Darpan sep2016 by Darpan Magazine

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

THE TAXING COST ON

Foreign RESIDENTS AN ECONOMIC STRATEGY OR MARKETING MOVE?

2016

SUNNY

LEONE “I DONT UNDERSTAND THE WORD BOLD!”

SANJEEV KAPOOR RECIPES FROM THE ‘KING OF CHEFS’

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Namaste. Sat Sri Akal. THE MULTILINGUAL ADVANTAGE

PRANAV MISTRY ONE OF WORLD’S

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ello readers, it’s a busy time of the year for the DARPAN team as we are gearing up for our Extraordinary Achievement Awards. With preparations on in full swing, this year’s awards will be bigger and better than the last. DARPAN’s team looks forward to welcoming our esteemed guests at the event. While talking about the Awards, our cover story this issue is on an extraordinary individual whose inventions have helped bridge the gap between the real and digital world. Pranav Mistry, Global Vice President of Research at Samsung, has been called ‘one of the ten best inventors in the world.’ With more than 20 tech-based projects attached to his name, some as well-known as Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch and SixthSense, Mistry has contributed greatly to the new age of technology. He shares with DARPAN his aim at being “the voice of people and to make stuff people actually need.” Our Spotlight section too highlights some brilliant young individuals who, through their work, have made a difference in society and the world at large. As one of five delegates from Young Diplomats of Canada, Umang Khandelwal is making strides in law, policy and international relations to educate and empower youth and students to take ownership of their future. Khandelwal represented Canadian youth and students at this year’s Y20 Summit that took place in Beijing and Shanghai, China. Aanikh Kler is the creator of the successful app UndrTheRadr – a neuroscience-based ringtone that only those 21 years old and under can hear. The app also raises money for Free the Children to support their efforts to educate children who are living Under the Radar of Western society. BC’s 2016 Miss Heart and Soul, Kriti Chopra, shares with us her transformation from being a victim to a fighter against bullying. We hope you enjoy this issue to the fullest. Please send your feedback, comments and suggestions to editor@darpanmagazine.com or leave a message on our social media sites.

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 THE TAXING COST ON

FOREIGN RESIDENTS AN ECONOMIC STRATEGY OR MARKETING MOVE?

2016

SUNNY

LEONE “I DONT UNDERSTAND THE WORD BOLD!”

SANJEEV KAPOOR RECIPES FROM THE ‘KING OF CHEFS’

Hello. Bonjour.

Namaste. Sat Sri Akal. THE MULTILINGUAL ADVANTAGE

PRANAV MISTRY ONE OF WORLD’S

10 BEST INVENTORS

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Gurvinder S. Hundal Ramneek S. Dhillon

Amrita Lit

EDITOR Petrina D’Souza

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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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SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 2016

CONTENTS

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

2016

138

COVER

STORY

78 10 IN EVERY ISSUE

48 YOUTH COLUMN

10 DARPAN’S 10

Helping Kids Become Better Adults

Michael de Jong

54 SALUTES

16 SPOTLIGHTS

A Date with the Ocean

Kriti Chopra

60 NEWS IN PICTURES

Umang Khandelwal

142 GLOBAL INDIANS

Aanikh Kler

Rajvinder Khaira

BUSINESS PROFILES

ENTERTAINMENT 132 CELEBRITY NEWS IN PICTURES 138 BOLLYWOOD

Moive Time

140 HOLLYWOOD

Hollywood’s Biopic Fever

98 FITNESS

LIFESTYLE

100 HOME

Chef Sanjeev Kapoor

104 WEDDING

Stay Fit Come Rain or Shine

66 RECIPES

Your Home in Lights

78 BEAUTY

Noor and Manbir

Falls Festivals you Must See

46 Square Nine Developments Inc

144 HOROSCOPE

58 Nirwan Law Corporation

146 CANADIAN IMMIGRANTS

116 Moe Khan: OpenRoad Infiniti Langley

84 FASHION PAGES

Meet the Doda Family

92 STYLE

Asian Secrets for Beautiful Skin

108 ACTIVITIES 110 TRAVEL

Enjoy Waikiki the Boutique Way

Authenticity this Autumn

FEATURES 12 EXCLUSIVE Diljaan

38 ECONOMY FEATURE

Top Five Auto Gadgets

AUTO 122 BMW M2

72 FEATURE When Panic Attacks

76 FEATURE

A Chemically Infused Skin Ritual

82 FEATURE

Are you Wearing the Right Shoe?

134 EXCLUSIVE Sunny Leone

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

Getting in Touch with your Breast Health

50 FEATURE

Re-Think your Diet

SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 2016

114 TECH

118 Acura TLX

64 FEATURE

94 HEALTH

The Taxing Cost of Foreign Residents

Hello. Bonjour. Namaste. Sat Sri Akal.

134

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126 Chrysler Pacifica 128 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4Matic

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dacetironss ea Re WRITE TO US! Summer Hikes The article on the beautiful places to hike in BC was so amazing. Thank you so much for sharing the different locations we can visit when the weather is perfect for it. I have been to a few places and I truly enjoyed it. – Sunita Mahesh

We want to hear your thoughts about this issue! You can email us at:

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

@darpanmagazine, #darpanmagazine

Re: Hello Sunita, thank you for sharing

Fashion

your views with DARPAN. British Columbia is so beautiful that we don’t need to go very far to experience nature at its best. I hope you visit the other places mentioned in the article as well. – Editor

I loved the fashion pages of the July issue. Thank you so much for showing us Holt Renfrew’s latest collection. I loved all the outfits. Please feature more brands in the other issues. – Tara Kapoor

Re: I’m glad you enjoyed the different looks we put together from Holt Renfrew and Club Monaco’s collections Tara. We will definitely highlight other fashionable brands in the coming issues. Look forward to it. – Editor

Recipes

I enjoy cooking a lot and I always wait for interesting recipes featured in DARPAN. I have tried a few of the recipes and they turned out great. It’s fun to try the dishes created by famous chefs. – Cathy Smith

Re: That’s great Cathy, we have featured in this issue some more exciting recipes you can try. They are by the world-famous Indian chef Sanjeev Kapoor. Enjoy! – Editor Serving Surrey & Delta

Health

The health article on problems associated with sitting was very informative. Who would have known that a simple act of sitting that we do everyday can lead to problems? I have decided to follow the tips mentioned in the article. – Rajesh Menon

Re: Yes Rajesh, it might seem like a basic everyday thing, but a sedentary lifestyle can have a bad effect on our body and health. An active lifestyle is key to staying healthy. Have a great life! – Editor

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1 How has your role as Finance Minister of

DARPAN’S 10

British Columbia benefited the province?

With regards to my role, I always say that we are a team. We are a team in the government; the captain of the team is the Premier and I play the role as a Finance Minister. So when I say that I’m proud of the fact that we balance our budget when other provinces and jurisdictions do not, that’s a tribute to the team. I am proud of the fact that we have the AAA credit rating and have maintained that. These are achievements that we have secured as a province; our success is something we have enjoyed as a team.

7 As the MLA for Abbotsford West, what goals do you have in mind for the city's growth?

I have been lucky for 23 years to represent a very unique part of BC and the opportunities that exist there, like agro food. Fraser Valley contains the most productive farmland in all of Canada, and so finding new markets for our agro food products [is a goal]. I’m excited to see blueberries going into Mumbai, for example, and to see the market there. That scenario I remain very excited about. And aerospace – the Abbotsford Air Show jus ended. The world is looking to BC for leadership in the aerospace sector. It is very exciting for me to come from a part of BC that is in many ways home to the aerospace sector.

2 What goals do you plan to achieve? What is your biggest challenge as Finance Minister?

We have achieved a lot of success in terms of our diverse-wide economy – the progress we have made in terms of trade. We have more work to do in India, for example, which you will hear more about in the next few months. When I talk about balanced budgets and AAA credit ratings, these are all important achievements. The biggest challenge we face is to ensure the benefits of that fiscal strength are shared with all families. There are still families in BC that do feel the benefits of what we have achieved. For me, making sure that every child that wants to get post-secondary education or training can do that irrespective of what their family’s financial circumstances are, that is a challenge that we made progress on but we haven’t achieved it in entirety. 3 You recently unveiled a 15 per cent additional real estate tax on foreign buyers in BC. Do share your thoughts on this decision?

I would like to point out how we did it. We said that first we are going to get the data; we are going to get some reliable information on who is purchasing real estate, and how many people are non-permanent residents. And rather than simply being reactionary for political reasons, we got some hard data. Through the years, what I have tried to do and what Premier Clark has tried to do in the situations where we are confronted by difficult choices, is to make decisions based on fact, not conjecture, not what might be popular for the moment politically, but to make decisions based on fact. The thought was to introduce a measure that would cool down somewhat the foreign involvement and the upward pressure foreign involvement was having on our domestic residential real estate market. We see this as a temporary measure to allow us to get on with the real solution, which is increasing supply. What we have done here is to try to temper demand but people love the Lower Mainland; people are going to continue to come here. What this will do is provide us with an opportunity to catch up in generating more housing supplies. That is the solution to the upward pricing pressure that we see. We have got to build more homes, town homes, condominiums, and rentals for all the people who want to

SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 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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have heard very little criticism about the measure itself.

8 What project are you working on currently as Finance Minister?

Michael de Jong BC’s Minister of Finance live in and around the Lower Mainland. 4 What is the permanent solution for the rising real estate problem?

It’s a problem born out of success, it’s a reason people want to come here. They see a future for themselves and their families here. They like our stability, our competitiveness, so I think what this taxation measure does hopefully is provide us with an opportunity. I still don’t think people understand that within metro Vancouver there are over a hundred thousand units of housing awaiting approval. We have got to get on with approving those houses. Every time we delay, it’s another BC family that is denied the opportunity of entering the housing market and buying a home.

5 Do you plan to extend this additional tax to other parts of BC in the future?

We are going to be tracking what happens outside of Metro Vancouver very carefully. The areas that are pretty much on our radar screen is border areas with Metro – Squamish in the northwest, Abbotsford, Chilliwack in the east, and southern Vancouver island, Victoria. We are watching now very carefully if international activity is shifting in those areas. We created in the legislation recently the ability to extend the new tax, and if circumstances require or want that, we are prepared to do it. 6 What reactions have you received from people on this tax introduction?

The decision to introduce this measure has been very popular. Taxation changes occur very quickly and the transition is always challenging. To the extent that I have heard concerns, it has been around the speed of the transition, I TM

The budget, it’s not easy to balance the budget. If it was, we wouldn’t be the only province doing it. I never want a child or a young person to be denied an opportunity to education or training because their families didn’t have enough money. It’s why maybe one of the things I am proud of as Finance Minister is when we made the decision to give every child when they reach six years of age a registered education saving plan and start them off with $1,200 dollars, that can grow up to $10,000 dollars. I know it takes time and doesn’t happen overnight but the single most important thing we can do is to make sure our young people get the education and training that they need and have the financial support to secure that education and training. I think that remains the focus for me and a highlight for me. The most important thing the government does is education, the better educated we are, the healthier we are. 9 What has been the most defining point of your career so far?

The defining moment was when I realised how we can take our fiscal strength – our financial strength as a province – and turn that into investments in youth in ways no other province in Canada can do right now. We are able to invest in young people without adding to their debt load. The defining moment for me was when I realised that as important I think it is for the government to be fiscally responsible, the most important reason to doing it is that it gives us the ability to help young people and create those training, education opportunities that they need, and that’s what our society needs going forward. 10

What are your other interests beyond work?

I’m an aged and recovering hockey player. I like sports; I enjoy watching and playing sports. I still play hockey when I can. I also grew up in a farm and live in a farm. I enjoy working there when I get time to time. I find it very therapeutic. There is nothing like getting your hands dirty in the earth to remind you what’s real and what’s important.

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DARPAN EXCLUSIVE

DILJAAN A Star in the Making

voice so pure, it instantly touches your heart. Diljaan, the popular voice from Sur Kshetra conquered the hearts of many around the globe with his silvery voice while competing with contestants from India and Pakistan on a singing reality show with music maestros – Asha Bhosle, Abida Parveen and Runa Laila, as judges. Diljaan was declared a runner-up after losing to Nabeel Shaukat Ali from Pakistan in the finals but his journey has been an unforgettable one after appearing on the show. Diljaan shares with us his journey and influence of music on his life.

SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 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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Tell us about your experience at Sur Kshetra? The show Sur Kshetra has given me an identity. I wasn’t expecting to get selected when I went to Ludhiana for the Punjab auditions. An estimated 4,000 individuals participated in the auditions, and I think I was lucky because I was the only one to be selected amongst the 4,000 candidates. I felt as if this show was made just for me. Sur Kshetra was also where I performed Hindi songs for the first time.

