the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award, the proud Indo-Canadian says that “Canada has given me these opportunities and it’s the Canadian values of equality and opportunity that I’m very thankful for.” She further comments, “The Sikh Centennial Award was meaningful as the Sikh concept of seva has been a very important concept in my life. And recently the YWCA award was very special because the organization is all over the world and they help all communities at a very grassroots level. It was a real honour to be recognised by them.” Before we part, I ask her to share her biggest achievement so far. She very clearly declares, “striving to lead a balanced life.” With this she means, a life with enough career, health, wealth, purpose, connection, community, family, and spirituality – having all of those and not having more of one at the expense of the other. “In my opinion, that is the broad definition of success and it’s a constant balance,” she asserts, “It is really important we redefine success away from just status and wealth and look at a much broader definition of success that includes all of those things.”


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SPECIAL FEATURE

O

n May 18, 2016, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau formally apologized in the House of Commons for the Canadian government’s decision to deny Sikh, Muslim, Hindu passengers and crew aboard the Komagata Maru from entering Canada in 1914. Their denied entry was based on the “continuous passage” regulation, which was designed to curb immigration from India. The ship arrived in Vancouver, BC on May 23, 1914 and was forced to depart two months later, while a legal battle ensued. The vessel chartered by Gurdit Singh, carrying 376 passengers (all British subjects) was bound for what they thought would be a new life in Canada. My great grandfather, Harnam Singh Sohi,

was one of those passengers. For two months, my great grandfather and his fellow passengers were denied food and water, and their requests to officials were repeatedly ignored. Provisions were minimal and passengers were living meal to meal. The denial of these passengers from entering Canada, and the Komagata Maru story is one of great importance because it reflects a deliberate, exclusionary policy of the Canadian government to keep those they deemed unfit from entering the country. These racist and ethnocentric views stemmed from Canada wanting to remain a “White Man’s Country.” Komagata Maru passengers were challenging the Continuous Passage regulation that stated immigrants must “come from the country of their birth, or citizenship, by a

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sukhi Ghuman is a former television host and reporter, who currently works as a Marketing and Events Manager at the University of British Columbia. Sukhi has been a Board of Director of the Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration (VIBC) Society for the last 12 years, and is the co-founder of the Be Your Own Best Friend (BYOBF) Network, Canada’s first professional networking group for South Asian women. She is also a Vancouver based photographer specializing in lifestyle photography.

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moment in Canadian history and can be seen as a step forward, this does not and should not close the chapter on the Komagata Maru.

MOVING PAST AN

APOLOGY By Sukhi Ghuman

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SPECIAL FEATURE

The vessel chartered by Gurdit Singh, carrying 376 passengers (all British subjects) was bound for what they thought would be a new life in Canada. My great grandfather, Harnam Singh Sohi (pictured above), was one of those passengers. For two months, my great grandfather and his fellow passengers were denied food and water, and

continuous journey and on through tickets purchased before leaving the country of their birth or citizenship.” This regulation had been brought forward in 1908 in an effort to curb Indian immigration to Canada. As a result, only 20 returning residents and the ship’s doctor and his family were eventually granted permission to disembark. On July 23, 1914 the Komagata Maru was forced to lift its anchor and was escorted by the HMCS Rainbow to leave the Vancouver harbour and return to Asia. Upon returning to Calcutta (now Kolkata), 19 passengers were killed and many others imprisoned. Fortunately, Harnam Singh safely returned to his village in Punjab unharmed, but the internal wounds he experienced aboard the Komagata Maru stayed with him forever. Like many of his fellow passengers, Harnam Singh

repeatedly ignored. Provisions were minimal and passengers were living meal to meal. 38

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sought to come to Canada for an opportunity to work and to provide his family with a better life. I was present on May 18, 2016, to witness Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau’s formal apology in the House of Commons, and I went in honour of all the pas-

sengers that are no longer with us today and for those who truly deserved this apology. I held back tears during the apology as I reflected on how the Komagata Maru passengers and crew may have felt 102 years ago. PM Justin Trudeau stated, “Just as we apologize for past wrongs, so too must we commit ourselves to positive action – to learning from the


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SPECIAL FEATURE

Just as we apologize for past wrongs, so too must we commit ourselves to positive action – to learning from the mistakes of the past, and to making sure that we never repeat them.” ~ Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Above: Passengers of the ship Komagata Maru (Vancouver City Archives) Below: PM Justin Trudeau with some of the descendants of the victims of Komagata Maru who were present at the apology

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mistakes of the past, and to making sure that we never repeat them.” While the apology marks a historic and significant moment in Canadian history and can be seen as a step forward, I strongly feel this does not and should not close the chapter on the Komagata Maru. Until very recently, there was little work done by our provincial and federal governments to tell the history of the Komagata Maru in the context of Canadian history. I’m embarrassed to say, I too didn’t learn about the Komagata Maru incident until I was a first year student at the University of British Columbia, almost 20 years ago. My grandmother passed soon after I learned of our family connection, which denied me the chance to learn about it directly from her. However my father and his siblings spent time in India with Harnam Singh when they were younger and were able to listen to his story first-hand. Even though Harnam Singh experienced the tragedy directly, including the poor conditions on the ship and the open-fire upon returning to India, he never faltered from his dream to bring his family to Canada. He himself refused to return to Canada, but was able to secure his daughter Gurnam Kaur’s marriage to Rattan Singh Ghuman, a man who had


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Maru passengers and crew may have felt 102 years ago.” already settled in Canada. Rattan Singh’s father, Daya Singh Ghuman was one of the fortunate Sikhs that immigrated to Canada in 1906 and worked in the Fraser Mills. Through this marriage, Gurnam Kaur was able to sponsor her siblings and their families to Canada. All Canadians were directly affected when the Komagata Maru was turned away. This is not simply a South Asian story, but one that affects our entire nation. During the apology, PM Justin Trudeau explained, “The very makeup of this House should remind all of us that when we have the choice between opening our arms to those in need or closing our hearts to them, we must always choose the more compassionate path.” However, what is the point of this apology, if vulnerable communities today, continue to face exclusion, discrimination and racism in Canada at the hands of our federal and provincial governments? As a nation, we need

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Sukhi with her father Balbeet Singh Ghuman and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the apology

For the South Asian community, the Komagata Maru is symbolic. It is symbolic of discrimination and of advocacy. It represents how the community rallied together to challenge injustices. There needs to be further research and access to materials at all education levels. We need to continue to talk about the Komagata Maru and what it represents to Canada. to stand up for those seeking asylum in Canada, temporary foreign workers, immigrants and migrant communities. These people today are also seeking freedom and opportunity similar to those 376 passengers abroad the Komagata Maru in 1914. This apology is meaningless unless there is a sincere approach towards redress and empathy for Canada’s most vulnerable and marginalized. For the South Asian community, the Komagata Maru is symbolic. It is symbolic of discrimination and of advocacy. It represents how the community rallied together to challenge injustices. There needs to be further research and access to materials at all education levels. We need to continue to talk about the Komagata Maru and what it represents to Canada. We must also demand for K-12 curriculum development and resources to ensure this historic moment is recorded as part of Canada’s narrative.

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This summer, take time to revitalize your senses and get back to nature by hiking one of these spectacular trails, right in your own provincial backyard!

Explore Beautiful

British Columbia BY RENu SINgh-JOSEPh

W

ith nature literally at our doorsteps, British Columbians are often steps away from a spectacular hiking trail – be it in the city centre like Stanley Park and the Grouse Grind or a short drive to Squamish and Whistler – the options are endless for beginner to intermediate hikers. This summer, revitalize your senses and take a walk through some of the most pristine, unparalleled hiking trails in the province – the stunning views will take your breath away!

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SuMMER FEATURE

Whistler WHISTLER AND BLACKCOMB MOUNTAINS – you can ride the famed Peak 2 Peak Gondola for access to diverse alpine trails on both mountains to experience its natural beauty and to witness the stunning views from high above. Choose between short hikes on wide parts to more advanced hikes to lakes, glaciers and meadows.

JOFFRE LAKES – closer to Pemberton, this 11-kilometre round trip hike is easy to access when compared to other alpine lake trails. As you hike along the trail, you’ll come across three lakes, turquoise blue in colour, each one more stunning than the last. This three to five hour hike is recommended for intermediate hikers, as the terrain is more difficult.

GARIBALDI LAKE – located in Garibaldi Provincial Park, hiking enthusiasts claim this is “the one hike that you must do in your lifetime.” Imagine the scene – beautiful turquoise-coloured water nestled between alpine mountains and a grandiose glacier as the backdrop, it’s no wonder that Garibaldi Lake is heralded as “one of the most scenic destinations in British Columbia.” The hiking season ranges from July to October, and the difficulty of this hike is moderate to intermediate depending on the route you take. A round-trip can take anywhere from five to eight hours, route dependent. After the six-kilometre mark, hikers have a choice – you can take the shorter, easier route that will guide you to Garibaldi Lake or you can take the more challenging route and hike another few kilometres to Taylor Meadows, filled with alpine flowers, to view the towering peak of Black Tusk, an iconic mountain landmark. And then from here, hike to Panorama Ridge that provides a great vantage point, high above Garibaldi Lake, for unparalleled views of the lake and surrounding vistas. TM

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VANCOUVer

Photos: iStock, Wikipedia, Whistlerblackcomb.com, Flickr, TaraOGradyphoto.com, Paul Bride, Seatoskygandola.com

STANLEY PARK – we often think of this iconic park as a tourist destination, but Stanley Park is home to a diverse network of hiking and walking trails, including the famed Seawall that is abundant with walkers, runners and bikers. Those looking for zen and serenity, will want to hike the forest trails that offer more than 27 kilometres of quiet refuge amongst cedar, fir and hemlock trees. A great option for beginner to moderate hikers.

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QUARRY ROCK – is a year-round hike perfect for those new to hiking, located in the Deep Cove area of North Vancouver. As you’re hiking along the well-marked trail (3.8 kilometres roundtrip), you’ll cross creek bridges to the Deep Cove Lookout destination that boasts gorgeous views of Deep Cove and the Indian Arm. GROUSE GRIND – most British Columbians have done this hike – known as “Mother Nature’s Stairmaster” – but it’s a good trail to add to our list as it’s a local hike in North Vancouver, and once you climb the 2,830 steps up the mountain, you can traverse the terrain to return or just take the Skyride tram back down. According to Grouse Mountain, you do need to be in “good physical shape and wear the right clothing and footwear” to attempt this hike, but it can be done by beginner to moderate hikers with ease – just go at your own pace. LIGHTHOUSE PARK – located along the shores of West Vancouver and nestled in coastal rainforest, hikers will walk amongst some of the largest, old growth Douglas fir and western red cedar trees in the Lower Mainland. A variety of trails to choose from, hikers will also witness stunning views of the water, lighthouse and downtown Vancouver. Difficulty level is easy so a great option for beginner hikers. JULY / AUGUST 2016 Re f l e c t i n g T h e S o u t h - A s i a n L i f e s t y l e

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PACIFIC SPIRIT REGIONAL PARK – located in the west end of Vancouver, near the University of British Columbia, you can hike along the network of trails contained in more than 750 hectares of forest, home to hemlock, cedar and maple trees. An easy hike to do for all ages.


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sqUAmish

sAfety tips:

sqUAmish SEA TO SKY GANDOLA – a recent feature along the Sea to Sky corridor, the Sea to Sky Gondola takes hikers up high into the peaks. Once you arrive at the top, you can choose from “eight main hiking trails of varying range and difficulty” – the front country trails are well marked and below the treeline, whereas the backcountry trails are more rugged and not as well marked. Before heading on your hike, take a walk across the Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge and take in the brilliant views of Howe Sound and beyond. While hiking along the trails, you’ll also be able to see the Chief from certain vantage points. THE CHIEF – another staple for hikers in BC, the Chief (officially Stawamus Chief Mountain) offers three peaks to conquer. Once at the top, you’ll witness breathtaking views of Howe Sound, surrounding mountains, and the town of Squamish. Geared more for moderate to intermediate hikers, the Chief can be done in one and half to five hours, or three to 11 kilometres, depending on which peak you decide to hike or all three. Before heading up to the Chief, you can take a short walk to picturesque Shannon Falls, where the water cascades from more than 330 meters above.

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Hiking is an amazing experience for hikers of all levels, but it’s important to remain safe. Here are a few safety tips: Never hike alone Carry water, snacks, sunscreen and bug spray in a backpack Be prepared and bring extra clothing as weather conditions can frequently change, especially in mountainous regions Observe closures and marked signs, stay on the trails to avoid injury or harm to natural ecosystems Treat all wildlife with respect and caution, do not feed or approach bears Research the trails before you embark to ensure that your fitness level is on par to the difficulty rating Now choose your hiking destination, get out there and enjoy beautiful British Columbia in all it natural glory! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Renu Singh-Joseph is a Vancouver-based journalist with over 10 years experience, who has conducted high-profile interviews with individuals from all walks of life. This foodie loves to travel around the world and share insightful, interesting features with readers.

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YOUTH SPEAK

CONQUER ZERO WASTE WITH NO WASTE T

BY HARNOOR GILL Harnoor was a recipient of The Global Changemaker Award for his pioneering work in promoting civic engagement among youth. He has been recognized for his community service with the Canadian Family magazine’s Canada’s Top 15 Under 15 Award, Young Conservationist Award, YMCA Canada Peace Medal, South Asian Teen of the Year Award, and most recently the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. Harnoor successfully launched a campaign for new youth immigrants, The kind in his community and it encourages new youth to become acquainted with and give their own contribution to the local community in which they live.

of aders the le uth are e must yo ic r u vo O d their n, ow an colum tomorr h this hroug ers an ard. T st e g h n e u b s yo ws N give eir vie DARPA ress th to exp re unity they a s ic p opport to wish eas on If you and id bout. at nate a ail us m passio e , te tribu ne.com to con magazi

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JULY / AUGUST 2016 Re f l e c t i n g T h e S o u t h - A s i a n L i f e s t y l e

he purpose behind the initiative of Zero Waste is an ethical, economical and efficient goal to help guide people in changing their lifestyles and practices through their everyday lives. It means helping out the planet in this small yet significant way of emulating a sustainable natural cycle where all the discarded materials are designed to become resources for other people to use. This in turn creates no waste or garbage, helping create a life of longevity for the people depending on this planet’s survival. Some disbelievers may consider this to be a far-fetched goal but by implementing this way of life, it will help eliminate all discharges to land, water, or air that might be a threat to the health of living life on this planet. The greatest point about this way of life is that it is essentially a philosophy, a strategy and a set of practical tools looking to sufficiently eliminate the waste of this world and not having to manage it.

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The best way I got people around me to start pursuing the idea of not creating waste to add to this world was by asking them to come up with ideas to implement in order to create little to no waste. At first, they found this awfully tough, yet as the solutions from ideas contributed to creating less waste, the whole task was quickly becoming a breeze for them. The experience of introducing the concept of Zero Waste and then seeing it implemented before my eyes by my friends and family was truly a rewarding experience for me. I felt quite accomplished in the moment because I was able to see the applications of teaching my peers and family in its full effect. I think the best way to have the motives of Zero Waste come across in a positive manner is to engage your local community. As citizens, it is important for us to participate and help in

the implementations of a Zero Waste action plan. Being able to take part in opportunities like an action plan dedicated to the priorities of Zero Waste is a fulfilling task, and taking active participation in the design of the resource management system is helpful towards waste reduction. It is imperative that education campaigns continue to stand up and encourage that public participation should be undertaken. Trying to be a Zero Waste country will help in the creation of a low-carbon, resource-efficient, resilient and socially-inclusive economy. Many people do not seem to realize the thousands of extra jobs it can provide, bring back natural nutrients to the soil, reduce any of the environmental impact associated with waste disposal, and get citizens involved in designing a better Canada. The importance of the impact is physically on the management of energy flows in the economy. Therefore, Zero Waste offers extremely big potentials in terms of its energy savings and preservation of embodied energy. By coming together as one unified team, we can put the horrific reality of waste disposal to an end through Zero Waste.


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BUSINESS PROFILE

of our Khalsa Junior Credit Union which models the governance and operations of its parent organization and helps to educate students about the banking system while teaching them how to save for the future,” adds Mr. Mehta. It is the efficient and quick service provided at KCU that gets customers to visit the credit union time and again and utilize its many features. “We know we have to provide a better alternative than the big banks and this requires us to be very nimble and innovative. It also means our service has to be superior

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here is no doubt that Khalsa Credit

Union

(KCU)

is

a

well-known name among the South Asian community living

KCU serves over 14,000 members

at expansion beyond current borders,”

from five branches

points out Mr. Mehta.

into existence on February 19, 1986,

and is ranked in the

involvement with community initia-

Besides the good service, KCU’s

the early eighties and long after most

top 100 credit unions

of the other credit unions in the prov-

in Canada. It is also

from bigger banks. Each year, KCU

presented some early obstacles and

the largest financial

to the community. “In 2015 that con-

challenges, but the faith of the founders

institution owned by

ince

had

been

incorporated.