Where does your inspiration come from? My singing inspiration comes from my father. He initiated all my music and singing practices.

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Music has guided me through my life’s path and has also shown me what life truly is. The life I have today is because of music. I had a deep interest in music and that was because it was endearingly loved in my family. My father, although he was not a professional singer, was passionate about music. There was always some nice song playing in the house so I had enough exposure to music right from the start. It aroused my interest and I decided that I would pursue a career in music. I did my graduation in music (vocal). Today, music is the one taking me around the globe; it has given me an identity.

Which genre of music attracts you the most? Sufi, Bollywood and light music which is quite trending in Bollywood these days appeals to me the most. A singer should be versatile but personally I find Sufi and Bollywood music attractive.

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Who is your favourite singer? Asha Bhosle has been a Bollywood favourite but if you ask me which singer affected my growth overall, then I would say Hans Raj Hans.

What are your plans for the future? I am about to release an album soon called Yours Diljaan. You will find songs of various moods in this album and we are also trying to put in a Hindi song in it. Apart from that, I am also getting offers from movies. If I find a role th at is appealing, then I would probably go for it; I am actually an introvert person so I’ll see how this goes. I would only pursue them [movie role s] if I am confident about playing them. (This interview was originally conducted in Hindi and Punjabi and has been translated into English.)

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K riti

Chopra Rising Above and Beyond Bullying

By Amrita Lit

Miss Heart and Soul 2016, Kriti Chopra, talks about her transformation from being a victim to a fighter against bullying.

SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 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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magine stepping foot into a foreign country only to be met by the taunts and intimidating behaviour of your peers. Now picture that in the form of classroom bullying, where the oppression comes from classmates of the same ethnic background as you. This is the reality BC’s 2016 Miss Heart and Soul winner, Kriti Chopra, faced when she immigrated from her wonderfullyupscale life in New Delhi to a similar cultural surrounding in Surrey at the young and impressionable age of just 10 years old. Unfortunately, although a majority of her classmates looked the same as her, many of them took the opportunity to oppress and alienate her from feeling like she belonged. To make matters worse, Chopra recalls that the teacher – the individual who is meant to watch over the well-being of the students – was disinterested in helping her overcome these daily struggles. Despite the fact that traces of bullying followed her throughout her elementary and high school years, Chopra did not succumb to the mindless taunts of her aggressors. She rose above her peers, and even offered her support and guidance to other students in her grade and below who were bullied. “I wouldn’t change a thing about my past, because those painful experiences are what led me to become the person I am today,” says Chopra, who overcame the obstacle and transformed herself

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www.FibretechBC.ca into an extremely well-rounded and sociallyresponsible young woman. Her brave and caring spirit is one that cannot be missed within seconds of engaging in conversation with her. Her efforts to help troubled youth in the community include: volunteering in the RCMP mentorship program, the homeless shelter, and teaching English to international students. Her devotion to giving back to a community which was initially rather unwelcoming has not gone unnoticed; at the recent Miss BC pageant, Chopra was selected as Miss Heart and Soul 2016. When asked what this title means to her, she recounts her belief that, “Everyone has the capacity to be in charge of their own destiny.” She could have faltered and fallen into the wrong way of life, due to feeling ostracized by “her own kind,” yet she channeled all of those hardships into positivity and decided to dedicate an impressive amount of her time to helping others. The inspirational young woman credits her survival through the tough times to her “very devoted and wonderful parents.” It was through their persistent interest in her well-being and support that she found the strength to become a bigger and better person than those attempting to stifle her happiness. Currently, Chopra is attending Kwantlen Polytechnic University, where she is working towards attaining her Human Resources degree; she then aspires to enroll in law school. As for her social work, Kriti intends to continue with it. “I will never leave my passion for social work behind.” She hopes to encourage Indo-Canadian youth to be proud of their roots, and truly develop their sense of self-esteem and confidence in order to remain grounded and on the right path in life. Growing up is a very delicate time which can be influenced and challenged through so many avenues. It is through utilizing support systems such as family and community outlets aimed to help at-risk youth that one could stand a chance at one day becoming a person like Kriti Chopra.

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Umang

Khandelwal Canada’s Bright Young Leader By renu singh-joseph

From UBC and UK’s House of Lords to the Y20 Summit and Cambridge, Khandelwal is making strides in law, policy and international relations to educate and empower youth and students to take ownership of their future.

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hen the Prime Minister of Canada knows you by name, you know you’re accomplishing important things for youth, while at the same time influencing leaders and policy at a national and global level. At just 21 years of age, Umang Khandelwal is one of Canada’s brightest young leaders. Khandelwal sees the “value of bringing the youth perspective to the table because youth are so integral to the way society works and essentially the building blocks of our future.” She says, “We really need to see

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more representation from young people and to get them interested in these issues early so that they can take ownership of their future.” As one of five delegates from Young Diplomats of Canada, Khandelwal represented Canadian youth and students in July at the Y20 (Youth 20) Summit that took place in Beijing and Shanghai, China. Since 2010, the Y20 has been recognized as an official engagement group of the G20 (Group of Twenty) Summit and is held prior to the G20. This year, leaders from the G20 countries will be attending the international summit in Hangzhou, China, in early September. According to Khandelwal, it is a “huge honour” to represent Canadian youth and students, but it is also “a huge responsibility because Canada as a country is so diverse. It’s about trying to capture issues that Canadian youth face today and coming up with policy recommendations that help us tackle those issues.” The young leader goes on to say, “It’s a very challenging process because representation is always a difficult thing, as you’re speaking on behalf of people. That’s exactly why the consulta-

tion phase was so critical for us before we went to the Y20, it was extremely important to get a wide range of perspectives reflected for us.” The Y20 is recognized as the “highest level and most influential international diplomatic conference for young people.” During the conference, the international delegates, five from each G20 country, come together to discuss ideas and issues that are important to youth. Through roundtable discussions, the delegates discuss and negotiate diverse issues to achieve a “fair, creative and representative solution.” The final policy document is then submitted to leaders at the G20, expressing the views and perspectives of youth from around the world. At this year’s Y20 Summit, Khandelwal was responsible for the topic of poverty elimination and joint development, and she advocated for a number of issues including education promotion and accessibility, youth unemployment, job creation and sustainability, and mobilizing resources to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030. Upon her return to Canada, Khandelwal along with fellow

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youth diplomats, spoke to PM Justin Trudeau via video conferencing (image above) to discuss their Y20 policy recommendations, and to also advocate for their policies to “be reflected in the G20 communiqué – it’s saying that youth are a priority and these, as we see it, are solutions to problems that youth face today.” “It’s great that PM Trudeau is accessible… He didn’t just listen, but the call was conversational – he was very present with each of us and engaged with us on our points,”

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Khandelwal explains of her second interaction with PM Trudeau. She originally met him in March 2015 at the University of British Columbia, where she had the opportunity to introduce the Prime Minister before he addressed a crowd of 1,500 students. Khandelwal completed her Bachelor in Arts – International Relations from UBC. During her tenure at the university, she received several prestigious accolades including Central Guaranty Trust National Entrance Scholarship, and UBC Go Global International Learning Program Award. At UBC, she served in multiple leadership roles, and was involved in a number of organizations from student union and Alma Mater Society to UBC Equity and Inclusion Office. Khandelwal says it was important for her to be involved on campus, as she wanted to be engaged in the community and give back to UBC and its student body. She also spent a semester abroad in Paris at Sciences Po, a renowned international research university, where she focused on European Union (EU) economics. Furthermore, Khandelwal spent a summer

in London working in the House of Lords as a legislative assistant, while she studied British politics and public policy at the prestigious London School of Economics as a Hansard Scholar. This focused and driven youth is now studying law at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Currently, she is involved with local organizations like BC Civil Liberties Association and Access Pro Bono, and internationally, she is the Director of Policy of the Wilberforce Society, the UK’s largest student run think tank, guiding the research and policy portfolio; Member of University Council, the highest policy making body at Cambridge; and Board Member of Cambridge, Faculty of Law. As for the future, Khandelwal will continue to complete her law degree at Cambridge and is currently figuring out which path to pursue as the “options are endless” from private or public law to international relations. “It’s important for me to continue to engage with the community around me, and to give back, so that will ultimately guide where my future path goes,” she concludes with a smile.

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By Nerissa Jawanda

Aanikh

Kler

Young Social Entrepreneur

SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 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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ighteen-year-old Aanikh Kler has already accomplished a lot for his age – he is the creator of a successful app, has been a TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) speaker, and been named one of Canada’s Top 20 Under 20 by Plan Canada. Kler’s app, UndrTheRadr, is a neuroscience-based ringtone that only those 21 years old and under can hear. A friend’s phone confiscated at school after it rang during class because he had forgotten to shut off the ringer got

Kler thinking of ringtone technology as a great way of having your phone ring without adults being aware. From each 99 cent app download, 20 cents are contributed straight towards Free the Children – an international charity dedicated to providing education to children and teens in developing countries. This charitable and social entrepreneurial aspect came from a trip to Cambodia. The winter before Kler turned 14, he travelled with his family to Cambodia. “It’s an incredibly beautiful country, but it’s also a country of great strife,” says Kler, narrating the story of a young girl he met who was selling bracelets. The girl, about 12 years of age or younger, reminded him of his cousins back in Canada. She was intelligent and entrepreneurial. “She was going up to tourists to sell these bracelets and the way she was getting their attention, and the way she tried to communicate with them was really street-smart and entrepreneurial,” he recalls. This impressed Kler, “Although she had no formal education, she was impressively selling bracelets, probably to help her family. I couldn’t help but imagine what she could do for herself, her community, her country, if she had an education.” These two aspects of the app – staying under the radar of your teachers or parents, and helping support children who live under the radar of western people’s everyday lives – is why the app is called UndrTheRadr.

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After he launched UndrTheRadr, Kler appeared on the national television series Dragon’s Den, where he pitched the app in front of some of Canada’s most successful venture capitalists. The publicity he earned through this appearance played a large role in his app gaining popularity. “I honestly didn’t even think I’d make the cut. I went on the show and became the youngest social entrepreneur to receive funding. After the episode aired, the app hit number two in the iTunes app store top chart. I just saw it there and couldn’t believe it. It was a really cool moment, seeing all of the positive feedback, support, and downloads,” shares Kler, who will start attending Stanford University in the Fall to study management sciences and engineering. With the success of the app, the young entrepreneur decided to visit the slums of Delhi and donate school supplies to roughly 1,000 children as he wanted to give back from his own personal profit from the app. This has been his most memorable moment since launching the app, “For me, being able to go and do service work with profits from my app was a very special moment. It was from something that I was able to create. To see the excitement when they opened up a pencil box of school supplies and speak to them and hear what inspires them – that to me was probably the coolest moment.” Kler’s advice for youngsters is to believe in your work. “Whether it’s in technology, art, retail, food, or anything in between, youth are always worried and scared because they feel that they’re too young, inexperienced, or think there’s someone else out there doing more. My advice would be that if you have something in life you’re passionate about, go for it. Believe in your passion and someone else will believe in it too, and they’ll be there to support you.”

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COVER STORY Indians all over the world are making remarkable

progress in the technology industry through their

innovations and ideas.