This

never wavered, and their desire for a religious bond credit union serving the

Sikh people in the

financial needs of the Sikh community

World.

became a reality. Today,

Photo: Amrit Photography

plan to broaden our service and look

in and around Vancouver. KCU came following the economic turbulence of

54

our members for granted. In future we

KCU

tives is what makes them different returns 10 per cent of its net income tribution amounted to $150,000. In 2016 we expect to distribute $200,000 to those communities,” says a proud Mr. Mehta, who is also the director of Delta Assist, a non-profit society that

serves

over

14,000

provides an outreach to the commu-

members from five branches and is

along with the credit union. “I have

nity through counselling programs for

ranked in the top 100 credit unions in

grown attached to the cooperative

youth/seniors/families/young

Canada. It is also the largest financial

philosophy and its principles including

and groups in between.

institution owned by Sikh people in the

sharing success and giving back to the

World. Since the past three decades,

community,” he says, further adding, “I

ing for numerous academic/athletic/

KCU has stood by its mission – “To be

am also excited about the enormous

religious scholarships and bursaries to

the most successful Sikh Credit Union.

potential of Khalsa Credit Union and

students. In 2016 the total funding for

To care about our community and con-

anxious to lead it to the next level.”

scholarship and bursaries amounted

Every

year

KCU

parents

provides

fund-

tribute to Sikh education, culture and

There are a lot of initiatives planned

to $45,000. Mr. Mehta adds that the

religion. To be an environmentally

by KCU this year to provide maximum

Credit Union also supports a wide range

conscious and committed organization

service to its customers. Some of

of charities including the homeless,

that is responsive to member-owners”

them include the opening of their sixth

“During the cold spell earlier this winter,

– and continuous to do so.

branch at the Little India Plaza located

board members and management vis-

“At KCU, we simply believe in doing

in Surrey; enhancement of their digital

ited homeless shelters in Abbotsford,

business in a respectful manner and

footprint and deepening their relation-

Surrey and Vancouver, and handed

providing outstanding service to our

ship with existing members, resulting in

out $13,000 in warm clothing and blan-

members on a daily basis,” says Dalbir

increased share-of-wallet; conducting

kets to residents at those shelters.”

Singh Mehta, CEO of KCU, who has

a brand review and acquiring younger

KCU is the Financial Institution to go

been part of the Credit Union for more

members through the use of social

to if you are looking for excellent pric-

than a decade.

media; and the launch of wealth man-

ing, industry leading efficiency, and

agement services.

someone to understand your needs.

KCU has provided Mr. Mehta excellent opportunities to learn and develop

JULY / AUGUST 2016 Re f l e c t i n g T h e S o u t h - A s i a n L i f e s t y l e

DARPAN

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“We also want to expand the activities

You won’t be disappointed!


“At KCU, we simply believe in doing business in a respectful manner and providing outstanding service to our members on a daily basis,” says Dalbir Singh Mehta, CEO of KCU, who has been part of the bank for more than a decade.

SURREY

NEWTON

VANCOUVER

ABBOTSFORD

VICTORIA

8788 120th Street Surrey, BC V3W 3N6

Unit 2-7288 137th Street Surrey, BC V3W 1A3

5963 Fraser Street Vancouver, BC V5W 2Z6

32112 South Fraser Way Abbotsford, BC V2T 1W4

1-3318 Oak Street Victoria, BC V8X 1R1

Phone: 604-507-6400 or 1-800-324-6747

www.khalsacreditunion.ca DARPAN JULY / AUGUST 2016 55 TM

Re f l e c t i n g T h e S o u t h - A s i a n L i f e s t y l e


BREAKING THE

cYclE OFJUvENIlE REcIdIvISm By GARIMA GOSWAMI

Anish Patel’s Uplift Humanity India is a non-profit organization dedicated to rehabilitation of juvenile inmates and orphans in South Asia. Established in 2011, it works to empower youth with education, mentorship and rehabilitation. 56

JULY / AUGUST 2016 Re f l e c t i n g T h e S o u t h - A s i a n L i f e s t y l e

I

n December 2015, India was raging over a crucial debate in the backdrop of the Supreme Court of India mulling a petition to reduce juvenile age from 18 to 16. The debate propelled by the gruesome gang rape dubbed the Nirbhaya rape triggered activists from around the country to voice issues centered on juvenile convicts in India such as their rights, rehabilitation funding, infrastructure and cramped centres. In her detailed article titled Life in India’s Juvenile Homes published in The New York Times, Pamposh Raina mentions the deteriorating state of juvenile centre facilities in India. The article quotes “Lack of trained staff and

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financial corruption” plaguing existing institutions amongst other infrastructural constraints and to further this claim, child rights activist and lawyer, Anant Kumar Asthana tells Raina, “Officers are overworked and untrained and often resort to shortcuts to run these places (juvenile centres).” Although, the issue gained momentum in international media only recently, it had already reserved the attention of Anish Patel to charge his focus and resources towards it. Uplift Humanity India (UHI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to rehabilitation of juvenile inmates and orphans in South Asia. Established in 2011, it works to empower


dARPAN SALUTES “From the beginning, it was a struggle. From working with myopic Indian government officials to establishing authority within juvenile centers, it was

Anish Patel photo: Asim Farooki

always an uphill battle.” youth with education, mentorship and rehabilitation. Since their inception, UHI has established four juvenile rehabilitation centres throughout India and has sent 250 volunteers from the Unites States who have contributed approximately 150,000 hours of volunteer work. “Through Uplift, I’ve learned to look at problems like poverty or juvenile recidivism through a macro lens. It’s not about working harder – it’s about working smarter,” says Patel who was in high school when he established UHI. UHI’s rapid success and demand to fill in more detention centres speaks volumes for the existing vacuum between infrastructural demand and bureaucratic supply. For a corruption-stricken economy, it is a cliché to say central government funds have not been reaching the intended facilities; these are innate challenges that individuals and institutions learn to live and cope with. Explaining his own experience struggling for cooperation with the system the 22-year-old says, “From the beginning, it was a struggle. From working with myopic Indian government officials to establishing authority within juvenile centers, it was always an uphill battle.” And yet, Patel, together with his team of volunteers, has educated more than 500 juveniles and orphans and donated approximately $5,000 CAD in scholarships. “It’s hard for us to get corporate donors when we don’t have renowned people sitting on our board. But we’re fighting these traditional norms, and showing others that sometimes the conventional methods can be broken through innovation.” The organization is driven by volunteers from the United States who fly down to India every year and work on a specialized curriculum featuring lessons in ethical decision making, anger management, technology, basic hygiene, relationship building, goal setting, confidence building, and career counseling. To support this summer program curriculum, the organization has pledged to fund three higher education scholarships totaling to an annual approximate of $1,500 CAD.

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JULY / AUGUST 2016 Re f l e c t i n g T h e S o u t h - A s i a n L i f e s t y l e

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What drives this youth-driven and youth-targeted organization? This recent graduate from New York University’s Stern School of Business explains, “A few years ago, I remember a kid named Sunil who came back to us after he graduated from our program. He told us that after he left us, he started his own chai (tea) stand. He explained to us that he’s making much less than what he would have been making if he were to be stealing, but that this job feels more satisfying to him. Even though he was making less, Sunil learned from the lessons on moral and ethical decision making that our team taught him. It is stories like those of Sunil’s that drives us to work so hard to make an impact every day.” While explaining the initial years of UHI, he recalls what motivated his attention towards juvenile recidivism. It was during one of his trips to Vadodara, Gujarat, when Patel noticed a group of children playing behind the gates of a dilapidated juvenile detention facility, which had triggered his interest. Though the passion was endearing, practicality was a bit of an issue. The first year, UHI relied on word of mouth and publicity for volunteers, but today Patel is loaded with hundreds of applications for the 18-day summer program. The first day was no less of a challenge either. Patel says no one, the authorities and juveniles, was ready to listen and yet each day, the team would arrive to deliver their sessions and workshops. By the last day, the program seemed to have reciprocated the desired impact. Today, the team has evolved on various measures – volunteers are trained prior to their arrival at the centres in New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Vadodara, Nadiad, and Indore, scholarship is not a cash-incentive but a skill training or educational course. To evaluate the progress made by each student, the team conducts a pre and post examination. “Starting Uplift Humanity was one of my scariest achievements,” Patel says and adds, “While we’ve made a small dent, we have so much left to do.” The organization is looking into expansion in other Indian cities and providing their services throughout the entire year in vocational training, computer classes, and career planning. Before parting, I ask him his advice to youth and social developmental sector enthusiasts – “One of the greatest things about starting a non-profit is that you’ll be able to attract a talented team of passionate like-minded individuals. Once you culminated that team, things will slowly fall into place. You’ll face hurdles on the way – but as you solve each problem, you’ll want to excel and do more. Don’t give up just because of the challenges.”


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BUSINESS PROFILE

BUSINESS PROFILE

72nd Ave and 116th Street Townhomes

Who said going to the dentist can’t be fun?

WELCOME TO

SMILETOWN DENTISTRY SS “Many parents have told us how excited they

are to have such a child friendly dental office open in their area and the children have really taken to our beautifully themed offices – Jungle, Beach and Underwater!” shares Dr. Karim Kanani (B.Sc.,

60

M.Sc., M.BS., DMD)

JULY / AUGUST 2016 Re f l e c t i n g T h e S o u t h - A s i a n L i f e s t y l e

mileTown Dentistry is not like oth-

Jungle, Beach and Underwater!” shares

er pediatric dental clinics around

Dr. Karim Kanani (B.Sc., M.Sc., M.BS.,

town. A child’s visit to SmileTown

DMD), who co-founded the dental clinics

equals to a day at the aquarium, at

with Dr. Diya Chadha (BDS, DMD).

a beach, or a zoo, filled with fun things to do and happy memories. This

gotten

only do children receive high quality dental

public

care,” answers Dr. Chadha, “but the environ-

response at all its three locations in North

ment is specifically designed to put children

Delta/Surrey, Burnaby and Langley. “Many

at "ease and immerse them into a place

parents have told us how excited they are to

of fun and excitement.” Filled with televi-

have such a child friendly dental office open

sions, gaming stations, and fun characters

in their area and the children have really

throughout the clinic, the environment guar-

taken to our beautifully themed offices –

antees that each child’s visit is enjoyable

the

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playful

dental

clinic

effect a

has

So what makes families visit the clinic time and again? “At SmileTown Dentistry, not

tremendous


PHOTO: AMRIT PHOTOGRAPHY, SMILETOWN DENTISTRY

Besides dental trauma, parents

and carefree. SmileTown

should keep an eye on their

Dentistry are well qualified to work

child’s eating habits. The hot

with children of all ages including

weather can tempt your kid to

special needs children. Their highly-

indulge in energy drinks or soft

trained staff is very accommodating

drinks that are high in sugar.

and always ensures that children, as

This can lead to two major

All

the

dentists

at

well as parents, are comfortable and are provided the best patient experience possible. This also involves fully-trained

multilingual

staff

that can communicate in English, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu, short or no waitlists, and professional care. “We offer many services that help

So what makes families visit the clinic time and again? “At SmileTown Dentistry, not only do children receive high quality dental care, but the environment is specifically designed to put children at "ease and immerse them into a place of fun and excitement,” says Dr. Diya Chadha (BDS, DMD)

children reduce their anxiety while

dental problems. “The first are cavities,” explains Dr. Chadha, “As the mouth is bathed in sugar,

the

bacteria

convert

this sugar into acid which then leads to cavity formation.” The other issue is erosion. “Due to the high acidity of these teeth, the outer layer of teeth,

providing a wonderful appointment.

are engaged in sporting activities

a risk of injury to the mouth

also known as the enamel,

These services include, but are

invest in a mouth guard. Mouth

would benefit from wearing a

starts to erode. This not only

not limited to, nitrous oxide (laugh-

guards should be used by any-

protective mouth guard.

weakens the tooth, making it

ing gas), oral conscious sedation

one – children and adults – who

If your child is experiencing

more prone to a cavity but it

and general anesthesia,” adds Dr.

play contact sports such as foot-

dental trauma, call the dentist

also increases the chance of

Kanani.

ball, boxing, soccer, ice hockey,

immediately. “The dentist will

sensitivity,” she points out.

basketball, lacrosse, and field

advise them if they need to

Head to SmileTown Dentistry

hockey,” advises Dr. Kanani.

come into the office right away

to give your child a pleasant

With summer around the corner, both doctors warn about dental trauma, especially among kids. Dental

He further states that even

for emergency treatment or if it

dental experience. Contact the

trauma means an injury to one's teeth

those participating in noncontact

can be postponed for a few days,”

office location most convenient

that can also include nearby soft tis-

sports (gymnastics) and any rec-

says Dr. Chadha, “If unable to

for you to set up an appointment.

sues such as the lips and tongue. “It

reational activity (skateboarding,

reach the dentist, visit the nearest

is very important that children who

mountain biking) that might pose

hospital for an evaluation.”

SMILETOWN BURNABY

SMILETOWN N. DELTA/SURREY

SMILETOWN LANGLEY

#430 - 4460 Beresford Street,

Unit 110, 7511 120th Street,

Unit 110, 20780 Willoughby Town

Burnaby, BC

North Delta, BC

PHONE - (604) 428-9633

PHONE - (778) 564-1095

Centre Dr., Langley, BC PHONE - (604) 371-2830 TM JULY TM JULY / AUGUST / AUGUST 2016

DARPAN DARPAN

Re f l e c t i n g T h e S o u t h - A s i a n L i f e s t y l e

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dARPAN FEATURE

GiVE

WHERE YOU

LiVE By Petrina d’Souza

A new thrift store, recently opened in Surrey, sells everything from Indian and western wear to religious items and small furniture at low prices.

W PHOTOS: Petrina D'Souza

e always tend to have some items that we never use – be it a beautiful yet heavy dress that you wore just once, a pair of heels that are just too tight for your feet, artwork that doesn’t suit your wall colour, a gadget which has been replaced by a newer, updated one, or some old furniture lying in your attic. Recycling or donating to charity are a few ways one can get rid of these belongings, as a lot of thrift stores or organizations accept them to re-sell or offer to the underprivileged. Yet, we South Asians face another dilemma – how and where do we recycle our Indian or ethnic wear? Here’s where Seva Thrift (in partnership with East West Thrift store) comes in. The idea of giving people an opportunity to enjoy some gently-used items for the second

62

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time gave birth to Seva Thrift – a first-of-its-kind store for charity started by Jas Gill, a retired social worker; Raj Arneja of Nanak Foods; and Kiran Malli, director of Provincial Language Service Provincial Language Health Services Authority. What’s different about this recently-opened store is that they accept and re-sell Indian and western clothing and accessories, household and religious items, and are a not-for profit organization. “There isn’t an Indian section like this in any thrift store,” declares Arneja. “We had some beautiful Indian clothing that we maybe wore once and was in pretty good shape, and had cultural and religious items in our home we didn’t know what to do with. We decided that there should be some place where we can displace them nicely and have somebody else enjoy them as well,” says Gill, sharing the store’s vision. The founders then started asking their family, friends and the community for help and donations. Within a month, they had enough items to open a store. “For donations, our community is wonderful, they are very giving. Half of our stuff is brand new, our community gives and they give well,” says Gill, adding that thrifting has been a part of the community since a long time. “When we were new immigrants, our relatives helped us with house wear, blankets to start us off. Thrifting is nothing new for our community; they have always been doing it. We just bought it into focus in a store setting.” It was, in fact, their experience helping out at a thrift store in Abbotsford that urged them to take on this project. Some time back, Gill,


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7846 128 St Surrey, BC V3W 4E8 Re f l e c t i n g T h e S o u t h - A s i a n L i f e s t y l e


dARPAN FEATURE Proceeds collected at Seva Thrift will go to the Surrey Hospital and Outpatient Care Foundation this year, which will support worthwhile medical equipment and services.

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along with Arneja and Malli, had set up a Seva Thrift room in an existing non-profit called Second Chance Thrift store in Abbotsford. “They gave us a room and asked us to help with the Indian wear that came in. They did not know how to price it, hang it, or sort items like the three-piece salwars together,” explains Gill. She further narrates that they asked family and friends to donate items, which were then tagged and showcased at the store. They had a huge response; the team noticed that people had interest and were buying the items on sale. This got them to start a thrift store in Surrey for charity. “They mentored us to start something in Surrey and to fundraise as well,” adds Gill, revealing that East West stands for the fact that the store is for the general community and not just East Indians. For those who wish to donate but do not want to part with their expensive designer wear, Seva Thrift also does consignments. “We understand people are not going to give their $5,000 lehengas to charity. So what we want to do is provide some space for consignment as well where people can consign their expensive designer wear and make a bit of money as well.” Arneja adds, “We will keep 60 per cent of whatever it sells at and 40 per cent goes to the donor. Our half goes to charity and their half goes to them so they feel good about giving their item away.” Proceeds collected at Seva Thrift will go to the Surrey Hospital and Outpatient Care Foundation this year, which will support worthwhile medical equipment and services. To carry forward this good deed, the founders need a lot of donations and volunteers. Volunteers, willing to work four hours a week, are needed to help organize and sell the items. “Volunteers are at the core of what we do. Without volunteers we are not able to provide this valuable service to the community,” asserts Arneja. Donations can be dropped off at the store from Tuesday to Saturday between 10 am to 5 pm. The thrift shop can also be contacted to pick up items. East West accepts stitched and unstitched Indian clothing, jewellery, accessories, footwear, western clothing, home decor, houseware, gardening tools, small appliances and furniture, toys, and sports equipment. They do not accept cribs, strollers, car seats, mattresses or large furniture items. East West Thrift store is situated at 9430 120th Street in Surrey, and is open Monday to Saturday between 10 am to 5:30 pm. For volunteer opportunities, call 604-765-2000; for donations and other information, call 778-293-0015. Go ahead and do your bit for the community.


Celebrating 30 Years!

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DARPAN NEWS

Photos: Stephen Morgan

IN PICTURES

Dinner by Starlight

Surrey Night Market

At Dinner by Starlight, an annual fundraiser by Indian Summer Festival (ISF), chef Vikram Vij prepared a special meal in honour of internationallyrenowned actor, model and designer, Waris Ahluwalia. As part of ISF, Ahluwalia also had a talk about fashion, creativity and how he turned a discriminatory incident into a chance to educate.

Reborn after last year’s devastating storm, Surrey Night Market has returned for its third season featuring great entertainment, delicious ethnic cuisines, popular merchandise, and a valuable door prize: a brand new Honda Civic scheduled on the last day of the market (August 14) at 9 pm.

Surrey’s Top 25 Under 25 Awards

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Twenty Five winners were honoured at the sixth Annual Surrey’s Top 25 Under 25 Awards Reception. The winners youth under the age of 25 were chosen based upon their business or community achievements, leadership ability, community involvement, professional achievements, and uniqueness of their business or community projects.


Johnny Lever Live Vivah Collection Grand Opening Vivah Collection, a well-known clothing house in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, recently opened their new showroom in the Payal Business Center in Surrey. Guests got a glimpse of some of the

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Legendary Bollywood comedian Johnny Lever recently visited time. Accompanied by his talented daughter Jamie and comedian Gaurav Sharma, along with a team of musicians and artists, Johnny Lever Live was a successful event, enjoyed by members of the South Asian community. Photos: Aziz Ladha Photography

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DARPAN NEWS IN PICS

City of Bhangra Festival Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration’s City of Bhangra Festival returned for its 11th year in May. The Festival united local and international artists with audiences of all ages for a 10-day all-out dance and music fest.

Komagata Maru Exhibition Carleton University’s Canada-India Centre for Excellence unveiled an art exhibition to commemorate the events around the Komagata Maru incident on the same day Prime Minister Justin Trudeau formally apologized for the incident in the House of Commons. The exhibition included Punjabi artist Jarnail Singh’s 10 paintings, which were also part of a series of 21 paintings included in the large format book A Journey with the Endless Eye, by Ajmer Rode. Canada-India Centre board member Barj Dhahan who purchased and donated the paintings to the university attended the exhibition’s opening along with Rode, Indian High Commissioner Vishnu Prakash, Canada-India Centre board chair and university Board of Governors member Pradeep Merchant, and Carleton President Roseann O’Reilly Runte. Photos: Justin Tang

First Surrey Pride Parade recently took place on June 26 was a great success. Politicians and noted members of the South Asian commnunity where present at the event. Photos: Rick Chapman/City of Surrey, Sher Vancouver

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dARPAN RECIPES

Peshwari

Lamb Kebab

energetic & artistic:

Chef alfred Prasad

T

C

ingredients

his delightful kebab recipe features grilled lamb chops marinated with raw papaya, garlic, ground chilli, fennel and cream. Chef Prasad’s lamb is

remarkably barbecued or grilled in a tandoor oven. You can buy chaat masala from Indian grocery stores or online.

elebrated chef Alfred Prasad has established his name in the competitive

and constantly-evolving world of the culinary

½ star anise

arts. Hailing from Chennai, situated in the

2 tbsp of fennel seeds

Southern region of India, Prasad’s cuisine reflects his extensive travel tales across the

2 tbsp of malt vinegar

vibrant landscape of India that has always

1 tsp chilli powder

intrigued the west with its treasure of spices

1 tsp paprika

and herbs.

Salt

Working on his penchant for

3 racks of lamb

science and an inclination for artistry,

1 tbsp of papaya

Prasad made a move to London to further his passion for cooking after graduating

4 garlic cloves, peeled

in Hotel Management and working at

1 green chilli

notable restaurants in India. Starting off

1 tbsp of vegetable oil

as a Sous Chef at London’s Tamarind of

2 tbsp of double cream

Mayfair in 1999, Prasad swiftly made his

½ tsp chaat masala

way up to become the Executive Chef, and

1 lemon

in 2002 earned the honour of being the youngest Indian to receive a Michelin Star creative energy behind prominent dining spaces in London that include Imli Street and Tamarind of London. Presently, he is working on his restaurant project and his

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Mix together the malt vinegar, chilli powder, paprika powder, and salt. Then add the chops, mix well and set to one side. In a blender, add grated raw papaya, peeled garlic, green chilli, and vegetable oil and blend until smooth. Transfer to a mixing bowl, add the double cream, ½ teaspoon of the ground fennel seed, and star anise powder and mix well. Add the pre-marinated lamb chops to the bowl and mix together well. Marinate for three to four hours before cooking.

Serve hot sprinkled with chaat masala and lemon juice.

very own first book.

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Start the lamb kebab with the spices. Dry-grind the fennel seeds and star anise, then transfer it to an airtight container. You only need ½ teaspoonful of this mixture later.

To cook, thread a skewer through the lamb chops and grill in a medium hot tandoor or over a barbecue (no need for the skewer) for about four minutes, then turn over and grill for a further three minutes.

at the age of 29. Prasad is described as the

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PreParation

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dARPAN RECIPES

grilled

aubergine rolls By Chef alfred Prasad

PreParation

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hef Prasad exploits the meaty and robust quality of aubergines in this striking vegetarian recipe, using

the vegetable to wrap up a gently spiced and aromatic quinoa, paneer and crunchy vegetable filling. A perfect mix of textures and flavours, this recipe could easily be multiplied to feed a crowd.

ingredients

¼ tsp ground turmeric

100 g of quinoa

1 tsp ginger-garlic paste

3 ½ tbsp of olive oil

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cumin seeds, toasted

100 g of paneer, grated

1 pinch of salt

1 tsp garam masala

3 medium aubergines

¼ bunch of coriander

1 tbsp of olive oil 1 small onion, chopped 1 dash of vegetable oil

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¼ tsp chilli powder

1 red beetroot, coarsely grated 2 carrots, coarsely grated 1 red pepper, cut small

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Wash and cook the quinoa as per packet instructions, using water or stock. Drain and set aside. Mix 3 ½ tablespoons of olive oil, toasted cumin and salt in a bowl. Trim the aubergines and slice lengthways into 4 mm thick slices. Brush the slices generously with the oil marinade. Place a griddle pan or large frying pan over medium heat and add one tablespoon of olive oil. Once hot, fry the aubergine slices for approximately two to three minutes on each side until soft and coloured. Once all the aubergine slices are cooked, set aside on a kitchen towel to drain. For the paneer and quinoa filling, place a non-stick pan over medium heat and add vegetable oil. Once hot, add the onion and

sauté until a light golden brown colour. Add the ginger-garlic paste, turmeric, salt and chilli powder and sauté for a further two minutes. Add the cooked quinoa and cook for a further five to seven minutes, then add the grated paneer and remove from the heat. Finish with garam masala powder and chopped coriander. Lay out the aubergine slices on a chopping board. Spread a generous layer of the filling on top of each and sprinkle over the vegetables. Roll up each slice to enclose the filling. Stack the aubergine rolls onto plates and serve immediately.


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DARPA N

Beauty

Magic The Of

Stick

Makeup By Catherine Tse

A

pplying makeup with your fingers is entirely underrated. It’s utter joy – drawing on your face with satisfyingly chubby, bold strokes, then blending out with the synergy of skin against skin. Add to this: formulas for stick makeup have never been more sophisticated. Eye shadows that are lightweight yet waterproof. Foundations that are realistic and buildable. Cheek colours that are foolproof and glowy. A cinch to pack (and TSAfriendly), they’re a traveller’s dream.

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Never worry about finding spilled, melted or shattered surprises at the bottom of your bag. Their portability also means that quick touch-ups are a breeze. Just dab on a bit more colour, pat with clean fingers and you’re good to go. For hot summer months, the ease of application couldn’t be more appealing. No fussing with brushes (and subsequent washings) and once you’ve got the hang of it, you can be done with your face in less than 10 minutes.

There are a few tricks to make this kind of makeup work its best:

1

Prime your face with moisturiser (or primer), but don’t powder. Think, “like for like,” so use all your creams, lotions, gels and liquids together so they’ll blend seamlessly. It’s like priming your walls for the right kind of paint; oil-based paints don’t sit well on top of latex paint and vice versa. The right kind of primer is crucial.

2

Work in thin layers and build up slowly. It might be tempting to be heavy-handed with the products, as if you’re colouring, but resist. Start with one or two strokes, pat on, then add more as needed. It’s far easier to add colour than to remove it, and thin layers make blending more manageable.

3

Blend well. And by blend, I mean pat, not rub. Rubbing will only end up smearing the makeup around. Instead, use your fingers to tap and bounce off your skin, working the makeup into your face until it looks seamless. There should be no discernible edges.

4

Stop blending. Once you’re done, leave it and move on to something else for a minute. This kind of makeup will set, so give it a bit of time to settle in. Take a final look and if you need to add a little more, do it then.

5

Powder, as necessary. As your final step, this is when you can apply your powder products. If you tend to be oily, powder around your nose and forehead. But keep it strategic: leave your high points alone (cheekbones, bridge of nose, Cupid’s bow, arches, etc.) or you’ll smother the glowy nature of this kind of makeup.


Photos: Courtesy of brands featured, L'oreal

For face, the just-launched Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick ($56, Sephora) by Hourglass provides a silky and impressively pigmented product. Use this foundation stick sparingly to even out your skintone and then tap on a little more as a concealer just on areas that need it. And kudos to Hourglass for providing a new base that comes in 26 shades to give almost everyone a fighting chance of finding a good match. If your skin is in good condition, Clinique’s Chubby in the Nude Foundation Stick ($29, Clinique counters) offers light to medium coverage with a beautiful, second-skin finish. This lightweight formula is nearly foolproof and probably best for those with combination to oily skins. Available in 10 shades. When applying cheek colour, start with a small area to give yourself space to blend out. Place the stick flush under your cheekbone in the space between the outer corner of your eye and your ear, drag it lightly about 2 cm and then start tapping and blending. Tap up and out to blend into the hairline and make sure you don’t bring it in past the centre of your pupils. Estée Lauder’s Pure Color Lip and Cheek Summer Glow ($38, Estée Lauder counters) is a dual-ended, 2-in-1 product that might be all you need for a casual weekend away. The cheek colour delivers a

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sheer glow, which can also be used on lips for a subtle wash of colour. For more punch, the other end provides a matching, pigmented lip gloss. Available in two shades. If you absolutely cannot live without a brush, Pur Minerals’ Chateau Cheek Stain ($27, Shoppers Drug Mart) is another dual-ended product. At one end is an antioxidant-packed gel stain, at the other is a brush. I still encourage you to use fingers for blending, but the brush can be helpful for buffing around the edges. Available in three juicy shades.

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Cell: 604-329-7788 Tel.: 604-575-5262 #105,5477-152 st Surrey,B.C. V3S5A5 E: psandhu@homelifebc.com

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Summer eyes demand smudgeproof, waterproof and sweatproof formulas, which is exactly what Make Up For Ever’s Aqua XL Eye Pencil Waterproof Eyeliners ($25, Sephora) deliver. This product will set, so if you want to do any smudging do it right after applying (i.e. do one eye at a time). Available in 20 rainbow bright shades with finishes including matte, satin, diamond (shimmer) and iridescent. Another budge-proof eye product is Estée Edit’s The Edgiest Kohl Shadowstick ($26, Sephora). Use this as an eyeliner or scribble onto lids and blend outwards to create a smoky look. They layer beautifully, so just a couple from the 10 colour options can be combined to create a multitude of looks. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Catherine Tse Catherine is a Vancouver lifestyle writer with a love for travel, food, animals and all things beautiful. She has written for the National Post, Georgia Straight, Real Weddings and BC Living.


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Photography: Varsola Visuals Hair & Makeup: Pink Orchid Studio Outfits by: Holt Renfrew & Club Monaco

BY KANIKA SASAN

FA S H I O N

FORWARD What’s trending this summer!

T Shoes & bag: Holt Renfrew

his summer, while various new trends make headway, the old classics still remain popular. From rompers to duster coats, we bring to you eight exciting fashion looks from the latest collections of coveted brands, Holt Renfrew and Club Monaco. Explore vibrant cocktail dresses, off-shoulder tops, playful patterns, and casual wear, and get trendy this season!

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Romper Style Not only is this one of the most comfortable trends this season, a stylish romper is sure to shorten the time it takes to get ready. This Club Monaco blue romper is chic and fashionable and can be accentuated with a playful clutch and contrasting heels.

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Playful in Plaid

Model: Shakila, Shoes: Holt Renfrew

A crop top with a plaid pattern is just perfect for this season. Paired with casual beige ankle-length pants, this ensemble put together from Club Monaco is definitely a winner for a casual day look.

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Coating Pleasure

Model: Harjot, Pant: Club Monaco

This bright Runway duster coat by Marni in 2-thread tropical wool and contrasting colours is ideal to showcase your summery mood. It is also a great option to wear at a formal event. We have paired it up with red Jimmy Choo stilettos to complete the lively look. Available at Holt Renfrew.

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Bold in Blue Don’t you just love the colour? Electric blue, a trending shade this season is flattering on all skin types. We picked a beautiful v-neck cocktail dress by Fausto Puglisi and paired it with a beige handbag by Stella McCartney and black and white Prada stilletos to give it a touch of sophistication and luxury. Available at Holt Renfrew.

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Dare to Bare

Model: Eileen

Yes, just as the title suggests, this black jumper from Holt Renfrew will definitely amp up your look this summer. The outfit has been reinvented with a modern, bold style comprising of lace details in the front and suspenders behind.

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Top it Up A polished and oldfashioned look that is stylish throughout. The shoulder-baring top by Theory is alluring in a modest way. This hassle-free style is ideal for casual brunches, making a statement at work or a lovely picnic date. Rock the look with a flair skirt. Available at Holt Renfrew.

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Feathery Fashion

To p a n d s h o e s : H o l t R e n f r e w

Get creative with this feathery black tube top by Marie Saint Pierre. It is edgy yet chic and the feathery pattern adds a different mood to it. For a smart summer look, we paired it up with jeans and stylish stilettos.

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Silk Touch This v-neck sleeveless silk satin dress with high slits by Dion Lee impresses with its fiery colour and cut. With the right pair of shoes and accessories, this resort wear is bound to make heads turn. Available at Holt Renfrew.

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DARPAN STYLE

BY JOSEPH A. FEDERICO

Summer is a season of adventures, in and out of your clothes.

TRAVEL LIKE A

W

e are in the midst of summer 2016; it has been a long time coming and finally a season where most of us thought the days of sun and surf would never arrive. Sun-kissed hair and salty skin mix with cold drinks and flirtatious passersby every night of the week. This is a season of adventure, in and out of your clothes. Summer 2016 sees travel – to faraway lands – with some of today’s hottest designs. Men, you are up first. Think jet-set! Flirty, fast and fun.