Another name added to

this list is that of Pranav Mistry. With more than 20 tech-based projects

attached to his name, some

as well-known as Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch

and SixthSense, the Global Vice President of Research at Samsung has been

called ‘one of the ten best inventors in the world.’

ndians are ruling the technology industry in today’s world. New Delhi-based Rajeev Suri is the President and Chief Executive Offier (CEO) of Nokia; in 2014, Satya Nadella became the CEO of Microsoft. Almost a year ago, in August 2015, Sundar Pichai was appointed the new CEO of Google. Not just through ranks, but Indians all over the world are making remarkable progress in the tech industry through their innovations and ideas. Another name added to this list is that of Pranav Mistry. With more than 20 tech-based projects attached to his name, some as wellknown as Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch and SixthSense, the Global Vice President of Research at Samsung

SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 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

has been called ‘one of the ten best inventors in the world.’ Born and brought up in Palanpur, a city in Gujarat, India, little did Mistry know that he would one day contribute greatly to the growing age of technology. The traits of a successful inventor were however there right from his schooling days. Mistry’s friends described him as a master of “all trades in school,” with an extraor-

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dinary knowledge of computers. They knew he would be very famous one day. And indeed, today at the age of just 35, Mistry’s work has given him the recognition and merit he deserves. The young computer scientist holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the Nirma Institute of Technology (NIT) in Ahmedabad, Gujarat; a Master of Design degree from Industrial De-

Changing the Face of Technology

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MISTRY BY Petrina Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Souza

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COVER STORY

We humans are not interested in computing. We want to know about things going around,” pointed out Mistry at his talk on ‘The Thrilling Potential Sense of SixthSense’ at TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) India in 2009, “So I thought how about I take my digital world and paint the physical world with that digital information?”

sign Center, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai; and a Master’s degree in Media Arts and Sciences from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He was also a research assistant and a PhD candidate at MIT Media Lab. Before joining MIT, Pranav worked as a UX (User Experience) Researcher with Microsoft. Mistry has worked with Google, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and Japan Science & Technology among others. “From my engineering in computer science to my Masters in design, I worked on varied fields like interaction design, robotics, computer graphics, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Artificial Intelligence (AI), information graphics, embedded systems, social computing, among others. I explored the fields with different projects

SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 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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and research papers,” states Mistry’s website about his qualifications. The computer genius has created some of the most thought-provoking interfaces till date – namely Quickies, sticky notes that can be searched and can send reminders; a pen that draws in 3D; TaPuMa, a tangible public map for the physical world; Mouseless – an invisible computer mouse; SPARSH – a novel way to copy-paste data between digital devices; and Blinkbot – a gaze and blink controlled robot. Through all these experiments, Mistry “was trying to bring a part of the physical world to the digital world.” It was, however, SixthSense – a wearable device that enables new interactions between the real world and the world of data – that put him on the world map and along the ranks of notable tech inventors. When Mistry was a PhD student at MIT’s Media Lab, under the guidance of associate professor Pattie Maes, he created SixthSense. “We humans are not interested in computing. We want to know about things going around,” pointed out Mistry at his talk on ‘The Thrilling Potential Sense of SixthSense’ at TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) India in 2009, “So I thought

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Exposure to fields like design to technology and from art to psychology gave me a quite interesting viewpoint to the world. I love to see technology from a design perspective and vice versa. This vision reflects in almost all of my projects and research work as well.”

Photos: Varsola Visuals, Jonathan Cruz

how about I take my digital world and paint the physical world with that digital information?” By using a camera and a tiny projector mounted in a pendant-like wearable device, SixthSense projects information onto surfaces, walls, and physical objects around us, and lets us interact with the projected information through natural hand gestures, arm movements, or our interaction with the object itself. “The most interacting thing with this technology is that you can carry your digital world with you wherever you go,” highlighted Mistry, who has been called one of ‘world’s 10 best inventors’ on TedTalks. Users control SixthSense with simple hand gestures; putting your fingers and thumbs together to create a picture frame tells the camera to snap a photo, while drawing a symbol in the air allows you to check your e-mail. It is also designed to automatically recognize objects and retrieve relevant information: hold up a book, for instance, and the device projects reader ratings from sites like Amazon onto its cover. You can also use your palm if you don’t have a surface. Mistry developed SixthSense in less than five months, and it cost him under $350 USD to build it. “Integrating information with our everyday objects will not only help us get rid of the digital divide but will also help us in some way to stay human. To be more connected to the physical world, and help us not be machines sitting in front of other

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COVER STORY Photos: tedindia 2009, mit media lab - sam ogden, chi2009.org, think tank team

“My role at Samsung is to imagine and create what is next,” said Mistry at IFA, where he introduced Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch in 2013.

Mistry is also the director of Think Tank Team – a group of interdisciplinary researchers, scientists, designers and engineers.

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machines,” said Mistry at his talk on SixthSense, whose research was awarded the 2009 Invention Award by Popular Science. In 2012, Mistry got the opportunity to join Samsung as the Director of Research. “My role at Samsung is to imagine and create what is next,” said the young leader at Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin (IFA), where he introduced Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch in 2013. Sharing details about the gadget, Mistry said in his speech that the goal was to “make it a wearable, an obtrusive, comfortable and yet something out of sci-fi. A wearable that is designed for everyone.” Samsung Galaxy Gear – which includes a watch that works with its smartphones – is one of Mistry’s biggest contributions in the tech space. Made of stainless steel and in six vibrant colours, the smartwatch is engineered specifically for all-day comfort. It is seamlessly connected to the Galaxy smartphones.

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Mistry was honoured as the Young Global Leader 2013 by World Economic Forum. He was also named to the MIT Technology Review TR35 as one of the top 35 innovators in the world under the age of 35. The 35-year-old is also the director of Think Tank Team – a group of interdisciplinary researchers, scientists, designers and engineers. Located within Samsung Research America in the heart of Silicon Valley, the team is crewed by experts in fields from industrial design to physics, with experience in institutions such as MIT, Disney Imagineering, Art+Com, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), and others. The team’s work covers a large time scale, from products that are ready to be mass-produced, to ideas that will take many years to come to fruition. Coming back to technology, in one of his earlier interviews, Mistry pointed out that wearable technology (like Galaxy Gear) is the next big thing in the world of gadgets. “Our devices are getting bigger and bigger as

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COVER STORY By using a camera and a tiny projector mounted in a pendantlike wearable device, SixthSense projects information onto surfaces, walls, and physical objects around us, and lets us interact with the projected information through natural hand gestures, arm movements, or our interaction with the object itself.

SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 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

people want to have a bigger and better experience with their devices in order to see better, read better. But wearable technology is the solution to moving away from these rectangular screens. Wearable technology is the future, making things compact and still giving us better personalised features.” Besides being useful, interactive digital devices, another feature that comes across strongly from all of Mistry’s creation is the way design has been neatly incorporated with it. Mistry agrees, calling himself a

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“desigineer.” “Exposure to fields like design to technology and from art to psychology gave me a quite interesting viewpoint to the world. I love to see technology from a design perspective and vice versa. This vision reflects in almost all of my projects and research work as well,” he shares on his website. Many different aspects have inspired this tech geek’s inventions. To begin with, Mistry was fortunate to have been bought up in a very positive and encouraging environment at home and school that helped nurture his curious mind. In fact, his father, Kriti Mistry, being an architect, hand crafted toys for his son rather than buying them from the market. “When I was in the ninth grade, he allowed me to dismantle his old scooter. I took out all the parts, understood their functions and rectified the defect,” Mistry stated in a The Times Of India article published in 2009. One will be surprised to know that Mistry derives inspiration not from scifi but from Indian mythologies. “Science fiction does not impress me at all. I draw a lot of inspiration from Indian mythology, like the Mahabharata,” he stated in a past interview, “For me, the epic is a great piece of science work. The architecture was drawn long back; we are just bringing in the technology. There is a lot of magic there which I want to realise in the future.” His past education and qualifications have played a big role as well in his creations. The degree from IIT was a major turning point of his career. “It

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COVER STORY

Mistry with his wife Farrah Chen

SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 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

was an eye opener for me. Although I come from an engineering background, studying design here gave me a different perspective,” he elaborated in an interview. Mistry believes that his academic journey has helped him “learn different things and apply his knowledge accordingly.” Nature is another inspiration. He calls it his “guru.” “I read, I observe and I apply. The journey makes me very happy.” One of the best features of Mistry’s projects is that they can be easily adapted by the Indian population no matter the financial situation of the individual. One of his well-used devices in India is Akshar. It enables millions of Indians, who do not understand English,

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to use digital devices like phones and computers using their own local language. “It was basically an attempt to create a mechanism for inputting Indic scripts in digital devices like mobile phones, kiosks, interactive TVs or personal computers,” explains Mistry who used Akshar to talk to his mother. Akshar takes advantage of the fact that most of the native Indian languages are based on the Brahmi script, allowing it to group five similar consonants together. Thus making it very easy and quick for an Indian to type and interact with their personal device in the native language. Despite all this success, Mistry is still the humble, down-to-earth person he was when he began his journey as an inventor. The tech expert, through his creations, has always aimed at being “the voice of people and to make stuff people actually need.” “Wherever I am, I just want to make that difference. I am not looking to being rich and not productive,” he emphasized in a past interview. He credits this selfless thinking to his upbringing in Palanpur. “I

Wherever I am, I just want to make that difference. I am not looking to being rich and not productive. I realised early in life that no one remembers you post death just because you were a rich person.” realised early in life that no one remembers you post death just because you were a rich person. But we all do know Albert Einstein, Mother Teresa, so we do remember those who make a change in history. We always remember those who contribute to society.” From a young age, he also learnt to do things he loves. “I do what I love, and I love what I do, and thus, work has never been cumbersome. My job has me continent-

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hopping but if you don’t go around, you don’t see around. One learns a lot from observation,” Mistry said in an interview. A portfolio such as Mistry’s deserves credit and rightfully, he has received it in the form of awards by various renowned organizations. Mistry was honoured as the Young Global Leader 2013 by World Economic Forum. He was also named to the MIT Technology Review TR35 as one of the top 35 innovators in the world under the age of 35. In 2010, he was one of Creativity Magazine’s Creativity 50. Mistry has been listed as one of the 15 Asian Scientists To Watch by Asian Scientist Magazine. GQ India chose him as one of the most powerful Digital Indians. He was selected as one of the 37 Indians of Tomorrow by India Today. He received the Young Indian Innovator 2009 award by Digit Magazine. The inspirational man has managed to lead a balanced life of work and play. Mistry has a wide variety of interests that he indulges in on a day-to-day basis. Some of them include photography, sports (table tennis), listening to Gujarati ghazals, trekking and mountaineering, watching movies, and travelling. His advice to youngsters, “Be yourself, everyone else is taken. Take risks.” One does not need to think twice to understand that Mistry is truly an achiever in every sense. What makes his achievements even special is that they are made keeping the people in mind. Mistry’s useable, cost-effective gadgets are helping individuals connect the real world to the digital one, in turn helping in the smooth functioning of technological tasks. This extraordinary man, through his engaging work, has definitely changed the face of technology.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

An effective strategy for improving the economy or a marketing move to please the people?

THE TAXING COST ON

Foreign RESIDENTS By Ashley Stephens

he rising cost of real estate in Vancouver has been the talk of the town for years – and rightfully so. Earlier this summer saw a 37 per cent increase in the price of detached homes since last year, leaving potential homeowners or those looking to move both out of luck and potentially out of town. Buyers have been left without affordable homes to purchase, looking to anyone in a position of authority to help reign in the skyrocketing prices. In an effort to alleviate the rising

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costs and make homeownership more available for residents of metro Vancouver, the provincial government announced its plan to implement a 15 per cent property transfer fee on foreign residents late in July of this year. Effective as of August 2, in what has been called a “hasty” and “bold” move by some in the industry, the tax has already managed to shake up the market in a very short period of time – whether it’s for better or worse is still up in the air. A dip in home sales has been reported in the short few weeks fol-

lowing the implementation of the tax but insiders can only speculate on its long-term effectiveness at this point. “I don’t think it will help increase the price or decrease the price,” says Mayur Arora, realtor and owner at One Flat Fee Realty. “I think it psychologically will slow down the market a bit...and I think it already has got the desired effect they were looking for.” Puneet Agrawal, director of business development at Canadian Western Bank, offered his opinion: “There will surely be

DARPAN

SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 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

SPECIAL FEATURE

SPECIAL FEATURE The thought was to introduce a measure that would cool down somewhat the foreign involvement and the upward pressure foreign involvement was having on our domestic residential real estate market.” ~ BC Finance Minister Michael de Jong on the additional foreign tax

some impact due to this new tax but in what form is yet to be seen. We may see prices stabilizing for now or minor price correction in the short run.” But his additional insight seems to be echoed by many in the industry. “The only way to stabilize the real estate market is to increase the supply because as long as the demand keeps outstripping the supply, we will keep seeing prices go up higher and higher.” Agrawal’s comments were re-

SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 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

iterated by Daljit Thind, CEO, Thind Properties, who believes the only thing to be controlled is the supply and demand. “This tax does not help to reduce the price,” he says. “The first-time homebuyer has to afford a house for their income and that will happen if we have enough supply and we build enough houses…taxing is not a solution.” “If [the government] can build more houses and more condos – that will help. Right now, the big

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issue for the government is that the building permit is so slow.” The concept of building more residences is not new for the city or province – it’s actually recognized by the decision makers and part of the reason this new tax was introduced, as BC Minister of Finance Michael de Jong explained to DARPAN. “The thought was to introduce a measure that would cool down somewhat the foreign involvement and the upward pressure

Photos: Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press, iStock

Puneet Agrawal, director of business development, Canadian Western Bank

There will surely be some impact due to this new tax but in what form is yet to be seen. We may see prices stabilizing for now or minor price correction in the short run. The only way to stabilize the real estate market is to increase the supply because as long as the demand keeps outstripping the supply, we will keep seeing prices go up higher and higher.”