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On the top, you are light. Cotton or linen button down shirts don your chest and arms. Pinks, salmons, cremes and whites are all the rage. Mix and match patterns of shirts with solid-coloured bowties. Think nerd sheik. If you would like to layer, consider investing in a timeless piece such as an air brushed

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suede, solid-coloured jacket by Canada’s own Christopher Bates. These jackets are great for travel because they are easy on the eyes, and do not have to be ironed or well-kept at all times. Throw one over your shoulder, tie it around your waist for an afternoon airport cocktail, or throw it in you carry on bag. Easy and breezy. On your head, you will sport straw fedoras. They are light, and also mean you can get away with a messy hairstyle or longer, more un-kept hair. It is the summertime, so do not worry too much about the lustrous locks. If you are a man who likes to look and think young, run to your local jeweller or department store, and buy an anchor bracelet or two. Layering

bracelets is very fashion forward at the moment; you will look like you are a true island traveller set for exotic lands. You cannot go commando down there, so invest in a pair of rolled up vintage safari shorts. Crème coloured, khaki coloured or brown will suffice just fine. Make sure the length is short enough to look mature, but not too short; understood? On well-kept feet, do not wear socks. You do not want to come off as too touristy. Invest in a pair of Sperry Top Siders – blue or classic brown. Now it is time for the ladies to make a go of it. Flowy, sheer red rose printed blouses would look best for a long flight, mixed with a boyfriendstyle chino pant and some rope wedges. This look says “freedom and ready for some summer fun”. If you prefer to be less stressed when you dress, consider buying a


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floral printed baby doll dress by Canada’s own Mercy. Form-fitting fabric takes on a lift of its own with their designs. Pair up a Mercy dress with the same style of rope wedges. Also on the top, wrap yourself up in an extra long, extra light summer scarf. The best things about sporting scarves are that the knot possibilities are endless. You do not even have to tie it up for it to be fashion forward. And if you are really feeling ambitious, a scarf can double as a designer-esque belt in jean belt loops. On the bottom, sport baggier denim shorts. All kinds of washes and designs are up and coming this summer of 2016. The baggier the better, trust me. Your baggy shorts will pair nicely with a swimsuit or bikini top. Think freer like you did 1980s or 1990s style. As an accessory, invest in an oversized khaki-coloured canvas bag. This kind of carry-on item can be easily organized into compartments for makeup, sunglasses, electronics and summer reading. Just make sure it fits the travel parameters. Another accessory is a timeless pair of gold aviator sunglasses or tortoise shell sunglasses. Do not break the bank if these are not laying around your home; your local department store should carry either one of these aforementioned looks. Finally, try not to quaff as much as you would during other seasons. Live freely, live like a true summer girl. Makeup should be lighter – gold tones and natural hues. And put your hair up in a messy bun. You will be best to travel with the best of them. How do you dress to impress while traveling? I’d love to hear from the inner jet-setter in you.

Helping you in every step of the way! Chandan K. Sabharwal Barrister & Solicitor

Sabharwal Law Group

We Specialize in: Divorce Annulment Separation agreements Cohabitation agreements Child support and spousal support

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Joseph Federico loves fashion, thanks in part to his mother exposing him to the wonders of the garment district at an early age. He has his own sense of style, and always has his finger on the pulse of the next big trend.

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Small claims matters Residential conveyancing Custody and Guardianship and parenting time with the children Property division and reapportionment

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dARPAN HEALTH

TA K E A S E AT B U T

DON’T

S TAY LONG

BY ASHLEY STEPHENS

Why a sedentary lifestyle doesn’t sit well for your health

R

with Athabasca University, “and given this area of research is fairly new, we are still exploring the mechanisms regarding sitting and increased chronic disease risk. Our data has even linked excessive sedentary time with psychosocial health factors like depression.” Considering it is estimated adults spend more than half of their waking hours sitting, whether it be at a desk, on the couch, eating

esearch has shown the amount of time one spends sitting in a day is associated with not only a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases but also type-2 diabetes, cancer and cancer-related deaths. “We believe there are several factors,” as to why, says Dr. Jeff Vallance, associate professor and Tier II Canada research chair in Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Management

HEART

BRAIN

We rely on movement to pump oxygen and blood throughout our bodies and this includes our brain. Sitting for long periods of time slows this process and slows our brain’s function as the release of brain- and mood-enhancing chemicals isn’t being triggered.

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or commuting, it’s unnerving to think we are putting ourselves at risk every day with normal, necessary and seemingly harmless activities. While you may think you’re resting after a rough workout or feeling productive after a good day at the office, we may actually be worse from too much time spent on our bottoms.

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As blood flows slower during extended sitting sessions and muscles burn less fat as a result of inactivity, fatty acids have been found to more easily clog the heart in sedentary individuals putting them at risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases.


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PANCREAS

The pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that allows your body to use and store glucose for energy. If muscles sit inactive for too long, their cells don’t respond as well to insulin and the pancreas continues to produce more and more which can lead to diabetes. Excessive insulin also promotes cell growth which has been linked to an increased risk of colon, breast and endometrial cancers.

MUSCLES

Sitting for long periods of time can do a number on our muscles even though they’re doing nothing at all. When we sit, our abdominals and glutes tend to go unused resulting in poor posture, a swayback, and/or instability. We lose strength and length in our stride and see a decrease in mobility as a result of tight, short hip flexor muscles.

SPINE

A sore back, neck or shoulders is one result of a sedentary lifestyle but more serious and permanent damage can occur. While our shoulder and back muscles are overextended and contribute to our lack of a straight back, we are also straining our vertebrae and risk damaging our disks. Our spines lose their flexibility, putting us at risk of injury when we do start to move again.

BONES

Certain activities, such as running and walking, that are weight-bearing actually encourage hip and leg bones to grow stronger, thicker and denser. Without these activities, we risk soft bones and the potential for osteoporosis.

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WAYS TO BALANCE OUT A SEdENTARY LIFESTYLE: Sit up straight If you have to sit down, make sure you’re not slouching. Keep your core engaged or try sitting on something unstable like an exercise ball.

Stay social Not only does getting out and being social often encourages activity but it can also keep you accountable. Ask others about their success and allow it to motivate you.

Stretch Incorporating stretches for your hip flexors, hamstrings and glutes as well as yoga poses like the cat pose or cow pose into your daily routine can improve the negative effects prolonged sitting has on your muscles, legs, back and abdominals.


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“People need to learn to incorporate physical activity into their day. Being sedentary all day, and taking a few standing breaks, with no exercise throughout the day, is not an ideal solution.” “Physiologically, sitting for too long may slow down the body’s metabolism, affecting blood sugars and blood pressure. This can lead to weight gain. From a behavioural perspective, when somebody is sitting for too long, other behaviours that may be health-enhancing, such a light, moderate or vigorous intensity movement is not happening. So to put it simply, sitting replaces health-enhancing activity,” says Vallance. It’s not necessarily just the act of sitting that is unhealthy but the dangers of a lifestyle that accompanies an abundance of inactivity. “We are referring to prolonged and excessive sitting when referring to these negative health outcomes,” explains Vallance. “Of course, some sitting (like sleep) may have restorative functions. Research has not quite yet pinpointed a particular cutpoint as to when sitting becomes hazardous. It would depend on the individual, and their overall daily activity pattern.” Evaluating your daily movement may be the first step of many more to come. “People need to learn to incorporate physical activity into their day. Being sedentary all day, and taking a few standing breaks, with no exercise throughout the day, is not an ideal solution,” he says. “We often see what I think are overly simplistic recommendations to break up sitting, such as walking to deliver a message to your colleague, or walking around the office. While this is a start and certainly won’t hurt, I think people need to make bigger, lifestyle changes. These active and/or standing behaviours need to become habit.” Vallance suggests that active commuting, standing workstations and activity monitors encourage a more permanent lifestyle change. You may need to start by setting an alarm or downloading an app to remind you to stay active but you’ll soon find yourself with healthy habits that counteract all your time spent sitting. Don’t just sit around until it’s too late; stand up for your health by moving to improve it.

You need the right solutions to meet your goals and protect the business you’ve worked so hard to build. Together we can find the right solution for you and your business. Let’s talk about Money for Life. Rajni Sharma MA MPC Rajni Sharma Financial Services Ltd. Tel: 604-274-7677 rajni.sharma@sunlife.com www.sunlife.ca/rajni.sharma 12686 54 Avenue, Surrey BC V3X 3C2 Mutual funds offered by Sun Life Financial Investment Services (Canada) Inc. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is a member of the Sun Life Financial group of companies. © Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2013.

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Tips to enjoy a safe workout in the summer.

2

WORKING

OU T

IN THE

HEAT BY NICK HILDEN

W

e’re all excited once summer comes – the season for getting outside and getting active. Whether that means running, hiking, cycling, or performing any other form of outdoor exercise, you’ve finally got the weather on your side. But when you combine physical exertion with increased temperatures, you’re faced by a number of risks. Dehydration is the first that comes to mind, but all of that excess sweating also means that you’ll be pumping through your body’s supply of electrolytes and sodium. The obvious solution is to drink a ton of water, but it might not be that simple – too much water with too little electrolytes can lead to hyponatremia (translation: low blood sodium levels), which can cause nausea, confusion, muscle cramping, seizures, and in extreme cases even death. So how can you make sure that you’re enjoying a safe workout in the summer heat? Here are a few tips:

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1

Get your water

Before you work out drink at least two glasses of water, and be sure that you have a water source close at hand while you exercise, whether that means a water fountain, bottle, or camel bag. Drink at least every 15 minutes, even if you don’t think you need to. After you’re finished, be sure to put back at least two more glasses.

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And your electrolytes

You can replenish your stores of electrolytes by either drinking electrolyte-rich beverages or by taking supplement capsules. A great way to replenish water, electrolytes and carbs while giving yourself a chance to cool down is to eat a piece of fruit.

3

Salt up

It might seem counterintuitive, but salt is an important part of your workout as sodium is one of the main components of your electrolytes. Once you start sweating it all out, you’ve got to restock your body’s stores. A small handful of olives, salted nuts, or pumpkin seeds make for a great sodium boost.

4

Precool

Studies have shown that precooling by taking a cold shower and chugging an icy beverage right before your workout doesn’t just combat the effects of high temperatures, but can actually boost your performance.

5

Pick your times wisely

The hottest part of the day spans roughly 10 am to 3 pm, so if possible avoid working out during this period. The coolest time of the day will always be the early morning.


6

Don’t forget the sunscreen

Sun burns, skin damage, and skin cancer are all potential risks even on cloudy days. So if you’re going to be outdoors for long stretches, be sure to apply sunscreen. And don’t forget the easy to miss areas, like your nose, ears, the back of the neck and your lips.

7

Dress appropriately

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This can be as simple as wearing loose, light-coloured clothes that will breathe and reflect sunlight, or you can go as far as getting some hi-tech outdoor clothes that are made out of special materials that keep you cool and wick sweat from your body.

8

Look for shade

Find some coverage to keep you cool over the course of your workout. There’s nothing better than going for a run or hike through the trees.

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Know when to go easy

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When temperatures get really high, it’s often a good idea to play it safe and dial down your workout a bit. Some days, it’s alright to give it a six or seven rather than your 10.

10

Pay attention to your body

We all know that part of working out involves “pushing through” the pain or exhaustion, but when it comes to exercising in the heat that mindset can be dangerous. If you start to feel dizzy, confused, nauseous, or overwhelmingly tired, it’s a sign that something is wrong. Give yourself a break and get some water.

Nick Hilden travel, advertising, journalism, biography, and more, and his work has appeared in publications such as the LA Times, Vice, LiveStrong, and Global Living Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter @LifeDoneWrite.

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DARPAN FEATURE

green

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EvErywhErE inPUts BY Canada BLooms

Learn ways to create a healthy garden

g

ardening is always a great idea to add life to a dull or unused area. Though it might seem like an easy task, creating your own garden does not limit itself to just planting and watering. “Planting a flower or vegetable garden is a great hobby that not only beautifies

your home, but is also good for your health and allows you to take pride in your work every time you look out your kitchen window,” says Terry Caddo, General Manager of Canada Blooms. If you aren’t a natural “green thumb,” here are a few tips to ensure your garden is healthy and happy:

Good soil is must Soil holds the water and the nutrients required for a plant to grow. If a soil doesn’t have enough nutrients, the plant will fail to thrive. Potting mixes can be purchased to ensure a healthy soil for your plants, or you can fertilize.

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Plants need water and sun Plants need water; not too much that they drown but enough so that they don’t dry out and wither. If you are planting in pots, make sure there are holes in the bottom for proper drainage. Plants harness energy from the sun using a process called photosynthesis. Therefore, most plants require a good amount of direct sunlight to grow. Do some research to know which plants can handle less sun exposure in your garden.


Home Sweet Home

Don’t forget the pruning Most plants require some kind of pruning. Cut back tall grasses and low or dead branches to make room for new growth. By removing wilted flowers from your plant, also called deadheading, you will help the plant direct its energy into stronger leaves and roots. This will also encourage production of more flowers making your garden a colourful space.

Give your plant the needed nutrients Plants require three main nutrients to survive: nitrogen for the leaves, phosphorus for the roots, and potassium for the flowers and fruit. It is important to have an even balance of these three ingredients. If so, the whole plant will be fed, and grow to be strong and healthy.

Plant at the right time Most annuals can handle being planted leading up to spring, however bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, and crocuses flower in the spring requiring them to be planted before the ground freezes the year before.

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DARPAN HOME

Small Outdoor

Space Making the most of a little bit of land

By Ashley sTephens

your balcony may not be big or your backyard may seem small but that doesn’t mean you can’t decorate, accessorize and, most importantly, enjoy the outdoor living space you’re lucky enough to have.

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L

iving in a big city comes with many amenities but, unfortunately, an abundance of outdoor space isn’t usually one of them. Your balcony may not be big or your backyard may seem small but that doesn’t mean you can’t decorate, accessorize and, most importantly, enjoy the outdoor living space you’re lucky enough to have.

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Your furniture must be functional, especially when your space is limited. Decorate a work bench with greenery that can double as a buffet for serving meals or entertaining guests. Look for coffee tables that can also be used as stools, or stools as

coffee tables, to maximize the amount of seating your patio offers while also having a place to rest glasses or serve snacks. Don’t think you have room for a fire pit and a table? Find a fire pit with a flat cover that can transform into a table when not in use. Not only is function important but multifunction will be the key to making the most of a small space. “When choosing furniture you have


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Pictures for representation only

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to consider weather, foliage from trees, and, number one, comfort,” says Melody Li Grey of Earthformers, a landscaping company with experience in custom builds and creative property design. Limited space, whether it’s indoors or out, means it’s essential to only include furniture that suits your needs. “When looking to update an outdoor space the most important factor to consider is what you want to use that outdoor space for,” Grey says. “Evening relaxation, visiting with friends and family, a quiet space to curl up and read a book or firing up the barbeque and

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“The biggest mistake that homeowners or renters often make when it comes to setting up patio or balcony is too much stuff. Keep it simple. A cluttered space is not comfortable or fun to entertain guests.” having some beers.” If you’re not likely to need extra seating for guests, you don’t need to fit it in just because it seems expected. Instead, focus on what you will be doing when you’re outdoors and furnish accordingly. This may mean a small bistro table with two chairs for al fresco dining or working outside. Alternatively, a cozy recliner or hammock may be all the seating your space actually needs to be liveable.

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If you dream of eating homegrown herbs or enjoy watching a garden grow, don’t be discouraged by a lack of outdoor availability. Go vertical with your garden without taking away precious space on your patio. A blank wall or a bare fence is the perfect canvas for creating a masterpiece of greenery – all you have to do is get creative. Attach small pots to hung wired netting, craft and hang a slim planter to perfectly fit your space, or repurpose a shipping pallet up against a wall. Lattice, ladders and bookshelves all make perfect planters for many types of gardens. Window boxes are an easy way to include flowers in your outdoor décor without taking up coveted floor or table space. As an added bonus, they can be enjoyed from both indoors and outdoors. “The biggest mistake that homeowners or renters often make when it comes to setting up patio or balcony is too much stuff,” says Grey. “Keep it simple. A cluttered space is not comfortable or fun to entertain guests.” A small space doesn’t mean you should fill it with small objects. Instead, find a few key furniture pieces that will stand out and scale back on the accessories to avoid

clutter and making the space feel closed in. Have fun with the accessories you do decide to include and look for ways to incorporate your personality into your patio that is functional as well. Find a planter in a fun shape that can also double as a side table or seek out vintage decor that can act as an ottoman or a stool. Is your space oddly shaped? Fill nooks and crannies or awkward spaces with built-in shelving or custom pieces. Use mirrors as you would indoors and add a few to a small space to reflect the outdoor light and make your patio look bigger than it actually is. A lack of storage doesn’t have to be an issue just because you lack an abundance of space. Look for benches and ottomans that open up to store outdoor tableware or extra blankets. Try wall-mounted shelves, tables, or benches that can be folded down when not being used. You won’t have to sacrifice space for something that isn’t apt to be used all the time. Make a big statement with a little bit of land by focusing on functional key pieces that let your style shine through. Breathe some life into your balcony or backyard so you can breathe in the fresh air right from where you live.