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I don’t think it’s going to affect the foreign buyers,” says Rahul Gill, CEO, Gilco Real Estate Services, expressing his belief that he doesn’t foresee the tax having an impact on the rising prices. “If you are buying a five million dollar home, you can afford the 15 per cent tax.”

foreign involvement was having on our domestic residential real estate market” he says. “We see this as a temporary measure to allow us to get on with the real solution, which is increasing supply. What we have done here is to try to temper demand but people love the Lower Mainland. We are an international province, international country; people are going to continue to come here. What this will do is provide us with an opportunity to catch up in generating more housing supplies.” While Minister de Jong said the decision to introduce the tax has been a popular one, with the speed in which it was imple-

mented being the only concern he’s heard, it seems there are other criticisms that many believe will negatively impact the city. The provincial government had a chance to implement a similar tax last year but, at the time, believed that such a tax would reduce the equity of current homeowners if prices were forced down outside of the natural market demand. This hasn’t gone unnoticed by industry insiders this time around, making the move less attractive to sellers in such a hot market. “It is unusual to enact such taxes in such a short time without proper consultation with all stakeholders and industry ex-

perts,” says Agrawal. “I think the issue which the industry has with this additional tax is the way it was brought in i.e., without proper notification and consultation. Over and above that, by making

This tax does not help to reduce the price. The first-time homebuyer has to afford a house for their income and that will happen if we have enough supply and we build enough houses… taxing is not a solution. If [the government] can build more houses and more condos – that will help.” - Daljit Thind, CEO, Thind Properties

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this new tax retroactive made it even worse.” Arora expressed similar concerns and strongly stated that he doesn’t agree with the tax. “I don’t think this has been thought of or talked through. I think there were some fundamental problems with this tax,” he said. “That’s not fair for anybody or anywhere in this world.” Stories of immigrants who have worked hard to become residents of the city, professionals like engineers who came here on work permits, only to be slapped with the tax on a deal in process of closing, have unfortunately made the news on several occasions since the tax was introduced – a punishment made possible only by unfortunate timing. “How can they afford this 15 per cent tax? It is not fair for them,” Daljit Thind

SPECIAL FEATURE

I don’t agree with this tax because I think you’re messing around with the market and I think you should let the market determine its own price,” says Mayur Arora, realtor and owner at One Flat Fee Realty, expressing his concern with the legalities of such government interference.

says. “[The] government has done a mistake in introducing this tax.” Harjinder Thind, RED FM radio host and news director, pointed out that the Chinese Consul General in Vancouver has expressed her concern over the new tax, indicating that she doesn’t believe it will work and has only made buyers angry – but not unwilling to pay, even if the tax was 50 per cent. “I don’t think it’s going to affect the foreign buyers,” says Rahul Gill, CEO, Gilco Real Estate Services, expressing his belief that he doesn’t foresee the tax having an impact on the rising prices. “If you are buying a five million dollar home, you can afford the 15 per cent tax,” he says. “I don’t agree with this tax because I think you’re messing around with the market and I think you should let the market determine its own price,” says Arora, expressing his concern with the legalities of such government interference.

DARPAN

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“So far, since this [15 per cent tax] came into action, prices haven’t been controlled,” notes Harjinder Thind, RED FM radio host and news director,“There are less sales, but the prices are still maintaining. Nobody really knows if it will work or not.” “So far, since this [15 per cent tax] came into action, prices haven’t been controlled,” notes Harjinder Thind. “There are less sales, but the prices are still maintaining” and the data backs up his claims. While the real estate market may show signs of cooling down out West, it appears to be sending some of the heat across the country to Toronto where an already hot market is heating up. In light of the tax, foreign buyers may be taking their money elsewhere, sending house hunters over to Ontario to invest. Only time will tell if the tax is effective in the way it was meant to be. With many other factors affecting the cost of homeownership, it’s difficult to determine exactly what the right answer is or will be in the future. “Nobody really knows if it will work or not,” says Harjinder Thind. “They’re experimenting,” he says of the government. An experiment on the economy may be a risky and potentially unstable move but the people asked for something to be done and the government answered their call, quieting some concerns while raising others. As the economic laws explain, prices will continue to be dictated by the imbalance between supply and demand. The tax on foreign buyers may do its part to shock the market but shaking it up certainly doesn’t bring it in to balance. Prices may or may not decrease but the true cost of the tax – for foreign buyers, local buyers, sellers and the city – will be measured in more than dollars and will only come with time.

SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 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

SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 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

BUSINESS PROFILE

Manish Sharma Owner/Director Square Nine Developments

“It truly is a union where residential community meets urban life, minutes from Downtown Vancouver, Burnaby, and New

Success At Every Step S

uccess comes to those who work

quality homes while delivering quality work and

hard for it. This is indeed true

products, safety, and on schedule,” asserts

for Manish Sharma, owner/director of

Sharma on the vision of Square Nine.

Westminster. Union is

Square Nine Developments Inc. – a

The young achiever fulfills and relives this

what you want to be a

construction company that has been

vision with each and every project of his. In

setting up the mark with its core val-

fact, most of the units in his current concrete

ues. Sharma is one of the very few

high-rise project ‘Union’ are already sold. “The

developers building concrete high-rise

response has been overwhelming; a great

developments in Vancouver and the

location backed with a great team has attracted

Lower Mainland.

a lot of buyers. The project was launched in

part of.”

Square Nine

SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 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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“We aspire to be recognized as the

January 2016 and the entire tower was sold

developer of choice for your home pur-

in three months, other than the penthouses

chase. We are working to become a

which will be launched next year,” adds Sharma.

leader in providing affordable yet top

There are nine penthouses in Union which

Photo: Amrit Photography

will be marketed in the fall of 2017. Be the first ones to buy them by registering at www.squarenine.ca. Union

comprises

102

intelligently-

designed residences comprised of one, two and three bedroom homes, and is situated in close proximity to the new Evergreen line and Lougheed Mall. “It truly is a union where residential community meets urban life, minutes from Downtown Vancouver, Burnaby, and New Westminster. Union is what you want to be a part of,” shares an excited Sharma. The design philosophy behind Union is simple – to create a stylish boutique residence that balances privacy and connect

is situated in close proximity to shopping,

at the moment. Sharma agrees, “In general, the

ivity. The interiors with sleek designs, top-

restaurants and amenities, making it an ideal

Lower Mainland real estate prices have been

quality European appliances, and latest

place to live in. The location of Union is an

on an upward swing for over a decade and

technology aim to make living at Union a

added advantage – be it for a family or those

the market will continue to rise,” says he,

peaceful

further

living alone. With the Lougheed Town Centre

sharing his inputs on the rising housing prices.

on the design, Sharma adds, “The design

Station, Simon Fraser University, and many

“We did see a spike recently in the housing

process was time-consuming for me as I

malls and recreation centres closeby, Union

market but towards the end of this year the

wanted to have a design that worked well

promises a comfortable lifestyle.

market will balance as there might be a slight

experience.

Elaborating

Sharma is enjoying the success of Square

increase in interest rates by the Bank of

A sloped topography elevates Union above

Nine and Union and the response it has got.

Canada. Overall, the housing market in the

its surroundings. This unique vantage point

He proudly says that “Square Nine is a com-

Lower mainland will be strong and will be in

enhances the sightlines from all four cor-

pany our customers can rely on and our

high demand.”

ners of the building and promises expansive

employees are proud to work for. It is a com-

In addition to Union, Square Nine has some

views from every floor, in every direction.

pany with an open mind, ready to embrace

more multi-family projects coming up in the

Besides the excellent views, Union also

new opportunities and driven to deliver

Burnaby-Edmonds

includes a fully-equipped fitness room with

exceptional value.”

working on a town house development near

for not one but all the units.”

cardio machines and weights plus space for

Ask him his definition of success and

stretching; a sky lounge with kitchen and

Sharma answers, “Success to me is about

balcony terrace for dining and entertaining;

satisfaction of a job well done, getting the

and landscaped outdoor courtyard equipped

team together, being creative, and when I

with BBQ and social area.

look back thinking I couldn’t have done it

Standing proudly at the Gateway to West

Union’s fast-selling success is a definite

gious residence in a prominent location. It

confirmation that the housing market is big

“I

currently

Edmonds and a couple of other high-rises are in the pipeline,” reveals Sharma. Square Nine Developments Inc.

604-418-8606 E: manish@squarenine.ca

better or any other way.”

Coquitlam, Union is designed as a presti-

area.

DARPAN

www.squarenine.ca TM

SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 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

YOUTH SPEAK

HELPING KIDS BECOME BETTER

ADULTS Y

By Kiran Toor Kiran Toor is a third year student at Simon Fraser University working towards her Bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s of Arts. On completing her degree, she plans on attending law school to establish a career in corporate law. She enjoys volunteering with organizations which work towards the betterment of society.

Our youth are the leaders of tomorrow and their voice must be heard. Through this column, DARPAN gives youngsters an opportunity to express their views and ideas on topics they are passionate about. If you wish to contribute, email us on editor@darpanmagazine.com

SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 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

outh is a crucial part of our community and they need to be instilled with positive values and life skills to achieve excellence in all aspects of life. Some of these include time management, leadership, and problem-solving skills. Getting involved in structural recreational activities keeps children off the streets, and teaches them valuable lessons of life. Sports play a pivotal role in attaining crucial values â&#x20AC;&#x201C; discipline, responsibility, self-confidence, sacrifice and accountability. Involvement in sports teaches kids the meaning of excellence and, gives them a resistant attitude towards negativity. Once a habit is attained, it is hard to let go of â&#x20AC;&#x201C; so why not inculcate in our children the positive habits that will help them reach high levels of success and satisfaction. Many families migrate to Canada with a vision of securing a future for their children, which leads them to work hard for financial stabilization. In the process of securing amenities and financial

DARPAN

freedom for the family, parents, in large cases, leave their kid neglected without proper parental supervision. As a result, these children seek instantaneous stratification and overnight results through other resources. In other words, the quick and easy lure of drug money is overwhelming but is also a vicious trap which they realize after, and many times it is too late to back away. Our program, Kids Play Youth Foundation and many other nonprofit organisations in the lower mainland and outside our perimeters are working hard to keep our youth on the right track. Veteran officer, Kalwinder Dosanjh, and Olympian, Arjan Singh Bhullar, came together with the idea of Kids Play. Dosanjh, who has worked in downtown east

side for a number of years, converted his experience into a Youth Soccer program. This program essentially entitled disadvantaged youth from low socio-economic backgrounds. These children are continually exposed to criminal environments making them more prone to the drugs and gang life style. Dosanjh provided these children with a constructive outlet versus seeking identification in gang settings. This program has grown tremendously over the past few years and has had more than 1,500 youth participants. For Bhullar, as an Olympian, he appreciates the value of sports. Sports have played a crucial role in his life and instilled values and principles which he was able to translate into success in many aspects of life. Both came together and wished to start an organization which utilized education and sports to deter youth away from a criminal life style. This gave birth to Kids Play. Engaging youth in activities that are healthy for body and mind help develop in them skills that will assist them in becoming successful leaders and innovators in the future. Success of such programs hinges on support from sponsors and volunteers. I encourage everyone to be a part of such initiatives to make our society a better place. These programs help us give back to the community, and I believe one of the ways of doing so is by involving our youth in them to keep them on the right track. If we all come together as a society and support one another as a team, we can surely make an impact on the lives of the vulnerable and on the ones indulged in negative behaviours.

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TOP 1% REALTOR In Greater Vancouver 6 Years In A Row E M BER

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DARPAN FEATURE

Hello. Bonjour.

Namaste. Sat Sri Akal. Learning multiple languages can not only help you communicate with family members and the community but can also give you an economic or academic advantage for the future.

By Renu Singh-Joseph

enowned British psycholinguist, Frank Smith, said, “One language sets you in a corridor of life. Two languages open every door along the way.” As technology has expanded and globalization accelerated, the world as we know it has become a global village, in which we have evolved into quintessential global citizens. From childhood and adolescence to adulthood, individuals are now focusing on learning multiple languages, not only to communicate with family members and their respective communities, but to also gain an academic or

SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 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

economic advantage for the future. “We are now living in a global village, and language is always a great asset,” says Balwant Sanghera, a retired school psychologist, community activist, and president of Punjabi Language Education Association (PLEA). “The more languages you know, speak or can understand, the greater the benefit is to you.” Dr. Deborah MacNamara, a child counsellor, educator and author, adds to this sentiment, “There is a belief that with a global based economy, multiple languages is advantageous in the long term…and a belief that the world is smaller and multiple languages give us insight into being a global citizen.” From an academic or economic perspective, students are choosing to learn languages ranging from

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French and Spanish to Chinese and Punjabi, which will assist them in future careers. In particular, Punjabi is one of the most spoken languages in Canada, and according to Sanghera, there is a demand for dual-speaking individuals who can

speak both English and Punjabi in a number of professions like government agencies, hospitals, banks, and businesses. Speaking multiple languages is “an asset for employment,” he adds. Today’s parents understand the importance of language, and many are teaching their native language or ‘mother tongue’ to their children in order to keep them connected to their ancestral roots. MacNamara says parents that have immigrated to a country where their language “differs from the dominant culture,” will want to share their language with their children. “It’s really because they want to share their history with the child and language embodies one’s history, values and culture.” She further adds, “Language connects you to place, history and values. It also provides a sense of home and belonging and sharing something that is unique, it’s so incredibly important.” Sanghera believes that speaking a common language in the household connects a family and creates a bond amongst its members. In the Punjabi community, he encourages children to learn to speak Punjabi in order to communicate with their grandparents or extended

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DARPAN FEATURE

Balwant Sanghera, retired school psychologist, community activist, and president of PLEA

Today’s parents understand the importance of language, and many are teaching their native language or ‘mother tongue’ to their children in order to keep them connected to their

Dr. Deborah MacNamara, child counsellor, educator and author

family members who may not be fluent in English, thus strengthening overall communication and building meaningful relationships. He advices families to spend 30 minutes together each evening and talk to one another in Punjabi, or their native language, to share their experience, “this is an excellent way to connect with one another and strengthen the familial bond.”

Children, language and development According to the Urban Child Institute (UCI), the first three years of a child’s life are “the most critical for language development,

SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 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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ancestral roots. as the child’s brain is developing rapidly and is at its most receptive to new information.” MacNamara, who is the founder of Kid’s Best Bet Development Clinic in Vancouver and faculty at the Neufeld Institute, states that whatever your child is “exposed to helps shape the brain and the connections that are made. So whether it’s music or language, the brain is geared to wire up in conjunction with whatever the child or adolescent is experiencing in their every day world.” In most cases, a baby’s first classroom is the home and parents are the teachers. UCI suggests creating “a language-rich environment by reading books, telling stories and describing daily events to your child.” In addition, the institute says “language development is a two-way process,” so engage in “frequent adult-child conversation” for TM

practice and language refinement. “I think the best way to learn a language is when you’re attached to the people that are teaching it to you, it can be a language teacher at school or a family member at home,” shares MacNamara. “The question you fundamentally have to ask, ‘Is this child attached to the person, who’s teaching them the language?’ If not, it will be very hard to activate those neural networks in that direction, as learning follows relationships.” She further elaborates, “For kids, when you put a relationship there that matters, for example, talking to a grandparent that they want to understand, there is a desire for connectedness, there is a huge motivation to learn one’s language – you have the motivation, relationship, context – it’s the ideal environment to learn a language.” Whether you’re teaching your child an additional language for academic and economic advantage or to connect to family and ancestral roots, language plays an important part in a child’s development process and continues to assist the child throughout the years. Sarah Caldwell, American opera conductor and director, sums it up best: “Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can; there will always come a time when you will be grateful you did.” 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.

Celebrating Years! Celebrating30 30Years! Years! Celebrating 30

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DARPAN SALUTES

Together with his team of volunteers, Afroz Shah has cleared more than four million pounds of trash from Versova beach in Western Mumbai.

A DATE WITH THE

OCEAN By GARIMA GOSWAMI

ndia’s most populous city, Mumbai, is leading the way in campaigning against waste management at beaches with its successfully running clean-up campaign at Versova beach, one of the many beaches in Mumbai and India that is presently under a garbage crisis. Together with his team of volunteers, Afroz Shah has cleared more than four million pounds of waste from Versova beach’s 1.5-mile stretch of coastline facing the Arabian Sea in Western Mumbai. The campaign is performing exceptionally well in terms of local participation and awareness. “It’s a date with the ocean every Sunday,” Shah explains with a laugh. A lawyer at Bombay High Court, Shah is widely known as a passionate environmentalist and a beach lover who arrives with his cleaning gear and team of volunteers on weekends at Versova beach. “I am an ocean lover. Accord-

SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 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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ing to me, ocean gives life to humanity. The fine balance between water, tree and human being is what sustainable development is according to me.” From a very young age, this ocean lover has stood up for environment conservation methods. As a student, Shah worked towards saving the mangroves and spreading awareness to highlight their role in the environment. “Mangroves are the roots of ocean, they are ecologically sensitive and fragile and now Bombay High Court has declared it as a protected forest, [although] it wasn’t earlier.” In his latest campaign, Clean-Up Versova beach, Shah has gathered massive support ranging from locals and celebrities to environmentalists and civic bodies while exposing the global society to a pressing issue – marine pollution. Whether or not your local beach is congest-

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Photos: Afroz Shah social media

A lawyer at Bombay High Court, Afroz Shah is widely known as a passionate environmentalist and a beach lover who arrives with his cleaning gear and team of volunteers on weekends at Versova beach. ed with plastic and waste material, if we continue producing plastic at the current rate without engaging appropriate measures to dispose and recycle, plastics in our ocean will outweigh fishes by 2050, according to World Economic Forum. Industrial waste continuously disrupts marine ecosystem with toxic substances such as mercury and DDT that dangerously penetrates into its habitats. Plastic, an underestimated threat, coagulates into garbage patches that eventually gets transported on to beaches and remote islands before oceans consume a majority of it into their habitat. Shah responds on the plastic epidemic saying “The problem is not with the plastic; it’s how people react to plastic. There is some kind of

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indifference and apathy towards plastic. You clean your house, wash your body and that’s exactly what the oceans require. Just because they are humongous in size, doesn’t mean you should be neglecting them.” When it comes to waste management in India, little is what’s been done. Local municipalities have no infrastructure to segregate waste and therefore the public cares the least on the matter. Most recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi triggered a debate on cleanliness by launching the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission) which was reciprocated strongly in debates and weakly in implementation. “Now for 70 years in this country nothing has happened, as far as ocean and plastic goes. Every day you see a degradation in terms of that you saw the previous day. I asked myself, what can I do to help the ocean and to save the environment. According to me, the solution lies with the individual and not the government eventually. Government will fill the formation work but it’s the individual who’ll have to make the policies work,” the lawyer points out. In the case of Versova beach’s clean-up campaign, Shah admits that ideally all the garbage should be recycled but the amplified scale and depth of it makes segregation an almost impossible task. Local authorities have been informed and consulted on mechanisms to ethically dispose waste but there has been little progress there as well. Taking the onus on himself, Shah has consulted green tech companies and has grouped in the local

DARPAN SALUTES Lewis Pugh, UNEP Patron of the Oceans, participates in Versova beach clean-up campaign with volunteers

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“The problem is not with the plastic; it’s how people react to plastic. There is some kind of indifference and apathy towards plastic.” fishermen community with a potential scheme of handing them recyclable material which they can sell to scrap collectors and earn money in return. Lewis Pugh, a world-class swimmer, a maritime lawyer, and a global advocate for cleaner oceans, recently participated in the clean-up drive volunteered by about 400 Versova residents and the civic body. Pugh, who is also the United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) Patron of the Oceans, told Scroll media “I have never in my life seen so much litter on a beach, on any beach in the whole world.” Impressed with the campaign at Versova beach, Pugh lauded the work of the volunteers and Shah in raising awareness and taking continuous action towards its reformation. The campaign has definitely received global attention and regardless of whether or not you have a clean beach, what’s relevant is that we are continuously intoxicating our oceans. Shah plans on expanding the reach of the campaign by taking it to other beaches in Mumbai and eventually panIndia. “We are working to get schools and bodies involved in the campaign and make it part of their curriculum. It is all theoretical [at present], we want to make it practical.” He is in touch with the local civic body, federal government, and the United Nations in taking the work to the next level.

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YOUR RIGHTS

Nirwan Law Corporation Leave the stress to us while you focus on your recovery.

ny kind of personal injury can shake a person completely. And while the individual is on his road to recovery, he is left to deal with ICBC or other insurance issues. Handling these matters can be stressful when one is physically and mentally weak. Here’s when Nirwan Law Corporation (NLC) comes to the rescue. Nirwan Law Corporation, a well-known personal injury law firm based in Surrey, practises in the areas of car accident (ICBC) claims and other personal injury claims, such as slip and fall accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and hit and

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run accidents. “We handle all aspects of the claim and leave the client to focus on recovery and rehabilitation,” states Harpreet Nirwan, a barrister at NLC with a background in civil litigation, criminal defence and personal injury law. “We want people to know that we are here to serve them and will work to maximize their recovery.” Ask him what sets NLC apart from other law firms and Nirwan clearly says “our personal relationships with our clients.” “It is our goal to put a smile on each client’s face and to ease the discomfort and frustration of their personal injury claim as much as possible.” TM

And indeed, the services and utmost care provided by the firm will have you leaving the office feeling assured and smiling. One of the many reasons for this smile – their “no fee if no recovery” service. “Meaning that we only collect legal fees if we win the case,” Nirwan explains. “This also means that our clients do not pay us anything up front; we charge our fees as a percentage of what we successfully recover for our clients.” NLC also takes care of the cost of ordering doctor’s reports, transcript fees, expert reports, and trial costs. NLC is experienced in personal injury law and has considerable experience in fighting these cases in court. The corporation has successfully recovered over $5,000,000 in

“We tell each of our clients that our only goal is to ensure that they get the full amount of compensation available. That means the maximum amount of money for their pain and suffering, out of pocket expenses, and past and future wage loss as well as funding for their rehabilitative care.”

Harpreet Nirwan

PHOTOS: VARSOLA VISUALS

BARRISTER, NLC

settlements and judgments for their clients over the years. The company’s motto – “we settle when you are ready, not when ICBC is ready.” “We protect our client’s rights and interests by putting the pressure on ICBC to move the file along (not at it’s own pace) and settle the file when our clients are ready. If ICBC does not reasonably settle, we proceed to court and put pressure on ICBC to come to the table with reasonable numbers,” points out Nirwan. The diligent lawyer was always interested in practising law in a way that served people and made a difference in their lives. “I felt that personal injury was a great area to do just that because most people who are injured as a result of someone else’s negligence are not aware of their entitlements,” shares

Nirwan about his interest in personal injury law. Furthermore, he believed that many injured persons could not adequately represent themselves in their injury claims because they were unfamiliar with the law and the claims process and they had other things to worry about such as rehabilitation. “I am grateful to work in an area where I can contribute to people’s lives in a small but meaningful way.” At NLC, customer care and satisfaction is highly valued. “We tell each of our clients at the outset that our only goal is to ensure that they get the full amount of compensation available. That means the maximum amount of money for their pain and suffering, out of pocket expenses, and past and future wage

loss as well as funding for their rehabilitative care such as physiotherapy,” assures Nirwan, proudly adding that they do not treat clients like a number. “Each client is unique and we maintain a close and personal relationship with them. We answer or return every client call no matter how small the issue because we know that being injured due to someone else’s fault is a frustrating and traumatic experience where one needs as much support as possible.” If you need assistance on a personal injury claim, head to NLC for a free consultation. They offer services in English, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu. “We want to take away the stress and pressure of the personal injury claims process and allow our clients to focus on healing and recovery,” sums up Nirwan.

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Canada Cup 2016 West Coast Kings Field Hockey Society’s field hockey tournament was a great success. BM Group Canada Cup 2016 took place at Surrey’s Tamanawis Field. Many dignitaries from within British Columbia, India, and other countries were part of the opening ceremony. This year, more than 35 teams, both national and international, played against each other to win the championship. Photos: A Master Media Photography

Independence Day Celebrations The 70th Independence Day of India was celebrated with great enthusiasm and patriotic fervor by the Indian diaspora and friends of India on August 15 in Vancouver. Acting Consul General Amar Jit Singh unfurled the national flag at the Consulate. After singing of the National Anthem, the Acting Consul General read out excerpts from the President’s address to the Nation and also addressed the gathering, showcasing the Government of India’s achievements and newly-initiated schemes. This was followed by screening of documentaries sent by the Ministry. Afterwards, patriotic songs sung by visiting Indian artists Diljaan and Sudesh Kumari enthralled the gathering. Photos: Chandra Bodalia

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ConfiDance in Vancouver The second edition of ConfiDance in Vancouver and London was a showcase of Indo Contemporary, Bollywood Jazz, Hip Hop, and musicals. Ace choreographer Shiamak Davar gives a unique opportunity to talented dancers from around the world to train in multiple dance styles and display their versatility in a stage show. ConfiDance is an effort for dancers to gain confidence through dance and hone their ability as performing artists. Photos: Peter So and Paul Torode

Meet and Greet with Immigration Minister John McCallum John McCallum, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, visited the city of Surrey for a Meet and Greet with the Surrey media. Present along with him were Members of Parliament Sukh Dhaliwal, John Aldag, Ken Hardie, Randeep Sarai and Jati Sidhu. During the event, Minister McCallum discussed various topics concerning his ministry, namely immigration process, refugees, Bill C-6, LMO, low-skilled workers, work visa, citizenship, and express entry visa, among others.