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Paper or plasma – if you’re a reader, this question has plagued you at least once in your life. But which is better? paper; it’s comfortable, especially if you have a newer version of Kindle. It’s improved a lot.” While there is no doubt Kindles are improving, what about memories? Books can be physical reminders of your life and take you back to the moment you read them. That old worn-out copy of Harry Potter with spells scribbled in the margins takes you back to your carefree middle school years. That mud-stained mystery novel takes you back to that beach vacation you took with the family. Kindles can’t do that – each book is exactly the same.

Books v/s

The convenience

KINDLE

BY TARANA RANA

2015

was the year of the paper book. According to the Association of American Publishers annual data report, e-book sales dropped 7.5 per cent while paperback sales increased by 8.9 per cent. Bookstores worldwide reported a resurgence of hardback and paperback book sales. Even Chapters Indigo in Canada reported a double-digit increase in print sales and claimed that customers were buying less e-readers and tablets like Kindle. Does that mean that the Kindle is dead? Sadly, no. Despite these promising statistics, there is still a

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place for Kindle and its e-book reader brethren and so, the long-standing debate still rages on: which is better? Paper books or e-books? Let’s explore some of the benefits and drawbacks of both.

The physicality There is something appealing about the weight of a paper book. It’s a sensory experience, the textured jacket, the smell, the soft pages, and that slight rustling sound as you turn a page – it’s all physically pleasing. “It feels good,” states

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William Xu, a fourth year business student at the University of British Columbia and avid reader. “Paper books just feel real.” Kindles and other e-readers lack this warmth. After staring at computer screens for the majority of the day, whether you’re at work or school, it doesn’t sound very tempting to come back and read for pleasure on yet another screen. Sabrina Pannu, a staff accountant at EY and fellow bibliophile, disagrees. “You don’t feel like you’re reading a screen like on your smartphone or something. It’s like

Kindle e-readers are light, compact and easy to carry. You can slip it into your backpack, purse or briefcase without a second thought for space. This is especially convenient for those who enjoy reading on public transit or can’t imagine setting out on a vacation without a book or two. “It’s like having a lightweight, portable library with you rather than lugging around a huge stack of books,” says Sabrina. Paper books however don’t enjoy the same convenience. Perhaps paperbacks are more convenient on the go, but the weight still adds up. Die-hard paper book advocates don’t seem to be bothered by this. According to William, “Yes, it can get heavy, depending on the books. But knowledge has weight.” In addition, with paper books, you don’t have to worry about battery levels or remember to charge them. But on the other hand, it’s easier to buy books on Kindle – all you need is a Wi-Fi connection. “The only thing is that a lot of books don’t have e-versions,” adds Sabrina. “But I’m all for the portability and convenience.”


DARPAN FEATURE

The cost

When it comes to cold, hard cash, digital reading has an edge. E-books tend to be cheaper than print versions, at least in Canada. So once you shell out money for the Kindle or another e-reader, you can get e-books for a lower price than their ink-and-paper twins. “Best sellers are always cheaper on Kindle, classics are free to download and there are always thousands of free books,” says Sabrina. “I get a lot of free trials to magazines and newspapers too.” On the other hand, there are ways to source less-expensive paper books. You can often find the latest bestsellers at half the price at local thrift stores or charity shops. Classics and obscure reads can be sourced at second-hand bookstores for a decent price and it’s also a great way to come across reading material you never knew existed.

The concentration Most people, even Kindle loyalists, agree that when it comes to deep reading, they concentrate best with a paper book. “It’s definitely preferable to have a paper copy if I’m studying,” admits Sabrina. There have been numerous small studies that suggest that reading on paper instead of a screen is better for memory retention and focus. Anne Mangen from Norway’s Stavanger University conducted a research that showed readers retain plot elements better when reading on paper instead of Kindle. If you’re reading a ‘heavier’ or more challenging book and want to retain it, it might be best to stick to paper. Then there’s also the fact that it’s easier to get distracted on a Kindle, especially on those that allow you to browse the Internet. It’s hard to resist that temptation of checking your email, browsing content on websites or reading the headlines.

So which is better? At the end of the day, it’s hard to say. One can argue the pros and cons of paper books vs. e-books till you’re blue in the face but the preference is extremely personal. While some remain firmly in one camp or the other, many readers embrace both – they have a Kindle but they also buy paper books. No matter what you choose, happy reading!

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DARPAN TECH

I

nnovation, start-ups and social investment are abuzz. Consumer awareness on issues pertaining to environmental risks and human rights has triggered an active and unavoidable corporate social responsibility debate that urges combat of risks and hazards. Here is how technology and innovation is playing its part in doing social good:

M.Paani

By GARIMA GOSWAMI

TECH

FOR

SOCIAL

GOOD

An award-winning social initiative, M.Paani surfaces the power of technology in a country such as India where the wealthiest and the poorest share a common denominator – a mobile phone. Using mobile technology as an interface, the app provides key products and services to the underserved. It works by allotting points to users as per their mobile phone usage or expenditure which can be monetized for various products and services including water, energy, education and healthcare. This app is currently functioning in Mumbai, India, with plans of expansion in other regions.

Access Earth

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A user-generated platform providing basic information on accessibility from around the world with its reliable accessibility database on hotels, businesses and restaurants. Designed for the physically challenged, the app aims to demystify overstated accessibility features with reviews from active volunteers.

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Neopenda

Nima

Designed to improve survival and health of the newborn in developing countries, Neopenda is a baby hat equipped with sensors that measure heart and respiratory rate, blood oxygen saturation and temperature. Vital data is then transmitted to Neopenda’s custom software alerting health care officials of any emergencies. It is a breakthrough device that has potential to save lives of millions of newborns in the developing world if produced at scale.

It is claimed to be the fastest gluten tester in the market, giving glutensensitive bodies more autonomy. Simply insert a sample of your meal into the one-time-use capsule and in two minutes you would know if there is 20 ppm or more of gluten in your meal. It is easy to carry and connected to an application that saves and shares data with other users.

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We sang, danced, laughed, cried and partied our hearts out on Waikiki beach that evening, under the blue Hawaiian sky.

a i & n o S icky R are lucky enough to be with the right person. I count my blessings every day.

Where did you

Photos: Eugene K am Photography

We met at Starbucks, in the Chapters book store at Metrotown.

about one another? Sonia: I love Rick’s sense of humour, generosity and his smile. He always has a way of making me smile no matter what. He has a heart of gold, he is so loving, and reminds me of that every day. He truly is the man of my dreams. His smile is infectious and it warms my heart. He is my rock and my source of strength. For the last six years, he has shown me how much beauty, light and love there can be in this world, if you

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Ricky: There are many things I love about Sonia, too many to list. If I had to choose one, it would be her empathy. How she cares for others with all her heart and puts other’s needs before her own. She always makes sure everyone is taken care of around her.

Could you share your proposal story? Sonia: It was a surprise proposal. Rick, planned our vacation to Oahu, Hawaii. He planned a 14-day vacation for us in the same month as my birthday, to Hawaii and we had the most magical time. A couple of weeks before going, Rick had mentioned

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he was entering into some free contests and giveaways for attractions and things to do in Hawaii. He later told me we had won a free photoshoot in Oahu. I was so excited! Who wouldn’t want a photoshoot in paradise? For the photoshoot, we drove up to the North Shore, to Waimanalo Beach. The location that Rick had chosen took my breath away. We met our photographer and she took a couple of casual photos. She then asked me to look into the ocean for a shot. I had my back turned to Rick and was looking into the ocean. The photographer asked me to turn around, and there Rick was on one knee. It felt like my heart stopped. He then went on to state how much he loved me, and asked me to marry him.

Describe your wedding day. What was your favourite Sonia: Our wedding day was magical. We are so thankful and blessed to have our wedding the way we wanted it. We have amazing parents, who supported us in doing a destination wedding from day one, and who supported us in making our dream wedding a reality. Our wedding was at the Royal Hawaiian Luxury Resort in Waikiki, Oahu. We describe our wedding as tropical Indian fusion. We honoured the Sikh traditions by having the ardaas and we gave respect to all our family and friends by including them in the milne ceremony. We wanted to signify the joining of our two families. My favourite part of the ceremony was when I was walking down the aisle, and I saw Rick standing at the


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altar waiting for me. The look on his face, as our eyes met, melted my heart, seeing how happy he was to see me, and to feel that same happiness beaming inside me. Ricky: My favourite part was seeing Sonia for the forgot where I was. She is more beautiful than Hawaii! I also loved it when the Reverend announced us as We said our vows that we had written ourselves. We did alternating vows, where we each took turns. We wanted to symbolize the unity and equality in our union, by alternating. We also did a sand ceremony, where we each poured different coloured sand into a vase, symbolizing our unity and the two of us becoming one.

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We had practiced a choreographed song that we danced to. It was ‘Moondance’ by Van Morrison, and we had our musician John Valentine sing it for us live. We sang, danced, laughed, cried and partied our hearts out on Waikiki beach that evening, under the blue Hawaiian sky. The sun set upon us, and we celebrated with all our family and friends. We had Punjabi bhangra music playing and we took over Waikiki Beach; it was unreal.

Weddings | Graduations | Airport Transfers | Corporate Travel | Club Runs And More For the wedding ceremony, I chose a glittery gold-sequined gown that was inspired by Sabyasachi Mukherjee. I love all his designs, and this piece was inspired by him. It was made by Sunny’s Bridal. My jewellery was from The Trove. I wore a coral net dupatta for the ardaas and then the reception, I wore a coral gown, an Indian fusion piece designed by Royale Libaas.

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Tell each other how much we love each other every day; communicate openly and freely; continue to be spontaneous and experience new things together; and always be ourselves with each other and don’t be afraid to hold back. We want to travel the world together and experience life to the fullest!


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DARPAN ACTIVITIES WATCH THE CELEBRATION OF LIGHT The Celebration of Lights fireworks down at English Bay are a quintessential summer event in Vancouver and makes for one unforgettable evening! Besides the glorious firework show, there’s a lot more to enjoy, from live music to food and much more! This year, Netherlands, Australia and the US will bring their finest firework displays on July 23, July 27 and July 30, respectively. The shows begin at 10 pm, rain or shine, so show up early to grab the perfect viewing spot!

HAVE SOME FUN THIS

SUMMER BY TARANA RANA

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ike most things in Vancouver, summer activities often come with a price tag! If you want to make the most out of these sunny months without breaking the bank, check out these fun, free summer events happening around the Lower Mainland.

JOIN IN A MASSI VE WATER FIGHT

LEARN A NEW DANCE MOVE OR TWO Every Sunday afternoon, this July and August, make your way down to Robson Square for a series of free outdoor salsa dance lessons! A complete beginner? Two left feet? No worries, as these lessons are open to absolutely everyone. The lessons start at 3 pm and last for about half hour. After you’re done, stick around to watch a dance show performance by Vancouver’s most talented dancers at 5 pm!

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Yes, you read that right! For the past nine years, Vancouver has been host to a massive waterfight at Lumberman’s Arch in Stanley Park. This year, the water fight takes place on August 6 at 1 pm. To join in the silliness, pack your water guns, dress to get wet, and leave those electronics at home!

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Make the mos t of these sunny d ays w ith these fun , free things to do around the L ow er Mainla nd.


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Photos: iStock, Facebook page of events mentioned, sundayafternoonsalsa.com

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TA R Y C O M P LI M E N

CATCH AN OUTDOOR CONCERT Starting July 10, you can head down to Rocky Point Park in Port Moody and enjoy a free concert every Sunday at 2 pm. From blues to reggae to R&B, there’s something here for everyone. The concerts take place all the way into September. So pack a picnic lunch and make it a day to

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remember! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tarana is a freelance writer in Vancouver, BC. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring the city and discovering some of its lesser-known haunts.

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DARPAN TRAVEL

India When to Go? November into

EXPLORE THE W

ildlife tour expert Wild Planet Adventures (WPA) underscores that when you travel abroad to encounter Earth’s most exotic wild creatures is as important as the destination itself. Josh Cohen, founder of WPA, offers his insights as to the when and why wildlife lovers should travel abroad to maximize opportunities for close encounters, particularly of the rare and elusive kind.

BY WILD PLANET ADVENTURES

April

Why? Wild tiger populations are on the rise and rhino poaching has decreased. The parks re-open immediately after the monsoons in November, and tigers, used to empty habitat for months, are at their most visible. In April of this year, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) announced officially that wild tiger numbers were on the rise for the first time in over a century. WPA combines visits to Kanha (the best national park in India for tigers) and Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which includes 2,000 rhinos, wild elephants, tigers and more.

ExplorE 5 oF ‘THE World’S bEST’ ExoTIc WIldlIFE vIEWInG plAcES

South Africa/ Uganda When to Go? May through October Why? This is the time that rare nocturnal animals

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forage during daylight hours creating opportunities for viewing that don’t exist during the rest of the year. From May to October some of Africa’s rarest nocturnal animals forage during the day in the virtually unknown “Green Kalahari,” a savannah south of the better known Kalahari Desert in South Africa. These include rare pangolin (scaly anteater), aardvark and aardwolf, along with two habituated colonies of meerkats and large populations of cheetah, rhino and black-maned lions (Africa’s largest).


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peru When to Go? August through October

Why? Tambopata Reserve is home

Pictures for representation only

to the world’s largest macaw and parrot clay licks where one can see up to 1,000 birds at a time representing five species of macaws and 15 species of parrots and parakeets during the peak activity months of August into October. It is truly one of nature’s greatest events as the sky is covered with flocks of colourful squawking birds. Nearby is Manu Biosphere Reserve, the number one park in the world for biodiversity, visited by less than 3,500 visitors each year.

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brazil When to Go? July through October Why? Far away from the mayhem of this summer’s Olympics, the Pantanal hosts the largest concentration of jaguars in the world. From July into October WPA averages 1.5 jaguar sightings per day. During this time it gets increasingly hotter and normal watering holes dry up, forcing the jaguars to hunt caiman on the riverbanks where they are most visible by boat.

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borneo When to Go? August through October Why? It is fruiting season when animals are most visible, including orangutans, proboscis monkeys, gibbons, tarsiers, slow loris, pygmy elephants and more. Technically Borneo has no distinct seasons, although there are minor fluctuations in rainfall at different times of year, on different sides of the island. However, there is a distinct fruiting season from late summer into fall. At this time animals are more active as they forage for fruit and conflicts are common as several species vie for the most prolific trees. Wild Planet averages seeing 11 of the 13 primate species on each trip, often up close and for extended periods of time.


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DARPAN TRAVEL

BY Tarana rana

Home to the Olympic National Park, endless hiking trails, sandy beaches, temperate rainforests, a trail of waterfalls, and more, Washington States’ Olympic Peninsula is a summer mecca for outdoor and nature enthusiasts.

W

aves crashing on fine sand beaches, craggy, ancient trees sheltering wildlife, snowcapped mountains in the distance – the Olympic Peninsula is as entrancing as it is wild. Situated on the northwest corner of Washington State, it is truly a diverse blend of climates and natural wonders! With crystalclear lakes, three pristine rainforests, over 24 waterfalls, not to mention the coastal beaches, mountains, hot springs, and more, the Olympic Peninsula is a slice of nature at its finest. Besides its outdoor gems, it is also dotted by a handful of

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small cities that boast unique cultural and community experiences. Whether you visit for a day or a week, there’s no shortage of things to do. Here are some quintessential sights you should check when visiting this natural treasure:

EXPLORE OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK Declared a national monument, the Olympic National Park is definitely one of the area’s prime attractions. This 1406-sq-mile park offers endless opportunities for adventure. Check out Hurricane Ridge, one of the most accessible mountain areas in the region. Named after its frequent winter storms, it has a number of hiking trails with panoramic views that’ll make you catch your breath.


WATER WALLS By Kalsi Aluminum The Hoh Rainforest is another must-see, as one of the only protected temperate rainforest in the Northern hemisphere. Both of these areas have convenient places to stay, either at their lodges or camping grounds.

INDOOR IMAGE

WATER WALLS

Coastal Beaches

La Push & Forks The Quileute Indian Village, La Push, also has some

some time to spare, be sure to visit the Timber Museum, for its interesting exhibits of pioneer and regional history.

Lake Crescent & Sol Duc Valley The picture-perfect Lake Crescent is another popular Olympic Peninsula destination. This glaciercarved lake is perfect for swimming, boating and trout fishing. You could choose to stay here at the Lake Crescent Lodge, one of the park’s oldest resorts. A network of hiking trails that lead to stunning waterfalls also surrounds Lake Crescent.