India Live by SAFA India Live hosted by South Asian Family Association (SAFA) included the performances of famous singer Malkit Singh with DJ Emenes of MiB Roadshow, Vancity Bhangra, and Karn Bhullar on dhol. The event also included gatka demonstrations, turban tying, bhangra, dhol and yoga classes, live performances of Indian song and dance, as well as kara races, cricket, henna and roti making.

Summer Sizzle Networking Series The Surrey Board of Trade kicked off their Summer Sizzle Networking Series on the pool deck of the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel. The series, which features three events, gives attendees the chance to stay connected throughout the summer and build new connections. The second session took place at the Sandman Suites Guildford on the rooftop patio of Moxieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grill & Bar and the third session took place at Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria in Guildford.

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Monsoon Festival of Performing Arts The first annual Monsoon Festival of Performing Arts, presented by South Asian Arts Society, put a deliberate spotlight on South Asian theatre. During a span of 11 days, the festival highlighted acclaimed International plays, sketch comedy, and workshops among other artistic events.

Krishna Janmashtami Celebrations Janmastami celebrations at the Hindu Temple Burnaby had many devotees visit the temple and celebrate the festival. Photos: Chandra Bodalia

PICS Mega Job Fair The ninth annual PICS Mega Job Fair & Business Expo 2016 had about 100 exhibitors registered for the event and about 6,000 to 7,000 job seekers in attendance. Photos: Chandra Bodalia

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Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival Vancouverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival began its 27th season with an exciting line-up of plays (Romeo And Juliet, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Othello, and Pericles), concerts and special events. The festival is on till September 24. Photos: David Blue

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RE-THINK YOUR

DIET 2

I recommend using more pulses (e.g. peas, beans, lentils, and chickpeas); they are a great vegetarian source of protein, high in fibre, and very filling (making it hard to eat too much). Canada is also the world’s largest pulse producer (so pulses are a “local” food) and here’s a fun fact, the United Nations declared 2016 as the International Year of Pulses.

By Nerissa Jawanda An expert weighs in on how to adopt a healthier lifestyle and make more nutritious choices.

ttempting to adopt a healthier lifestyle is something most of us have grappled with at some point. For those struggling to forge healthier habits, Vashti Verbowski, a registered and private practice dietitian at Your Kitchen Dietitian, recommends examining problematic behaviours and coming up with new strategies. Verbowski explains that small, realistic diet changes are the best way to make progress, “drastic diet changes don’t usually last, and people tend to end up right where they started – the key is to make gradual changes that are doable and become part of your lifestyle.”

Verbowski’s top three suggestions for a healthier diet Through her numerous years as a dietitian, Verbowski has helped many clients in Vancouver create more nutritious daily diets, and she believes that implementing the following tips are essential:

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Make healthy food tasty by including more seasonings/spices. Some seasonings also have health benefits. For example, turmeric has been shown to lower some types of cancer and ginger is a good antiinflammatory food.

Healthy food preparation for a busy lifestyle

Vashti Verbowski, registered dietitian at Your Kitchen Dietitian

I recommend filling half of your plate with vegetables at every meal. Boost your nutrition by choosing colourful vegetables – the deeper the colour, the better. As a rule, I recommend including at least one green vegetable (e.g. broccoli, zucchini, asparagus, spinach, and kale) and one orange vegetable (e.g. carrots, squash, pumpkin, yams, and bell peppers) every day.

Many find it difficult to implement healthy food preparation into their busy lifestyles because they simply feel they do not have the time to do so, and therefore opt for quicker and less healthy alternatives. Verbowski’s suggestion for this issue is to take a little time each week to plan. “With a few plans in place, food preparation and healthy eating are easier to accomplish.” She continues on to say that preparation ahead of time also goes a long way, “for example, you could chop some veggies on the weekend to make cooking a stir-fry quick and easy during the week.” Another tip is to choose a few recipes and ensure your fridge is stocked with everything you’ll need ahead of time. Keeping health in mind, the dietitian also recommends eating more vegetables and fruit, choosing whole foods over their processed forms, eating less meat and more

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Home Sweet Home

plant proteins, and drinking more water. She states that including more vegetables and fruits helps reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, and other chronic diseases; including more whole foods (like whole grains) is one way to get more fibre and avoid eating too much sugar, salt, and fat, which tend to “hide” in processed foods. “I suggest eating less meat to reduce the environmental impact of livestock production, which produces high amounts of greenhouse gasses. Lastly, limiting sweet beverages and alcohol is one way to avoid consuming excess calories; sugary beverages are not good for our teeth either!”

What about organic food? Eating healthy and eating organic are often thought to be synonymous. Verbowski explains that organic foods are healthier for the environment, as they rely on natural cycles and sustainable processes such as crop rotation and recycling plant and animal waste. She also explains that organic food is produced without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, growth hormones, and genetically-modified organisms. Despite this, she notes that current research suggests that non-organic food is just as nutritious and safe as organic food, and that many non-organic farmers use organic processes as well, to limit their use of pesticides. In this way, the major benefit of organic food is avoiding synthetic pesticides. The important thing to keep in mind is that moderation and variety are necessary for healthy eating. “Many of my clients think certain foods are “bad” or especially healthy. The truth is, there are many healthy ways of eating, and most foods can fit into a healthy diet,” says Verbowski in conclusion.

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DARPAN RECIPES

His easy demeanour, cheerful commentary and simple instructions make the most seemingly difficult dishes look easy to prepare. His popularity and contribution to Indian cuisine is such that the Government of India conferred on him the national award of

“Best Chef of India.”

Sanjeev

Kapoor The King of Gastronomy 66

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anjeev Kapoor is the go-to chef for everything. Not surprising then that he figured in the Reader’s Digest list of 100 of India’s Most Trusted people. His easy demeanour, cheerful commentary and simple instructions make the most seemingly difficult dishes look easy to prepare. His popularity and contribution to Indian cuisine is such that the Government of India conferred on him the National award of “Best Chef of India.” Kapoor’s food show Khana Khazana ran for 18 years on ZEE channel, a record that is yet to be broken. He was on the panel of Judges for Master Chef India Season 3. He served as the Chief Judge and host for ‘Sanjeev Kapoor Ke Kitchen Khiladi’ on Sony Entertainment Television. His life story featured on Star World as part of the exclusive series titled Achiever’s Club. He has also cooked for many dignitaries, including the Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He is first chef in the world to launch his own food channel FoodFood. United Nations chose him as the Indian Ambassador for their Clean Cookstoves Campaign which was aimed at the underprivileged in developing countries. Kapoor also represented India in 2012 in the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS) at Daejon, South Korea, and initiated the ancient ways of Ayurvedic cooking to the world of chefs. Kapoor’s books are bestsellers with more than 200 titles in seven languages. His book meant for an international audience, ‘How To Cook Indian,’ was launched in April 2011 to an overwhelming response and encouraging press. His ‘The Yellow Chilli Cookbook’ was awarded the Best International Cookbook at the 2012 International Book Awards and his book on chocolates, ‘aah! Chocolate,’ got the Gourmand Best Cookbook Photography Award at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2013 and the Best in the World Award in the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2014 in Beijing. Under the brand name Sanjeev Kapoor’s Khana Khazana, a wide range of food products, like pickles, blended masalas, gourmet chutneys and 123 ready-to-eat mixes have found takers in India and abroad.

Now Available

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DARPAN RECIPES

Enjoy easy and delicious recipes from the ‘King of Chefs’, Sanjeev Kapoor, himself. So let’s get cooking!

Preparation

Aloo Nazakat Ingredients 4 large potatoes 2 tbsps oil + for deep-frying

1 tsp red chilli powder 3 tbsps roasted split Bengal gram, powdered 3 tbsps chopped fresh coriander

3 tsps ginger-garlic paste

2 tbsps mustard oil

Salt to taste

½ cup grated cottage cheese (paneer)

1 cup yogurt, whisked

2 tsps chaat masala

½ tsp black salt

2 green chillies, chopped

1 tsp garam masala powder

2 small fried urad dal papads, crushed

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1. Peel and scoop out the insides of the potatoes leaving a shell all around. Chop the scooped out portion and set aside. Heat plenty of oil in a kadai and deep-fry the potato shells till cooked and the outer surface turns golden brown. Drain on absorbent paper. 2. Heat the oil in a non-stick pan and add one teaspoon of the ginger-garlic paste. Add the chopped potatoes and salt and cook over medium heat for five to six minutes. 3. For the marinade, put the yogurt into a bowl; add salt, black salt, garam masala powder, chilli powder, roasted Bengal gram powder, two tablespoons of the fresh coriander, the remaining ginger-garlic paste and mix well. Add the mustard oil and mix again. Set aside. 4. For the stuffing, put the cottage cheese into a bowl. Add salt, chaat masala, remaining fresh coriander, green chillies, cooked potatoes, and crushed fried papad. Mix well. 5. Stuff the potato shells generously with the cottage cheese mixture. Put the stuffed potatoes into the yogurt marinade and mix well with a light hand. Leave to marinate for about thirty minutes. 6. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/Gas Mark 4. Grease a baking tray. 7. Arrange the stuffed potatoes on the baking tray and bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve hot.

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DARPAN RECIPES

Ingredients FOR SPINACH COVERING:

For gravy: ¼ cup oil ½ tsp caraway seeds

2 small bunches (500 grams)

2 cloves

fresh spinach leaves, blanched, drained and pureed

2 black cardamoms

2 tbsps butter

Shaam savera M

5 garlic cloves, chopped 1 inch ginger piece, chopped 2 tsps green chilli paste 1 tsp green cardamom powder 1 tsp coriander powder 3 tbsps cashewnut powder Salt to taste 8 tbsps roasted Bengal gram (chana) powder Cornflour for dusting

1 inch cinnamon stick 1 medium onion, sliced 8 garlic cloves, chopped 1 inch piece ginger, chopped 1 tsp turmeric powder 5 medium tomatoes, halved ½ tbsp red chilli powder Salt to taste ⅓ cup butter ¼ cup broken cashewnuts 1½ tbsps dried fenugreek leaves (kasoori methi) ½ tbsp green cardamom powder

y signature preparation, the colours of this dish – saffron,

For kofta:

1 tsp honey

white and green – proclaim my nationalism. Spinach

½ cup grated cottage cheese (paneer)

For garnish:

¼ tbsp green cardamom powder

2 tsps fresh cream

¼ tbsp white pepper powder

½ ginger piece, cut into thin strips

Salt to taste

1 green chilli, seeded and cut into thin strips

koftas are filled with paneer and served floating on a saffroncoloured, velvety gravy. It also stands for shaam, or dusk, as represented by the darker shades of the spinach, while the paleness of the paneer symbolizes savera or dawn. When displayed as koftas cut open in half to show off the light inside, the dish is more than just food, it is poetry on a plate.

Preparation 1. For the spinach covering, melt the butter in a non-stick pan. Add the caraway seeds and sauté until they begin to change colour. Add the spinach puree, garlic, ginger, green chilli paste, green cardamom powder, coriander powder, cashewnut powder, salt and roasted chana powder and cook, stirring, till dry. Spread it out on a plate and set aside in a refrigerator to cool completely.

1 tbsp caraway seeds (shahi jeera)

10 green cardamoms

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2. For the kofta filling, mix together the cottage cheese, cardamom powder, white pepper powder, salt and cornflour and mix well. Divide into eight equal portions and roll into balls. Keep them in the refrigerator till required. 3. For the gravy, heat the oil in a deep non-stick pan. Add the caraway seeds, cloves, black cardamoms, green cardamoms, cinnamon, onion, garlic, ginger, and turmeric powder and sauté for five to seven minutes.

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¼ tbsp cornflour Oil for deep-frying

4. Add the tomatoes, red chilli powder, salt and one cup water and cook, stirring for five minutes. Add the butter, cashewnuts, dried fenugreek leaves, green cardamom powder, and honey and mix well. Let the gravy simmer for 10 to 15 minutes on medium heat. Set aside to cool. Grind and strain the gravy into a bowl and discard the residue. 5. To make the koftas, heat sufficient oil in a kadai. Divide the spinach mixture into eight equal portions. Coat each paneer ball with a portion

of spinach and roll into a round ball. Roll the balls lightly in cornflour. Deep-fry on medium heat for three to four minutes. Drain on absorbent paper and set aside to cool slightly. 6. To serve, pour the curry into a serving bowl. Halve the koftas horizontally and place them on the top of the gravy. Garnish with a swirl of fresh cream, ginger and green chilli strips and serve.

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our heart begins beating as if it will jump out of your chest. Your breath stops as you desperately grasp for air. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re uncomfortable, full of fear and feel like you might be losing your mind. You may be experiencing a panic attack. A panic attack is a sudden onset of overwhelming anxiety or fear that is debilitating, abrupt and can seemingly appear out of nowhere. Attacks tend to occur in the midst of particularly stressful events but can also happen when one is relaxing or sleeping, making their appearance difficult to predict and even harder to understand. They often occur for just a few minutes, their intense phase commonly lasting 20 minutes, but leave a lasting impression long after they are over. When one has a panic

attack, there is often no questioning what has just happened. Many of the symptoms of panic attack are similar to those of heart disease, breathing problems, and other illnesses that do cause individuals to seek treatment for the wrong disorder. Additionally and unfortunately, the stigma surrounding panic disorders and anxieties often brings about embarrassment and, therefore, silence on the part of the sufferer, leaving them to hide their real symptoms and live without a solution to the very serious and yet treatable problem they are experiencing. If left untreated, a series of panic attacks can turn into a panic disorder. Beyond multiple panic attacks, panic disorder is accompanied by persistent anxiety over experiencing

PANIC

WHEN

ATTACKS By Ashley Stephens

feels t i t a Wh o be like t e by m o c r ove y and t e i x an fight o t w ho . back

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Symptoms of Panic Attack While varied from person to person, if you experience four or more of the following symptoms that peak within minutes, you might be experiencing a panic attack:

è Shortness of breath è Heart palpations or an accelerated heart beat è Feelings of choking è Chest pain or discomfort è Shaking or trembling è Numbness or tingling sensations è Sweating

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è Nausea è Feeling faint or lightheaded è Hot or cold flashes è Racing thoughts è Fear of dying è Feeling outside of one’s body è Feeling like you’ve lost control or are going crazy

another panic attack. Changes in behaviour are noted as a panic disorder, and often forces individuals to avoid places they’ve had previous attacks or change ways in which they use to act in order to try and avoid any high-anxiety situations. Panic attacks are terrifying and, without ways to cope with an attack, can seem life-threatening at the worst of times. Panic attacks and the often accompanying disorder can be successfully treated through a series of self-help exercises and therapies,

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meaning help doesn’t have to be far when you need it most. Learning about panic and understanding the signs and symptoms as well as the natural response to one’s attack can help reduce the feelings of losing control or going crazy. Knowing how you may react in an attack is useful for knowing that you will get through one unscathed. Using reassuring words in your thoughts, such as “You will get through this” or reminding yourself it is temporary and that an attack always ends will be beneficial. Those who have previously experienced an attack are encouraged to practice deep breathing as it can help alleviate the symptoms of a panic attack. Similarly, relaxation practices such as yoga and meditation can prove to be effective in coaching oneself through an attack. During an attack, calming distractions, such as studying nearby patterns or completing a comforting activity, can help redirect the anxiety. Cognitive behaviour therapy is often used to help those who experience multiple panic attacks. This type of therapy examines the thinking patterns that may trigger an attack and allows one to look at their fear rationally and realistically to reduce the panic surrounding certain situations. Another treatment method that has proven successful is exposure therapy where an individual is made to experience their symptoms in a safe, controlled environment. It is believed that this gives patients a greater sense of control over their anxiety as they learn how to fear it less as they are exposed to it more. Medicinal treatment can also be prescribed to reduce or temporarily control symptoms of panic and anxiety. Whether it’s your first panic attack or one of many, seeking the advice of a healthcare professional is an important and beneficial first step. Having someone to talk to about your panic attacks is a healing strategy on its own. You shouldn’t have to suffer silently through an attack. When panic attacks, you’ll want to know how to strike back.

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By Garima Goswami

A Chemically

Infused

Skin Ritual W

Dr. Alexandra Kuritzky, a dermatologist in Vancouver and a clinical instructor in the Department of Dermatology and Skin Science at the University of British Columbia, says, “There certainly is a perception that ‘natural,’ ‘plant-based,’ or ‘organic’ skin care is inherently safer, but this is not at all true.”

SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 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

ith a history tracing back to over 10,000 years, the journey of cosmetics has been tremendously impacted. They have played a significant role in the advancement from ancient civilization to modern techniques but its passage through time has witnessed impact from religious leaders, political figures, cosmetologists, and merchants among others. In Egypt, we find the earliest traces of cosmetics in the form of copper and lead ore, worn by individuals of all classes to impress the Gods. Contrastingly, cosmetics received quite a harsh treatment when they were eventually transported to Greece and Rome during the renaissance period. Some regarded the use of cosmetics as worship of Satan, while others believed it indecent and confined only for use in areas reserved for prostitution.

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Makeup has become an essential part of our daily lives and so it is wise to do a thorough analysis of products our skin digests on a daily basis. Moving on to present times, we have welcomed the reliance on beauty industry with a convivial anecdote and are certainly not shy of experimenting. Consequently, the cosmetics industry is flourishing and booming with creams, potions and lotions promising beauty, confidence, happiness and literally everything. Tagline promises aside, makeup has become an essential part of our daily lives and so it is wise to do a thorough analysis of products our skin digests on a daily basis. Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to researching and advocating against toxic chemicals, agricultural subsidies, public lands, and corporate accountability, reports an average woman to be using 12 cosmetic products containing 168 ingredients on a daily basis. Men use about six products with around 85 ingredients. Certainly, ingredients listed in beauty and health care products might be a tough code to crack but that is only until we choose to remain aloof and retreat from research and awareness. A majority of makeup products available in the market are a mixture of chemicals and heavy

metals. Prolonged usage of chemicals such as mica, parabens, lead and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) phthalates, can trigger short and long term health risks ranging from severe headaches and allergies to aging, cancer and damage to reproductive organs. Claims to cosmetic chemicals causing cancers such as ovarian, breast and prostate, which are hormonedriven, have not been scientifically proven yet but some cosmetics have endocrine-disrupting chemicals that may interfere with hormonal activities – a possible link we cannot rule out. Despite the hazards, continuous analysis of new and old ingredients by organizations such as EWG, along with awareness amongst consumers has resulted in a wide range of products addressing needs of a variety of consumers – natural, cruelty-free, organic, plant-based, mineral, environmentfriendly, and so on. This however, should not be taken for granted. Words such as “natural” and “organic” are used extravagantly and unless you are aware of regulations on using these terms, you can easily be misled. Upon studying closely, one would notice loopholes within Canada’s

cosmetic regulations. Precise and strict labelling is one example – the term “fragrance” or “parfum” is not sufficient to define the complex mixture of various chemicals and acts as a safe disguise for brands in hiding potentially hazardous chemicals. Another case in point is labelling products as “drugs” based on their therapeutic claims. As per Canada’s Food and Drug Act, personal care products (such as sunscreens, toothpaste and hand sanitizers) are not required to record their complete ingredients list on the product; only “active” ingredient listing is mandatory. In Canada, globally-acclaimed brands such as Ilia, Belmondo and RMS have introduced consumers to an ethical-sustainable approach to beauty by evaluating and reinventing cosmetic brands that do not torment your skin. However, this shouldn’t go without reiterating a crucial point – words such as “organic” or “natural” do not eliminate potential hazards. Dr. Alexandra Kuritzky, a dermatologist in Vancouver and a clinical instructor in the Department of Dermatology and Skin Science at the University of British Columbia, backs it up saying, “There certainly is a perception that ‘natural,’ ‘plant-based,’ or ‘organic’ skin care is inherently safer, but this is not at all true. In fact, many natural ingredients can cause irritation or contact allergy. Tea tree oil is a common ingredient in cosmetics labelled as ‘natural,’ but is a common cause of contact allergy. This is not to say that all natural products are inferior, simply that they are not inherently safer. These statements are also not regulated statements, so their meaning can vary from one product to another.” The point is research the ingredients and understand from your previous experience how they would react with your skin and body. What’s crucial is understanding that there is no guaranteed product for everybody. What might be working for some might not work for you. And just because it is working for you, doesn’t mean it’s safe for you. No brand, product or beauty expert understands your body better than yourself. Your body and health is an investment that cannot meet any compromises. Be cautious. Be safe.

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DARPA N

Beauty

By Catherine Tse

Asian Secrets

F O R B E AU TI F U L

SKIN

In Asia, skincare is a lifestyle, not a routine; it’s enjoyable, not a chore; it’s about targeting specific issues, not general purpose; it’s about prevention, not treatment. 78

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sian beauty is a hot trend right now, but unlike Gangnam Style, it’s no onehit wonder. In fact, Asia’s modern legacy of producing highly covetable skincare and makeup products goes back for decades. Love BB Cream? You can thank South Korea. Konjac sponges? That’s Japan. Oil cleansers? Thanks, Shu Uemura! The list goes on: sheet masks, dark spot

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Also from Japan, this brand is probably one of the more well-known Asian brands in Canada. Their cleansing oils are legendary as is their eyelash curler. Cleansing oils in general are very popular in Asia and are fabulous for taking off long-wear makeup and sunscreen. But there’s a technique to using them, generally referred to as the “double cleanse” method: Apply the oil onto the face for a minute or two, using this time to massage your face, which will not only help break down the makeup but also increase circulation. Then add a little bit of water to emulsify the oil, which will turn milky white, and finally rinse off. Now you can follow up with your favourite cleanser to remove any remaining residue. Available at Sephora.

correctors, cushion compacts, essence waters, fibre lash mascaras, etc. We have Asia to thank for these beauty innovations that are finally catching the attention of Canadian consumers. Skincare in Asia is light years ahead of where we’re at and there are some significant differences between how we approach it. In Asia, skincare is a lifestyle, not a routine; it’s enjoyable, not a chore; it’s about targeting specific issues, not general purpose; it’s about prevention, not treatment. Sunscreen alone is elevated to near art-form in Asia, where its lightweight, water-like texture and broadspectrum coverage bears little resemblance to the thick, sticky, non-photostable sunscreens that dominate the shelves here. Many European brands – with names that are more familiar to Canadians – have already

noticed these Asian innovations and have developed their own versions. Lancome launched cushion compacts several years ago (followed by cushion blushes) and La Prairie just released its Essencein-Lotion that’s infused, through steam distillation, with their signature caviar water. But to truly embrace Asian beauty, go to the source. There are so many Asian brands now easily available in Canada, it’s time to shake up your routine and try some fun, new, cutting-edge products.

Photos: Courtesy of brands featured

Shu Uemura

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DARPAN BEAUTY

AmorePacific

Paul and Joe Beauté

This luxury Korean brand is famed in Asia for being a leader in innovative, effective skincare. They incorporate many indigenous Asian ingredients with leading technologies to produce some truly wonderful products. Of note is their luscious Time Response Skin Renewal Creme and Time Response Intensive Hand Renewal Creme. The latter makes for a fantastic gift – everybody needs this hand salvation. They also have sachets of a beautiful eye masque that I always travel with to help save parched postflight skin.

This Japanese brand with the unbelievably adorable packaging has been a cult favourite for years. While the makeup itself is wonderful, they really excel at delivering beautiful, colourways and graphics that keep collectors coming back season after season. Recently,

In Asia, skincare is a lifestyle, not a routine; it’s enjoyable, not a chore; it’s about targeting specific issues, not general purpose; it’s about prevention, not treatment.

Available at Nordstrom.

For Beloved One For Beloved One was founded by former Taiwanese beauty editor, Margaret Wu. After 20+ years reporting about beauty, she created a line that combined her intimate knowledge of the industry’s advanced technologies with her intuition about what consumers craved. Her superstar products are definitely the sheet masks. While Wu didn’t originate the concept, she did advance it. She uses a bio-cellulose material that was originally created for medical purposes (artificial skin). So the mask isn’t

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paper, it’s more like a very thin latex that clings very closely to your face. This leaves no air gaps, meaning precious serum is in contact with your face at all times. It’s highly flexible and comfortable, hugging all the contours of your face so you don’t have to lie down; you can walk around and get your chores done while having this treatment. Available at T&T Supermarket. TM

they began incorporating cat motifs into their lipsticks: cat faces in contrasting colours embedded in a lipstick or the lipstick bullet itself shaped like a cat’s head. From the land that brought us Hello Kitty, this has been a runaway winner. Available at select Shoppers Drug Mart.