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spectacular beaches. First Beach is a hot spot for surfing, whale watching, and kayaking. Second Beach, accessible by a relatively easy trail, is haven for wildlife photographers and an ideal sandy spot for a lazy afternoon. Nearby lies the small town of Forks, made famous by Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series. This small, rural town is a perfect pitstop with its homey shops and restaurants. You could also make it home base for the duration of your trip, by staying at one of its cozy B&Bs. If you have any Twilight fans in the family, they’ll be happy to know that you can actually stay at the ‘Cullen’s House. If you have

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You are never more than a stone’s throw away from a gorgeous, pristine beach in the Olympic National Park. Dotted with driftwood, there’s a lot to explore here, from tide pools filled with fascinating sea creatures to eye-catching arches and sea stacks. Some popular beaches include Ruby Beach, named for its sometimes ruby-coloured sand and the Kalaloch area, with its handful of beach trails. If it is tide pools you are after, check out Beach Trail 4, a dramatic pebble beach, which is also a popular place to smelt.

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Speaking of waterfalls, if you only plan to visit one, make sure it is the mesmerizing Sol Duc Falls, which is renowned as one of the largest and most beautiful waterfalls of the area. Sol Duc River is another must-see, with its streams of salmon. This area also offers lodging. For a more relaxing stay, check out the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, with its convenient access to hot mineral pools.

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When you’ve soaked in as much natural wonder as possible, why not take a city break? Here are two small neighbouring cities to explore.

Port Angeles Steeped in history, this small city has quite a lot to offer. Spend a leisurely afternoon browsing for antiques at the Port Angeles Antique Mall

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With crystal-clear lakes, three pristine rainforests, over 24 waterfalls, not to mention the coastal beaches, mountains, hot springs, and more, the Olympic Peninsula is a slice of nature at its finest.

PhotoS: IStoCK, WaShIngton tourISm, olymPICPenInSulablog.Com

downtown. Finish up by having a glass of Washington State wine or two at Harbinger Winery. If you have the time, make the 15-minute drive from Port Angeles to the picturesque Washington Lavender Farm where you can feast your senses on fields of heavenly-smelling lavender.

Port Townsend Situated on the northeast tip of the Olympic Peninsula and only an hour’s drive away from Port Angeles, this small maritime town is another must-see in this region. With its authentic Victorian-era buildings and booming art scene, Port Townsend is a history-lover’s dream. Walk around to get a feel of the place and be sure to keep an eye out for breathtaking buildings like the Jefferson County Courthouse! You can further explore its rich maritime history at the Jefferson Museum of Art and History and take a walking tour of the area. When you’ve worked up an appetite, a bite at one of the local, quaint restaurants like the Fountain Café is a great way to wind down after all that adventuring!

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LEXUS CT 200h I

HIGHLIGHTS

BY BenjamIn YOnG MSRP: $31,250 Motor: 1.8 L four-cylinder Horsepower: 134 @ 5,200 rpm (net) Torque (lb-ft): 142 @ 4,000 rpm Gearbox: CVT Layout: Front engine, front-wheel drive Fuel economy: 6.0 L/100 km mixed city/highway (observed)

f the Lexus portfolio of vehicles were to take a class photo, the CT 200h would be the shy smart kid standing to the side. I say that because the hybrid sometimes gets overshadowed by its bigger and faster gasolinechugging peers, but this green hatchback is chock full of smart engineering and affords a lot of bang for the buck. Back in 2014, the CT experienced a fairly significant overhaul, centered aesthetically on the inclusion of a proper allimportant Lexus spindle grille found now on all of the company’s products. Granted, it’s a

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restrained version compared to ones seen on, say, a RC F sports coupe. For those not familiar with the lingo, I’m talking about the large pinched-in trapezoidal frame encompassing both upper and lower bumper openings up front. The current model year is much more conservative in terms of alterations, the only key difference being an additional available F SPORT Series 2 upgrade package that adds-on extra comfort and convenience options such as a navigation system, driver’s seat memory adjustability, garage door opener, etcetera.


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DARPAN AutoREVIEW

Users can select from four Lexus Hybrid Drive modes: Normal, Sport, Eco and EV, each altering performance dynamics in a different way. EV allows limited travel at moderate speeds on primarily electricity, and Sport prioritizes throttle response.

PHOTO: BENjAmiN YONg

DaRPan’s press vehicle for the week didn’t include said package, instead coming in the Special edition trim (+$6,300) boasting its own highend bells and whistles – for example LeD head and foglights and rainsensing windshield wipers – but surprisingly no navigation system. The paint colour we got was a beautiful nebula Grey Pearl featuring a contrasting black roof and the Se-specific gloss-black-painted door handles that, in my opinion, breaks up the visual cohesiveness and cheapens the car’s image. The CT is given a look and feel of being close to the ground to emphasize a sporty aura for the partially electric hatch. a relatively low roofline translates into cosier interior space, and at 989 millimetres of headroom for the driver, the top of my hat brushed up

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against the headliner while sitting behind the wheel. There are some neat treatments in the passenger compartment I enjoyed, like the fighter jet joystick transmission selector, and seat warmer controls offering an incredible eight temperature settings. What I didn’t care for so much, however, were the over-the-top two-tone red and black leather seats. as far as hybrids go, the driving experi-

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ence is above average. The redesign endowed the car with increased body rigidity and upgraded suspension to enhance the level of handling and lessen nVH (noise, vibration and harshness). Providing power remains the combination of a 1.8-litre atkinson Cycle four-cylinder engine, high-torque electric motor and battery together good for a net 134 horsepower. Users can select from four Lexus Hybrid Drive modes: normal, Sport, eco and eV, each altering performance dynamics in a different way. eV allows limited travel at moderate speeds on primarily electricity, and Sport prioritizes throttle response, although it’s questionable whether the extra noise of the CVT or questionable performance gain of the latter is worth any sustained use. I mostly stayed in the normal and eco modes for the purposes of testing, and in doing so achieved a stellar 6.0 L/100 km fuel consumption over roughly 350 kilometres in mainly city driving. The 2016 Lexus CT 200h starts at $31,250 and is on sale now in stores.


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BY BenjamIn YOnG

B

MErcEdES BEnz

GLE 350d

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HIGHLIGHTS

efore we get started, let me address a point of possible confusion. although mercedesBenz’ GLe 350d has “Coupe” in its description, it’s not what you’re probably imagining. The German manufacturer is keeping with a prevailing automotive trend of calling certain four-door vehicles coupes due to their curvy form factors. On the topic of names, GLe is part of the company’s revised nomenclature where the first two letters describe the model’s sport utility nature, and the last letter identifies where it falls within the lineup, just as with the passenger cars: the executive e-Class, the compact C-Class, and so on. Officially replacing the former m-Class in 2015, the GLe comes in three all-wheel drive flavours – the 350d diesel 4maTIC, which we drove, the 450 amG 4maTIC, and the spicy amG GLe 63 S 4maTIC.

MSRP: $72,300 (base) Motor: 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6 Horsepower: 240 @ 3,600 rpm Torque (lb-ft): 457 @ 1,600 rpm Gearbox: Nine-speed automatic Layout: Front engine, 4MATIC all-wheel drive Fuel economy: 13.6 L/100 km mixed city/highway (observed)


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20801 Langley Bypass, Langley, BC Tel: 604.533.1205 | langley.mercedes-benz.ca Š 2016 Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. *Total price for the Mercedes-Benz 2017 C-Class Coupe includes MSRP of $48,100 freight/PDI $2,395, admin fee $595, EHF tire fee $25, air conditioning tax $100. License, insurance, registration and taxes TM JULY / AUGUST are extra. **Total price for the Mercedes-Benz 2016 CLA-Class includes MSRP of $35,300 freight/PDI $2,395, admin fee $595, EHF tire fee $25, air conditioning tax $100. License, insurance, registration and taxes are 2016 extra. Other products or Re f l e c t ior n g langley.mercedes-benz-vans.ca The South-Asian Lifestyle services not listed that may be available to you through your selected Mercedes-Benz dealership. Vehicle prices subject to change without notice. Dealer may sell for less. Visit Mercedes-Benz Langley for details.

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DARPAN AutoREVIEW PHOTOS: BENjAmiN YONg

GLE is part of the company’s revised nomenclature where the first two letters describe the model’s sport utility nature, and the last letter identifies where it falls within the lineup, just as with the passenger cars: the executive E-Class, the compact C-Class, and so on.

The passenger compartment strikes a good balance between luxury and sporty with items like its supple nappa leather seat upholstery and quilted door panels, three-spoke steering wheel and racy instrument cluster. The side profile of the GLe reveals a turtle-esque shape caused by the steeply sloping rear roofline, also common on competitors like the BmW X6. While this does provide a sporty visual element, from a usability standpoint, visibility out of the sliver of a back window is reduced to nearly nil. It might be called a coupe, but the 350d is no small animal, even though it may appear so. I was surprised that I was barely able to squeeze into my fairly spacious apartment parking spot. at 4,851 millimetres long, 2,151 mm wide, and 1,760 mm tall, it’s 25 mm lengthier than the X6 and

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nearly 41 mm higher. There are all sorts of styling cues that indicate its athletic pretentions, such as the big air intakes in the front bumpers; a tailgate lip spoiler; rear air inlets (serving to improve the coefficient of drag besides looking darned cool); and lower bumper diffuser with integrated twin exhaust tailpipes. The passenger compartment strikes a good balance between luxury and sporty with items like its supple nappa leather seat upholstery and quilted door panels, three-spoke steering wheel and racy instrument cluster. Under the hood of the big

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swoopy beast rests a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 diesel engine developing 240 horsepower and a whopping 457 lb-ft of torque, exhibiting only the slightest chugchug-chug sound characteristic of the fuel type. Completing the powertrain is a seamlessly shifting 9G-TROnIC nine-speed automatic gearbox. The pair works together well to produce low fuel consumption numbers, in my case an observed 13.6 L/100 km in mixed city and highway testing. Given the vehicle’s size and height, one could assume handling isn’t a strong suit. I certainly wasn’t expecting too much,

but the 350d has full-time allwheel drive with a 50:50 torque split, amongst other gadgets, to ensure the rubber stays on the road. In terms of safety, there are lots of standard features including, but not limited to, automatic braking, collision mitigation, tire pressure monitoring, 360-degree camera and a function that keeps the GLe inside the proper lane markers during high crosswinds. In conclusion – the 2016 mercedes-amG GLe 350d proves it’s quick, nimble and goodlooking enough to deserve having Coupe in its title. even if it resembles a turtle.


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MX-5 SPORT PACKAGE

HIGHLIGHTS

DARPAN AutoREVIEW

M AZ DA’S ROADSTER GETS RACIER BY BenjamIn YOnG

The Sport Package isn’t cheap, but it adds another dimension to the already impressive Miata experience and is much more cost-effective than if you were to price out all the components separately. 126

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f you haven’t been behind the wheel of a miata in awhile, or ever, slipping into the Recaro seats included in the 2016 mazda mX-5 with the optional Sport Package will feel like putting on a brand new pair of your favourite sneakers. It’s immediately comfortable, and feels like you could run a marathon in it. It’s been a year since the release of the fourth-generation roadster, and the car remains unlike anything available, besides perhaps the soon-to-bereleased Fiat 124 Spider that is an

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MSRP: $39,700 Motor: 2.0-litre four cylinder Horsepower: 155 @ 6,000 rpm Torque (lb-ft): 148 @ 4,600 rpm Gearbox: Six-speed manual Layout: Front engine, rear-wheel drive Fuel economy: 7.3 L/100 km mixed city/highway (observed)

mX-5 in disguise. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as they say, but my biased peepers think mazda has the upper hand in the styling department. Designing a model that’s shorter than the original by more than 30 millimetres is no easy feat, and its slightly wider stance and curvy body panels gives the convertible a serious presence on the road that looks almost as great standing still as it does whipping along the pavement. Priced at $4,400, the Sport Package isn’t cheap, but it adds another dimension to the already impressive miata experience and is much more cost-effective than if you were to price out all the components separately. Firstly, you’ll notice the dark finish 17-inch BBS forged alloy wheels, contrasting nicely against the Soul Red metallic paintjob on my press vehicle. Bright red Brembo front brake calipers


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PHOTOS: BENjAmiN YONg

BY SHWeTa KULKaRnI

peek out from underneath the wheels, and the standard rear calipers are painted to match. Finally, inside, the seats have been upgraded to supportive leather and alcantara-trim Recaros. Some might say the interior is too snug, but I look at the cockpit like a pilot fitting into a g-suit. It’s designed to mold around you, putting all the controls at the perfect distance so that manipulating the car becomes effortless. The steering wheel, manual transmission, and pedals all felt like an extension of my body while I was driving, especially on some of the twistier roads north of Vancouver I took her to. Of course, creating the ideal ergonomic passenger compartment doesn’t come without a price – storage space is very limited, restricted to a couple of shallow console storage spaces. at least there are dual cup holders. Power output hasn’t changed, rated at 155 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque. not huge numbers, but it’s surprising how adequate that is to get this 1,058-kilogram sports car moving. The mX-5 is quite dignified in the noise department when compared to other two seater rear-wheel drive offerings, but the exhaust does give a nice little purr to remind you of the fun times to come when you start up the engine. It sounds equally pleasing when you wind up the motor to the higher rpm range. While I didn’t get to test the highperformance stopping power of the Brembos to anywhere near their limit, the miata literally stopped on a dime when I jabbed the brakes to stop for a yellow light, with zero noise or other drama. as good as the new miata is, nothing floored me more than the stellar fuel efficiency of the SKYaCTIV-equipped roadster. after a full week of driving the car the way it’s meant to driven, the combined city/highway fuel consumption somehow read an anaemic 7.3 L/100 km. Incredible. The 2016 mazda mX-5 GS with the Sport Package starts at $39,700.

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PHOTOS: BENjAmiN YONg

LARAMIE LIMITED SPORT DIESEL

THE FUEL-EFFICIENT SUV

HIGHLIGHTS

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MSRP: $82,990 Motor: 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 Horsepower: 254 @ 4,000 rpm Torque (lb-ft): 440 @ 1,750 rpm Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic transmission Layout: Front engine, four-wheel drive Fuel economy: 10.8 L/100 km mixed city/highway (manufacturer estimate)

BY BenjamIn YOnG

T

o my disappointment as a gearhead residing in Canada, diesel variants of popular vehicles have never quite taken in north america as they have in europe, and as a result, offerings on this side of the pond have always been slim at best. all the recent “Dieselgate” controversy at Volkswagen certainly doesn’t help the cause any. Regardless, Land Rover has gone and released a diesel version of its Range Rover Sport for 2016 and guess what? It is good. Very, very good. Styling hasn’t really changed any since the vehicle’s refresh in 2012, so I won’t go into that too much here other than to say a new Carbon Fibre Pack is available. The optional ap-

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pearance add-on comes with side vents, tailgate trim, side mirror covers front grille garnish, foglight bezels and hood vents, all finished in the woven black race-inspired pattern. Compared to models from other manufacturers in the

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same segment I’ve tested, for instance the mercedes-Benz GLe, the Range Rover Sport feels smaller than it is whether driving on the road or trying to fit into a small parking spot. The interior is on par with competitors, and there are even

extras like a cooler in the centre console. The real story here is the introduction of the new Td6 motor that completely changes the perception of what a mid-size SUV is. Unlike other examples powered by the non-


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gasoline fuel, the Sport operates much more quietly. Only the tiniest chug-chug-chug can be heard from underneath the hood thanks to the copious amount of sound deadening employed by the luxury manufacturer. Beyond the extra insulation, the motor is constructed from a specialized graphite iron compound and sits on isolating engine mounts that together help to cut down on noise, vibration and harshness (n/V/H). To top it off, an acoustically laminated windshield – featuring a special sound-absorbing interlayer built inside the glass – shields the occupants from virtually all outside noises. The Td6 cranks out 254 horsepower but with all diesels, the more important figure is torque, which in this case is a throw-you-back-into-yourseat 440 lb-ft peaking at a scant 1,750 rpm. Put your foot down and the low-end grunt will surprise even the most seasoned of drivers, getting from 0-100 km/h in approximately 7.1 seconds. all the while, this sport utility vehicle will get fuel economy numbers in the low 10s all day long in combined city and highway driving. Land Rover says overall efficiency has improved 32 per cent compared to when the supercharged V6 engine is equipped. Some other changes for the 2016 model year worth mentioning include standard Terrain Response 2 technology, where the driver is able to select from pre-set modes that set up the Range Rover Sport to perform optimally according to changing road conditions; auto access Height that lowers the ride height when the vehicle comes to a complete stop and a door is opened to ease passenger entry/ exit; and Gesture Tailgate allowing the tailgate to open and close with the wave of a foot underneath the bumper.

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WINNERS

SPEAK

This award is a matter of great satisfaction, not only to me but also to various colleagues of mine that have contributed to so much of our success.” ~ Dr. Narinder Kapany, Physicist also known as the ‘Father of Fibre Optics’, Winner of 2013 International Sensation Award Receiving the Industry Marvel award from the Darpan Achievement Awards event continues to be a memorable experience where my work for Surrey's business community was showcased.” ~ Anita Huberman, CEO, Surrey Board of Trade, Winner of 2014 Industry Marvel Award I was very impressed with DARPAN Magazine’s Extraordinary Achievement Awards. The calibre of the guests, award nominees and entertainment made this one of the strongest events I’ve participated in this year. I am honoured and humbled to have received the award.” ~ Suneet Singh Tuli, CEO Datawind, Winner of 2012 International Sensation Award I am the proud recipient of a Darpan Award. I want to congratulate Darpan Magazine for its public service in pointing out the many accomplishments of our community. People who have made significant accomplishments need to be recognized and Darpan has done an excellent job doing this. The annual gala is always an event to remember.” ~ Wally Oppal, Lawyer, former judge and provincial politician, Winner of 2015 Industry Marvel Award As the Artistic Director of the Indian Summer Festival, it is crucial to me that the work I do contributes to a more creative, inclusive, diverse and culturally rich society. One of the only ways of knowing that you have indeed made an impact, is when awards like the Darpan Extraordinary Achievement Awards recognize you for your work. To me, it was like the community giving me an encouraging pat on the back.” ~ Sirish Rao, Co-founder & Artistic Director at the Indian Summer Festival, Winner of 2014 Artistic Visionary Award It was truly an unforgettable night with so much inspiration. I felt honoured to be selected as the recipient.” ~ Sukhmeet Sachal, Researcher, student and volunteer, Winner of 2013 Young Wonder Award

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CELEBRITYNEWS

IN PICTURES

IIFA 2016 From Salman Khan and Priyanka Chopra to Deepika Padukone and Hrithik Roshan – the IIFA 2016 gala, seemed like a big budget magic and drama that the country’s movie industry exudes. The 17th edition of the big fat Bollywood affair, organized by the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA), saw mesmerising performances by Hrithik, Priyanka, Deepika and Shilpa Shetty choreographed by the talented dance master Shiamak Davar.

GQ India’s 50 Best-Dressed Men of 2016 GQ India, the ultimate authority in men’s fashion and lifestyle, hosted the 7th edition of the annual GQ Best Dressed Men event in association with Van Heusen to celebrate the most stylish men in the country. The list comprises the country’s 50 impeccably dressed men who represent the Indian man at his best; a unique mix of musicians, media and business leaders, actors, sportsmen, thinkers, and artists.

FOR MORE PICTURES AND CELEBRITY NEWS VISIT:

www.darpanmagazine.com FOLLOW US: @darpanmagazine

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Stylish Sonam Kapoor celebrates birthday at Pernia Fashion Show Actress Sonam Kapoor celebrated her birthday while turning Show Stopper for Pernia Fashion Show 2016. She turned 31 in June.

Indian Cricketers at Charity Dinner The Indian cricket team members made their appearance at a grand charity gala dinner organized by Virat Kohli Foundation. Virat Kohli has started this charity foundation to help the underprivileged kids.

Zee Gold Awards The ninth Zee Gold Awards was held at Filmcity in Mumbai. Popular TV actors and actresses attended the event at their fashionable best. Present at the event were Malaika Arora Khan, comedian Bharti Singh, Tusshar Kapoor, and Barkha Bisht, among others.

Stars celebrate World Environment Day The glitterati of tinsel town and those in power came together to celebrate World Environment Day. The man who brought them together was philanthropist Asif Bhamla. Political leaders Ashish Shelar, Sanjay Nirupam, Priya Dutt, and Poonam Mahajan, and stars of the likes of Sanjay Dutt, Sonu Sood, Raveena Dia Mirza, Sooraj TM Tandon, JULY / AUGUST 2016 133 Re f l e c t i n g T h e S o u t h - A s i a n L i f e s t y l e Pancholi, and Shabbir Ahluwalia attended the event.

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DARPAN EXCLUSIVE

“I get paid more now!”

RANDEEP

F

rom going through a phase when he had no movies for three long years to having not just one but four releases simultaneously in a year. Plus, appreciation from all quarters for all his histrionics, admiration from the likes of Amitabh Bachchan, and a camaraderie with one of the most powerful Khans of the Bollywood industry – it is definitely an upswing for Randeep Hooda at the moment.

HOODA

However, this Jat boy is indifferent towards it all. Rather, behind all the adulation and the success, is a man whose only concern is his horses and his craft.

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In an exclusive chat with DARPAN, the Bollywood hunk says, “If my horses could talk, I would have called 20 times a day.” / AUGUST JULY them 2016 Re f l e c t i n g T h e S o u t h - A s i a n L i f e s t y l e

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Laal Rang, Sarbjit, Do Lafzon Ki Kahani and Sultan , not one but four releases this year, 2016 seems like a very good year for you…

Well, I did these movies one after the other and I don’t know if it is fortunate or unfortunate that all of these movies are releasing every month, but I am very grateful for the fact that I am able to do so many different roles and so many different genres. Though this back to back movie promotion is taking a toll on me, but that is how the cookie crumbles. From having only one release in 2015, which was Main Aur Charles to having four releases in four months in 2016… I feel I am very blessed. TM

Photo: Ajay. S

By Shweta Kulkarni


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I think my face has changed after Sarbjit. I see my photographs and feel there is a change. Like after Main Aur Charles my smile had become lopsided. So, yes, these characters do take a toll on you.”

Though Sarbjit got mixed reviews, your performance was appreciated by all, so much that everyone is betting that this time around you would walk away with all the awards, what do you have to say to that? I have been hearing that a lot too, but it is not in my control. People are putting too much pressure. I have never cared for awards much. I have never been to award functions. When Highway had released, I was nominated. At that point, I was advised by my PR to go. Even Sajid Nadiadwala said that I should go. So, I went there and sat through it. I clapped for everybody and I came back. But I don’t think I could do it all the time because I am so involved in other things. I have not been acknowledged before and it didn’t affect me. If I get acknowledged now it will be great, but if I don’t, then also good. I will keep working the same way.

Well, awards may not matter to you, but what about the other most important defining feature of a successful film today – the box-office collections? Box-office figures don’t matter to me at all. I just feel that if my film makes good money, I will get paid more for my next film.

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Going back to Sarbjit , you had to go through a drastic body transformation for the film. You lost over 18 kilos and on the other hand, you had to gain weight for Do Lafzon Ki Kahani , how do you maintain your fitness in such circumstances? It was crazy. I had a very strange relationship with my fridge during this time. During Sarbjit I felt that it used to call me with romantic songs like – ‘Preetam aan milo.’ I was so deprived of food that I used to hear such things in my head. And during Do Lafzon Ki Kahani, which is an opposite transformation, where I had to put on some 18-20 kilos, my fridge used to tell me – ‘please close my door,’ because I used to continuously keep eating. So going through this in one year was quite a challenge. It has messed up with my health and my head, but thanks to my sister (Dr. Anjali Hooda Sangwan, a nutrition specialist), I managed to go through it. Now I am again getting back in shape, however, I am not trying to do any particular kind of diet. My sister just advises me on what to eat and what not to eat.

Apart from your health, when you are doing such diverse and demanding roles, it takes a toll on you emotionally too, how do you then snap out of it mentally? It definitely does. I think my face has changed after Sarbjit. I see my photographs and feel there is a change. Like after Main Aur Charles my smile had become lopsided. So, yes, these characters do take a toll on you, but you


DARPAN EXCLUSIVE eventually snap out of it. For me, it’s my horses who help me snap out. When I go to my horses they don’t know which role I have done, they don’t know what critical acclaim I have received, they don’t know what are the box-office records, what are the reviews, what is happening in the film industry… they don’t give a damn and they are my escape. With them, I find myself again. I spend all my free time with them. If my horses could talk, I would have called them at least 20 times a day. I love them so much. Believe me, if I don’t go riding, I am not a very pleasant person to be around.

Randeep Hooda has suddenly become a name to reckon with. Praises are coming not just from the critics but from within the industry as well. How do you manage to keep yourself grounded? The fact that I am not supremely confident about what I do helps me keep grounded. I always feel scared when I get a role. I am always worried and I think – ‘Ab isko kaise karu? (How do I do this?) Today is the day everybody is going to find out that I can’t act.’ Hence, I start working on it harder. I approach every role as if I have never acted before. It is to keep my own work interesting for myself. It is not to show off to people or to my director. It’s just to keep myself interesting by tapping into new things.

Your next film is again with Salman Khan – Sultan , seems like you have become his blue-eyed boy… No, Salman likes only blue-eyed girls. Jokes apart, I enjoy his company. He is a very nice guy, we gel together and our sense of humour is similar. We have a great camaraderie and it shows on screen. In Sultan, my part is much smaller than Kick, but it is good fun to work with Salman. So when they offered me the role to play Salman Khan’s coach, I took it. I was like – bhai ko sikhane ko milega (I will get to teach Salman), let’s do it.

You have worked really hard to carve a niche for yourself in the film industry, would you say you are finally getting your dues now? I get paid more now and I get bigger and better films.

So, what is your dream now? I am living my dream only, one amazing role after the other. Who gets to play these characters from so many different genres? So I am living my dream. I have never felt pressured by the market or by some creative image to build a certain kind of image for myself. I have done everything instinctively, have moved in every direction and I am very thankful that people accept me in whichever roles I play. I am hoping I can continue to do so.

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BY SHWeTa KULKaRnI

DARPAN BOXOFFICE

A

pure shot of entertainment is in store for all the movie buffs in the coming months as the kings and the khiladis of Bollywood lay out an interesting spread in front of you, which you simply can’t resist. Salman Khan is all set to enthrall as a Haryanvi wrestler in Sultan, while John Abraham and Varun Dhawan pack a punch in Dishoom with their six-packs. Hrithik’s romantic saga – Mohenjo Daro and Akshay Kumar’s Rustom hold many promises. And if this is not enough to satiate your appetite, there is the new action hero of Bollywood – Tiger Shroff, donning the cape of a superhero for A Flying Jatt. A delicious treat… isn’t it?

THE BOLLywOOD

On-ScrEEn

JOUrnaL By SHWETA KulKARNi

MOHENJO DARO Releasing: August 12 Directed by: Ashutosh Gowariker

Starring: Hrithik Roshan, Pooja Hegde, Kabir Bedi, Arunoday Singh Amid all the modern day drama, Mohenjo Daro takes us into an era that has never been explored on-screen before – The Indus Valley Civilization. Set in the ancient city of Mohenjo Daro, it is essentially an epic-adventure romance film, where the protagonist falls in love with his enemy’s daughter. Director Ashutosh Gowariker, who is known for his out-of-thebox cinematic expressions, took over three years to finish the script of the film. “For a very long time, I didn’t know what should be the language used in the film. No one has deciphered what language one used during that time. So there has been intensive research that has gone into making this film, hence it took so much time,” said Ashutosh. While the makers are not willing to reveal much about the film, it is believed that the film focuses on romance through the culture and civilization of that period.

RUSTOM Releasing: August 12

SULTAN

Directed by: Tinu Suresh Desai

Releasing: July 6

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Ileana D’Cruz, Arjan Bajwa, Esha Gupta

Directed by: Ali Abbas Zafar Starring: Salman Khan, Anushka Sharma, Randeep Hooda, Amit Sadh

The festival of Eid is incomplete without a Salman Khan release. This year adding to the celebrations will be Bhai’s much-awaited film – Sultan, a sports drama revolving around a wrestler, Sultan Ali Khan (Salman Khan) from Haryana. “It’s a story about relationships with sports in the backdrop. The common thing between wrestling and life is that in both people fall down, but what matters is how you pick yourselves up after every fall. That is what the film stands for,” revealed film’s director Ali Abbas Zafar. While Salman Khan got convinced to do the film as soon as he heard the narration and went through rigorous training to be able to realistically portray his character, film’s leading lady, Anushka Sharma, had her doubts to play a woman wrestler. She said, “I was very nervous, I don’t even look like a wrestler. But then I did a lot of research and figured out that there are women wrestlers who are tall and have a lean physique. Finally, I said yes to do the film.” With a tagline that says ‘Wrestling is not a sport, it’s about fighting what lies within…’ this one is packed with too much power to be missed.

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The khiladi of Bollywood is back with his third installment of the year – Rustom, a thriller inspired by the real-life incident where Naval officer K.M. Nanavati shot his wife’s lover dead. “The film is inspired from certain real-life incidents that happened in the past, but the film is fictionalized. There is a lot of fiction involved,” Ileana, the film’s leading lady revealed. She added, “Rustom is a very intense movie. It’s vintage no doubt and I hope people walk in and get immersed in the story. I am quite proud of this movie.”


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Releasing: August 25 Directed by: Remo D’Souza Starring: Tiger Shroff, Jacqueline Fernandez, Nathan Jones

Bollywood’s young action hero – Tiger Shroff is shouldering this superhero film, which also stars professional wrestler Nathan Jones. “A Flying Jatt is a superhero movie and the villain needs to be really strong. I mailed Nathan and he accepted my offer,” said director Remo D’Souza while talking about his ambitious project. Talking about his role, Tiger said, “I am damn excited about the film. Hrithik Roshan’s film Krrish was a huge inspiration. I think and I am hoping that A Flying Jatt will inspire more filmmakers to make superhero films in Bollywood.” Now who wouldn’t want to see another Indian superhero on the screen?

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ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE Releasing: July 22 As new franchises take shape, others begin to fold up (or they should anyway). If the declining quality of the Ice Age films is any indicator – too many characters, same dramatic beats – Collision Course should be a veritable nadir. Every single Ice Age movie starts with the ever growing herd going from one spot to a safer one. Collision Course is no exception: The asteroid that ended the dinosaurs finally hits the Earth and Manny, Sid, Diego and co. must save the planet by locating the meteorite and engaging with mystical forces. Even for a cartoon this plot is senseless. Normally watching Scrat enduring all kinds of calamities in pursuit of an acorn provides some solace, but this one is a tall order.

THE RISE OF THE

ANIMANIACS By JORgE igNAciO cASTillO

I

f there is a reliable genre that practically guarantees box-office success, that would be animation. Even mediocre outputs like The Nut Job and Norm of the North fill enough sits to justify their existence. With kids on vacations and looking for something to do, studios are filling up the summer with animated flicks so there is always an option at the multiplex. There is even an adult one, for good measure.

THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS Releasing: July 8 The team that built the Minions empire is trying to branch out with this animated feature. The premise is so simple, it’s a miracle it hasn’t been done before: Imagine pets having lives of their own the moment you step out your home. Their comfortable existence becomes at risk when an evil bunny puts together a gang of abandoned pets aiming to get back at those who left them behind.

THE WILD LIFE Releasing: September 9 Shown in Europe as Robinson Crusoe (the source of the material), The Wild Life has at least a good premise going for it: Imagine the tale of the world’s most famous castaway… as told by the animals he encounters. Crusoe is shown as phenomenally incompetent, but at least local fauna feels sorry for him. Together, they must battle a couple of vicious cats who want to control the island. The Wild Life was ravaged by critics across the Atlantic, although it attracted a fair number of moviegoers. If nothing else, at least the unsavory Friday storyline was excised from the final product. JULY / AUGUST 2016

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The film features a particularly strong voice cast, including Louis C.K., Kevin Hart, and Albert Brooks, fresh from Finding Dory. The animation is not Pixar quality, but based on the trailer, it’s comically sound: You can’t go wrong with head-banging poodles. TM


DARPAN HOLLYWOOD

SAUSAGE PARTY Releasing: August 12 An animated flick decidedly not for children, Sausage Party is the brain child of Vancouverites Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the team behind lowbrow comedies like Superbad, Pineapple Express, and This Is the End.

PHOTO: BlUE SkY/FOx (iCE AgE), ANAPURNA/COlUmBiA PiCTURES (SAUSAgE PARTY )

Under the illusion there is life outside the supermarket, a ragtag group of foods (weiners, buns, potatoes) comes to discover death awaits once they leave the store. Facing their end, they decide to revolt and spread the word among the groceries about what really happens at home. The premise allows an infinite number of off-colour jokes, so a good time is more than likely.

KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS Releasing: August 19 Laika, the Portland-based stop-motion animation company, has the perfect follow-up to their terrific ParaNorman and Coraline. Set in medieval Japan, the Kubo in question is a young boy who realizes he is the last member of a legendary family of samurais, and must reclaim his heritage (an armor suit) to confront forces bent on his destruction. A mystical baboon and a disgraced soldier join Kubo on his quest.

“A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events and outcomes. It is a catalyst and it sparks extraordinary results. ” - Wade Boggs

Traditionally, Laika movies are darker and more intricate than traditional Disney output and Kubo seems to reaffirm this notion. Plus, who doesn’t want to watch Charlize Theron play a baboon (if in voice only)?

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GLOBAL INDIANS

i N T ro D U C i N g

NIHAR SUTHAR A graduate from Cornell University with a Bachelor degree in Applied Economics and Management, Suthar says he plans to become a business strategy consultant in Boston while continuing his passion for writing and spreading words of positivity. By garima goswami

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ihar Suthar’s latest book, The Corridor of Uncertainty, is a story untold and a journey unexplored. It is a story of triumph in the face of adversity underlining how a sport can impact a nation’s destiny while also mapping its footsteps on the international scale. In the words of Suthar, “The Corridor of Uncertainty, [is] an inspiring narrative about how the Afghan cricket team is uniting the country of Afghanistan, because it breaks so many bound-

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aries.” In this book, Suthar bravely discusses topics of segregation in mainstream media such as culture and religion in the Middle East, which he closely documented while interviewing the Afghanistan cricket team in Dubai and discovering their journey. Why Dubai and not Afghanistan, you may ask? Suthar’s resolve to document the transforming and elaborate voyage teased the motives of a terrorist group,

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Taliban, and led them to threaten Suthar’s arrival to Afghanistan. “Before I even began writing The Corridor of Uncertainty in 2014, I marketed and promoted the background of the Afghan cricket team with my publisher through social media. Everybody loved the story, and it spread all around the Asia region. I also publicly announced my plan to go to Afghanistan and travel with the Afghan cricket team to interview players for my new book. Afterwards, within the next few weeks, I received messages threatening, ‘If you come to Afghanistan, the Taliban would find you and kill you.’ I took the threats seriously, because I was unsure if the senders of those messages were members of the Taliban. Either way, I think this experience shows that no matter what you do, you will always face obstacles and setbacks in life. You just have to find creative solutions to get around them,” Suthar explains. For a young individual residing in the United States, it is not only brave but also inspiring to take up a challenging issue such as this. However, it seems the process has been a continuous one for Suthar who is not aloof to the social and cultural dynamics of developing countries. Hailing from India, Suthar has been a first-hand witness to the prevailing issues. The weight of negative stories in mainstream media was a trend he wanted to break, thus he decided to write and put the spotlight on positive avenues. “There are so many incredible stories that take place every single day around us… we just often fail to see them, because little attention is drawn to them. My aim is to bring those stories into the spotlight.” His first book, Win No Matter What provides fantastic tips on how to own the terrible trio – mood, attitude, and those around us. A graduate from Cornell University with a Bachelor degree in Applied Economics and Management, Suthar says he plans to become a business strategy consultant in Boston while continuing his passion for writing and spreading words of positivity.

Q&a You have penned two books with contrasting genres – one on self-development and the other a true journey of cricketers. How

Both of my books are certainly different from each other, but they have the same theme in common – they both contain positive messages. I find my inspiration to write such books from my guru, Pramukh Swami Maharaj. One of my favourite quotes that he once said was, “In the joy of others, lies our own.” Being able to improve the lives of other people through my writing is what drives me. I’m able to spread joy, and that in turn gives me happiness. What would you describe as

During my first year of university, I was assigned to write a report on my family history. While interviewing some of my family members for the report, I found out that my own dad grew up in very poor conditions, living with six people in a 10ft x 10ft room in India. He never really talked much about this part of his life. My dad went through tough circumstances to make sure my life would be comfortable. As a result of this report, I realized that everybody faces challenges in life, whether it’s poverty, or just a lack of resources. We can only overcome such challenges if we unite together and support each other. Behind every successful person, there is an even stronger support network. My most defining moment in life was when I found out how powerful, unique, and unmatchable my own support network was. Are you working on any new

I am, in fact, working on a new writing project! It’s a story about a man in Los Angeles who was falsely accused of several crimes and sentenced to over 17 years in prison. As usual, I’m writing the story from a positive perspective, about how the man was able to remain hopeful and good-natured throughout his isolated and sometimes even lonely years in prison. It’s a riveting, action-packed narrative that will take readers behind some of the most dangerous prisons in the world, with lessons on forgiving others even in the worst circumstances.


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By Kelly BensoN

J U L Y- A U G U S T 2 0 1 6

HOROSCOPE ALL SIGNS:

The days are nice and long now and the thermostat hits the highest temperatures. It’s time to honour our connection with the land, rejoicing in the bounty, and celebrating with our family and friends. The Sun moves through the signs Cancer, Leo and Virgo during the high summer months. Our nurturing instincts are strong and inspiration abounds! This is a wonderful time for each of us to hone in on our unique creative ability and develop it. What are your passions? What gets you excited? It’s time to express ourselves and let our light shine through! Open up your heart and share your love – be amazed as others share their love with you. As the old saying goes, “Smile and the world smiles with you.”

Aries (MArch 21-April 19) Your fiery nature will be drawn to the great outdoors or tasks that you can really throw yourself into, Aries. At the same time however, you might be feeling reflective, wondering if your inner world is aligned with your outer world. Meditation and grounding exercises will serve you well as you consider where to put your precious energy. Matters to do with family (the family you came from and the family you’ve created) are important right now. Positive healings and transformational experiences can occur. Celebrations with extended family, and time spent with children are a delight. Late summer has some very inviting travel awaiting you. Be sure to get out and explore – be that a faraway journey, or checking out the treasures in your own backyard. Lucky days: July 24, 25 | August 21, 22 Challenging days: July 10, 11, 12 | August 7, 8

TAurus (April 20-MAy 20) Relationships and communication styles are going to be a theme now, Taurus. Cosmic energies are pushing you to grow your community ties and bonds with colleagues, neighbours, friends and relatives. Mars however, is dancing opposite your Sun potentially stirring up conflicts in relationships with others (yikes!). This will be especially important in business deals and any joint plans you have with others. Keep in mind what your objective is and the objective of the other party. Employing some diplomacy skills will serve you well. A little bit of active listening never hurt either. A major endeavour, project, or the signing of legal agreements could be on the table midsummer through fall. It’s imperative you have all your I’s dotted and your T’s crossed! Lucky days: July 26, 27, 28 | August 23, 24 Challenging days: July 13, 14 | August 9, 10, 11

GeMini (MAy 21-June 20) Matters to do with your craft, your work, and your money, might be a little preoccupying, Gemini. Give some thought to the resources you have in your life and how they serve you. For example: Do you own your house or does your house own you? Throughout the rest of 2016 and into 2017 you’re cutting away unnecessary material commitments in order to strengthen commitments (material and otherwise) that truly reflect your values. This might manifest as the buying and selling a home or even a change in your job and access to resources. On a lighter note, get ready for a very social summer. You’re in a generous frame of mind and you want to be around happy people who share your outlook. Nice! Lucky days: July 1, 2, 29, 30 | August 25, 26 Challenging days: July 15, 16, 17 | August 12, 13

cAncer (June 21-July 22) Happy birthday Cancer, it’s your time of year to shine! Be a little self-centered – in a good way – and think about what you need to grow as a person. Your confidence is high and you have more energy to go after what you want. Mars boosts the energy in your fifth house encouraging your creative expression. Artists

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of all kinds can really get in touch with their craft. Puttering in the garden or putting loving energy into your home will be deeply rewarding. Time spent with children can inspire you. Creativity in your sexual expression is also on the menu. A hot date night with your sweetheart is in order. Flirtations and sexual attractions are very inviting now. Perhaps the only thing you have to watch out for is overindulgence. Lucky days: July 3, 4, 5, 31 | August 1, 27, 28 Challenging days: July 18, 19 | August 14, 15

Leo (JuLy 23-Aug. 22) Carve out some time for yourself as your birthday approaches, Leo. You need to take stock of the last year and give some thought to what you want in your next year ahead. Developing your creative expression and your sense of self-worth are key themes. You’re eager to push yourself to grow your talents. You can greatly benefit from classes, workshops, personal training and coaching now. Physical disciplines such as yoga, martial arts, or dance are also blessed. Play, partying, romance and flirtations keep you busy this summer. Home improvement projects and investments in property is money well spent. You like your home looking good. Be sure to set aside some time for the new Moon in Leo on August 2 to make your personal birthday wishes. Lucky days: July 6, 7 | August 2, 3, 29, 30 Challenging days: July 20, 21 | August 16, 17, 18

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) The quality of connection with the people around you is improving greatly now, Virgo. This is a wonderful time for friendships to grow. Causes and issues that push you to join forces with others are also a theme. You will shine at team events and group experiences. Being a team player is where it’s at. Social issues and political causes might grab your attentions – you want to make the world a better place – especially the immediate world around you. Be sure to get some quiet time before your birthday approaches to think about what you want for your next year ahead. Your earnings are likely to improve, so that shows us that you’re investing in yourself, your skills, and your assets. Way to go! Lucky days: July 8, 9 | August 4, 5, 6, 31 Challenging days: July 22, 23 | August 19, 20

LibrA (Sept. 23-oct. 22) With the Sun sitting high in your chart, Libra, this is an excellent time to push forward in your career. Give some thought to your reputation and how you want others to treat you. Maximize this to further your potentials. Spending time with friends or larger groups that expand your horizons is highly favoured now. Connect with people who have similar interests. You can greatly benefit from targeted training, education, and professional development as well. You might be making some new friends and expanding your community involvement (the latter can also be in the online sphere). Bigticket purchases are tempting, be sure to do your research and comparative shopping. Regardless, you’re about to invest in something that makes you feel proud. Well done! . Lucky days: July 10, 11, 12 | August 7, 8 Challenging days: July 24, 25 | August 21, 22

Scorpio (oct. 23-NoV. 21) This is a powerful time for you, Scorpio. Just so you know, if you’re the bossy type, you might come on a little strong right now. That said, it’s an excellent time to push forward in a cause you believe in. You are determined to fight for your rights, your property, and your self-worth. The protector in you will also be strong. You might go the extra mile to help a friend or family member who has been downtrodden or wronged in some way. Physical outlets are a must now, Scorpio! Get on that bike, hike that mountain, swim your heart out, or hit the gym. Your sex drive is likely to be very high right now too. Temptation sex might also appeal

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(Don’t throw away a great relationship for a momentary fling). Lucky days: July 13, 14 | August 9, 10, 11 Challenging days: July 26, 27, 28 | August 23, 24

SagittariuS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) This is a pivotal time for you Sagittarius, actions that you take now will have lasting effects. You may have felt stifled or uneasy recently. This can be outward a manifestation of your dissatisfaction with the state of things. Similar to the pressure we feel in the air before it rains, you’re priming yourself to make significant life adjustments. You’re soon to be letting go of circumstances, places, and people that have been holding you back. Old angers, resentments, and any festering emotions are about to be purged. Time spent with friends you trust, who support and encourage you is best. As the summer pushes forward you become more determined about the changes you want to instil. Through the fall and moving into 2017 your career can grow substantially. Lucky days: July 15, 16, 17 | August 12, 13 Challenging days: July 1, 2, 29, 30 | August 25, 26

capricorN (Dec. 22-JaN. 19) Be sure to take some time this summer for some strategic life planning, Capricorn. More than any other sign you like to have a roadmap with clear objectives and missions. Who better to make that map than yourself? Carve out some time to get reflective and formulate these goals and how you might pursue them. 2018 and 2020 are pivotal years in your life path. At the present, give some thought to the people on your team – both in your career life and your home. How can you best strike a balance between your own self-interests and those of others? This is an excellent time to foster better relations with others, especially with mentors or mentees. Time spent in groups is blessed. Your team spirit is growing! Lucky days: July 18, 19 | August 14, 15 Challenging days: July 3, 4, 5, 31 | August 1, 27, 28

aquariuS (JaN. 20-Feb. 18) Your ambitions are aroused now, Aquarius! The more you identify with cause or mission the harder you will work. It’s ideal if you can own a project or have your name or identity attached to it. You need some authority right now and the right to exercise it (What are you the captain of?). Independence from others and the ability to be your own boss will be appealing (Oh you rebel, you!). Be cautious of disagreements with authority figures such as bosses, parents, teachers, or community members. You might be so determined to get your way that you step on a toe or two. On the other hand, if you want to make an omelette you do have to crack some eggs, right? Lucky days: July 20, 21 | August 16, 17, 18 Challenging days: July 6, 7 | August 2, 3, 29, 30

piSceS (Feb. 19-March 20) This is an important summer for personal growth and selfdiscipline, Pisces. You might be surprised at how much you can accomplish now! You’re determined to expand your mind through education and experience. Self-taught disciplines are encouraged as well as training, classes, and hands-on workshops. Travel can be very gratifying, especially if it’s for work or education. Furthering your goals in business and career are favoured. Piscean entrepreneurs are in for a good run. Significant life changes are in the works this year and next so it’s time to stake a claim and go for it. Serious relationships are on the menu (You might need to get out of one that isn’t working for you in order to find one that does). Lucky days: July 22, 23 | August 19, 20 Challenging days: July 8, 9 | August 4, 5, 6, 31 Kelly Benson is a lifelong student of metaphysics, astrology. She has a rich background in reading astrological charts and doing Tarot readings. She is the daughter of well-known astrologer Georgia Nicols. Visit:

www.kellybenson.ca


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CANADIAN IMMIGRANTS

SHARE THEIR STORIES By PETRINA D'SOUZA

he t t e e M

A L U R A N y

Biggest obstacle faced so far in Canada: Our biggest obstacle right now is being able to sponsor Sukhpreet’s parents. As they are aging, insecurity is rising between us about being able to live together. Applying for their immigration and getting the PR status for them is a pretty lengthy process. Also, medical care for visitors is very expensive.

resolutions made for yourself or family: As a family we feel blessed to be in a better world. We got enough love and support from everywhere and now we intend to give back to society. We want to travel and explore the world and aspire to be a better human each day.

advice for future immigrants:

Photo : Narula family

Never give up; keep your patience, determination and spirits high. Don’t accept defeat, and never be afraid to start over. Make friends, talk to people, and don’t hesitate to take guidance. Canada is a land of dreams; never give up on your dream as sooner or later they will come true.

Memories of your homeland: During festivals we miss our family and friends who we left behind. We made lot of friends here too but the ties which were formed while growing up are remembered and / AUGUST 2016 missed JULY the most. 146 Re f l e c t i n g T h e S o u t h - A s i a n L i f e s t y l e

Famil

Sukhpreet Singh Narula is a realtor at MacDonald Realty Navjot Narula is a yoga teacher Jesica & Malica Narula are students

Getting Here: Sukhpreet Singh Narula decided to migrate to Canada with his family for a better and safer life, and for a brighter future for their daughters Jesica and Malica. “We believe human life has a higher value here in Canada,” says Sukhpreet’s wife Navjot. On reaching Canada in May 2010, they lived with their relatives. Eventually they moved to a rented house, before finally buying their own home in 2011. Ask them their first impression of Vancouver and the Narula family describes it as being “spellbindingly beautiful.” “Vancouver’s nature and beauty is spread all over. No matter which direction or what time of the day, you open your eyes and you see nature at its best and you feel blessed. Canada is a very progressive, diverse and multicultural country. We felt incredibly welcomed and accepted by our family and fellow citizens.”

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Though there were challenges along the way, it was the beauty of the city that kept the family going and helped them adapt to the new place and its people. “As stated by Robin Sharma, ‘Change is hard at first, messy in the middle, and gorgeous at the end,’ our life has gone along these lines. The only difference is that even though some days were hard and messy, the gorgeousness never left us. To be honest, we missed our cook, cleaning lady, and the driver but learned to live without them fairly quickly. In all seriousness, our friends and family that we left behind were missed the most, but our family here made the transition fairly smooth. It took a couple years to completely feel at home here, but once we did we never looked back,” says Navjot, remembering the initial years. Explaining how they have comfortably adjusted to the Canadian lifestyle, Navjot recalls an incident

on her daughter’s first day of school in the country. “It snowed heavily that day. During the lunch break, all kids were sent out to play but my daughter was not used to the weather and felt so cold that when she came home she cried so hard and wanted to go back to India the same night. And now, at zero degrees she walks to school with merely a sweatshirt on.” Work-wise too, there were a few struggles but nothing that Navjot and her family couldn’t overcome. “Finding work and figuring out how to use our previous experience proved difficult. Falling is expected, and we did fall. But we knew in our hearts that this is what was going to make us stronger and unstoppable,” adds Navjot. Today, Sukhpreet and his family have made the most of what they have and are living a happy life. “My husband’s business is flourishing, and he always aims to be better. My daughters are both professionally secure and have the freedom to fulfill their dreams, no matter what they are. As for me, I am constantly spreading my awareness and love for yoga,” expresses Navjot, who dreams of roaming the world. “Having a Canadian passport opens our avenues to visit 172 countries without a visa, so I see myself travelling the whole world,” she explains. ‘There are no complaints,” the Narula family says in conclusion, “All the mistakes we made during the process taught us a lesson, made us wiser as humans, and stronger fighters. It has been a good journey so far, and we are excited for each day as it comes.”


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