IOPE This Korean brand is well-known for its use of enriched herbal extracts that nourish the skin. Their Air Cushion compact delivers sheer but buildable colour, in a range of nicely yellow-based, realistic colours. Most people new to the cushion technology are tempted to wash the sponge that comes with the compact. Don’t! This specially-designed sponge isn’t like any other you tried before. It’s anti-microbial and has a special coating to prevent any absorption of the product. To apply, tap the sponge over the cushion to transfer the product, then tap the cushion onto your face. Don’t rub the sponge over your face; you’ll only end up smearing the makeup around. Instead, tap and bounce the sponge until the makeup is evenly distributed. Available at Aritaum. 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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DARPAN FEATURE

Dr. Don Nixdorf, chiropractor

ARE YOU Wearing THE

Right

Shoe By Petrina D’Souza

Wearing high heels can lead to health issues 82

later on in life. SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 2016 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

igh heels are fashionable; they are said to boost self confidence and make you feel like you can conquer the world. But not many are aware that a pair of high heels come with health issues as well. “Women’s shoes, especially heel height, have always been for appearance. What is ignored or forgotten is the effect [it has] on multiple joints, ranging from the toes to the lower spine,” says

Dr. Don Nixdorf, a well-known chiropractor from Richmond. Further elaborating his statement, he points out to a research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham that reported on the increase of ankle fracture from high heels. The findings, published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Injuries, shows that high-heeledshoe-related injuries doubled between 2002 and 2012. To start with, physical issues of high heels are more commonly associated with toes and low back conditions. “The high heel style usually includes a narrowing of the front of the footwear. The elevation of the heel pushes more weight bearing onto the joints of the toes, at the same time forcing the first toe (great toe) inwards,” explains Dr. Nixdorf about the impact of heels on toes. Usually, low back problems are a result of sporting high heels. It is

believed that 55 per cent of women experience spine conditions, particularly low back, more frequently than men. “While high heels are not the sole reason for women’s low back pain, it is a common report from most patients,” adds Dr. Nixdorf. Low back conditions, the chiropractor educates, include the change of weight bearing, primarily affecting the components of joints including the fourth and fifth (L4, L5) lumbar and

Compiled by The Spine Center Altamonte

sacrum. “These joints include the disc, facets and the associated nerve tissue passing through those spaces. Muscles, tendons and ligaments associated with these joints will also be under greater stress in response to the increase of what is referred to as the sacral base angle.” In simpler terms: wearing high heels can result in the dramatic change of the position of weight bearing bone joints. “The prolonged impact on joints can initiate gradual cartilage change from altered weight bearing in knees of some individuals,” says Dr. Nixdorf, warning that recovery of injuries happened at work, sport or through accidents and falls can be aggravated with high heels. Discontinuing the daily use of heeled shoes can be a great step to avoid these health conditions. In fact, younger women should refrain from wearing heels to avoid malformation of the big toe. “Early use in youth may impact the ossification or growth areas with changes referred to as hallux valgus deformity (bunion),” points out Dr. Nixdorf, warning against the use of point-toe heels. “Regular use of high heel with point toes under the age of 20 may impact the position of toes (hallux valgus) later on.” Dr. Nixdorf suggests avoiding associated footwear and seeking advice from an expert if you face low back issues. “Women should consider consultation with a podiatrist if specific foot/toe problems arise, and a chiropractic doctor if the lower back pain, including the common symptoms in muscle, motion and leg, occurs.” He also advices on the selection of footwear: comfort of foot, ankle, knee, hip and lower spine should all be thought about and intuitively felt during selection and fitting. “Being aware of the basic impact on spine and associated joints from elevating the heel and placing weight on the toes is an important addition to shoe selection.”

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Make an elegant entrance in striking hues and show-stopping silhouettes with BCBG Max Azria’s 2016 Pre-Fall collection. As we say good bye to the summer heat and get ready for fall fashion, we peeped into the brand’s exquisite runway collection for the chicest trends to keep you looking fabulous throughout the season.

FA L L I N LOV E WITH FA S H I O N By KANIKA SASAN

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For important and special occasions, a long stunning high low dress makes for a perfect evening wear. The detailing of the side straps amps up the overall look and transforms the outfit into something chic and fashionable.

Models: Keerit Dhaliwal Tanvir Gill Wardrobe: BCBG Max Azria Make-up/Hair: Amna Make-up Artist Photos: Varsola Visuals

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For those subtle evenings where you want to dress up a little, a crop top and pencil skirt just does the work. Adding a chunky piece of jewellery to your ensemble will take your fall fashion to a new level.

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Have some fun and get out of your comfort zone a little. Experiment with your style and pull off something nonconventional, sexy and fun. This exquisite blue dress with long sleeves, high button collar, and tassel all around will make you feel and look fashionable and right out of the runway.

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There is nothing more exciting and comfy to slip on than a romper. Since we are still transitioning into the season of fall, a cute little romper with bell sleeves is a perfect piece you can experiment with.

We all need that basic and effortless look to count on for the busy days. This stunning orange top can be paired with jeans, skirts, leggings or trousers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; your ideal go-to look when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re seeking something comfortable yet stylish to wear.

A great tailored leather jacket, perfectly fitted to show off feminine curves, is a classic fall investment. This stunning jacket with a cape is sure to make a statement and make you look TM SEPTEMBER/stunning OCTOBER for 2016any occasion. 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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Since itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fall, you do not have to limit yourself to one or two pieces. Layer up, throw in a fur vest and play it up in style. Add a pair of your favourite boots and you are ready for your day.

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A basic black suede dress is a must-have for the season. It is not only versatile and long lasting, but can be worn in different ways â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as a one piece or with a jacket.

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DARPAN STYLE

Go big and be yourself this season…

Authenticity this

Autumn Photos : iStock, DocMartens, David Webb jewellery, Pictures for representation only

By Joseph A. Federico

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he fall, beautiful fall. The world around you is getting a little cooler. Shorts, tank tops and surf boards are put away for the season, and you are preparing for the coming of a new you. A more authentic you, if you will. Remember the 1990s? Just thinking of that decade should bring back such killer memories; how about the Spice Girls? Jelly pens? Oh, but what about the fashion? Break out the Doc Martens and oversized sweaters, because they are coming back in style. The decade that made you feel so alive and so YOU is back. Ladies, as usual, you are up first. Remember those plastic rave dresses? Get ready to sport them again. This time, they are sexier. And well you are older, so it is time to make the younger you jealous. Opaque silvers, oranges and blues are top colours coming

your way. Sport black undergarments underneath this dress, and wear a ballet flat in contrast. Put your hair up in a butterfly clip or two. No, really, do it. If you aren’t feeling up to bearing it all, how about a lingerie dress? Calvin Klein was the king of these dresses back in the day, but Chloe and Parris Gordon of Beaufille are the queen bees now. The dynamic duo’s textiles are flirty and dirty, with a splash of elegance. Okay, think of Courtney Love in all of her music videos. With this garment, pair it up with a darker-coloured biker jacket and chunky,

knee-high boots. You’re ready to paint the town red. On your feet, wear a pair of Doc Martens or a juicy coloured wedge shoe. And on your pretty little face, wear dark and moody makeup. However, please do not overgrow your brow like you did in the 1990s; no one really liked that trend. And last but not least, we discuss jewellery. Funky, coloured chokers will don your ladylike necks, and tie dyed chunky rings will be sported on your fingers. Try a piece from David Webb; this brand implements gold hues and naturallooking stones into its jewellery-making. Really true perfection, if you ask me. Boys, you are next. Be prepared to step through the looking glass now. Kurt Cobain will have nothing on you. On the weekends, try out a fitted pair of overalls. Instead of a screen printed undershirt, wear a solid colour shirt – black or white makes a bolder statement. On your feet, an un-socked boat shoe or lower shoe will do just fine. If you get too chilly, invest in a funky jacket by Canada’s own Klaxon Howl. This men’s brand is known for animalistic outerwear. A camouflage or cheetah print jacket will be highly sought after. Are you ready to take the 1990s plunge? Or, you could start off small and tamer, by buying a flannel shirt. Remember those – probably when you were in middle or high school – am I right? Blues, greys and reds will don your muscular body. On the bottom, wear a pair of fitted Tommy Hilfiger jeans; roll the cuffs up a bit if you dare. To really make a statement from the past, grow your locks out a bit, too. Men in the 1990s had lustrous locks, namely in the earlier part of the decade. Try to grow your hair out a few months beforehand, and cut it back to the desired length and style. Look online for some inspiration, or invest in an app where you can play around with augmented reality…they didn’t have that kind of technology back then, just chat rooms in Internet cafes. If you are seeking some cool jewellery, hemp is also back, fellas. Bracelets with beads, chokers with shells, and even rings will hang over your appendages. This will be cool again, I promise. And on your face, a round, small lensed and coloured sunglass will look just right to complete the decade look. Or, if you are still feeling somewhat shy of letting your grungy look go, try a pair of sunglasses by none other than Baume & Mercier. Are you ready to head to the 1990s again? Let me know how you fare in the upcoming months. Now vogue to your closet, and strike a pose to the new, looser you.

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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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DARPAN HEALTH

getting in

touch with your breast health By ashley stephens

ctober is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As the most common cancer among Canadian women, it’s hard not to know someone who hasn’t been affected by breast cancer. In 2015, one in four cancer diagnoses were breast cancer. The same year saw an estimate of 25,000 women in Canada being diagnosed with breast cancer, averaging 68 new cases diagnosed daily. 5,000 women are estimated to die each year as a result of their diagnosis, with breast cancer accounting for 14 per cent of all cancer-related deaths – terrifying statistics for over half of the Canadian population who may be at risk. While rates of breast cancer deaths have declined in every age group since the 1980’s, down 44 per cent as a whole since the mortality rate peaked in 1986, the statistics are still unnerving despite the increased education and awareness, early detection, and advanced methods of treatment. As research continues, women now know more – and want to know more – about the risks of developing breast cancer and what can be done to aid in the prevention of the deadly disease. Breast cancer is a disease that occurs when cancerous cells form in the tissue of

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Reducing the Risks of Breast Cancer Breast cancer is a disease that occurs when cancerous cells form in the tissue of the breast. While not always the first symptom, the most noticeable one is often an irregular lump felt in the breast.

the breast. It is an uncontrolled growth of breast cells that continue to grow and can invade surrounding healthy tissues. While not always the first symptom, the most noticeable one is often an irregular lump felt in the breast. With one in nine Canadian women expected to develop breast cancer in her lifetime, it’s hard not to wonder what can be done to reduce a women’s risk. While research can’t say for sure what causes breast cancer, they do know that certain factors – some controllable, others unavoidable – will increase or decrease the risk of a positive diagnosis. TM

WHO IS AT RISK? Gender “If you’re a woman, you’re at risk of developing breast cancer,” says Janette Sam, screening operations director of the Screening Mammography Program at the BC Cancer Agency. Approximately 99 per cent of all breast cancers occur in females. Only 220 males were estimated to be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, making gender one of the biggest risk factors for developing the disease.

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DARPAN HEALTH Just because you have a normal mammogram doesn’t mean you’ve got a clean bill of health for the rest of your life. Cancer can develop over time and that’s why we like you to come in regularly for your mammograms to get checked,” says Janette Sam, screening operations director, Screening Mammography Program at the BC Cancer Agency.

Age As we age, our risk for developing breast cancer increases. According to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, it was estimated that 82 per cent of new breast cancer cases will occur in women over the age of 50 in 2015. “In B.C., we recommend that women can start screening when they are 40 years old but by the time they reach 50 they should be coming in and having regular screening mammograms,” suggests Sam. Noteworthy is that women under the age of 50 are not targeted for breast cancer screenings due to a lower prevalence, however, the cancer is often more aggressive and advances quicker when diagnosed in younger women.

Family history Having a close relative with breast cancer, whether that be a mother, sister or daughter, almost doubles a woman’s risk of a positive diagnosis. “If you do have a family history,” says Sam, “that puts you at a higher risk and so we recommend that you come in [for screenings] annually at the age of 40.” Other factors that increase one’s risk include dense breasts, early menstruation (before age 12), late menopause (after age 55), and having a personal history of breast cancer. Having a baby after 30 or not having one at all, genetics, and ethnicity have also been found to play a role in the risk of developing breast cancer. While these factors all may play a role in your risk of developing the disease, only 5-10 per cent of breast cancers have a genetic

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Reduce alcohol consumption While it doesn’t come without controversy, Sam’s third suggestion is to not only limit alcohol but to eliminate it. “We do know that with reducing your risk of breast cancer, less alcohol is better but studies actually show that no alcohol is best as far as if you’re concerned about getting breast cancer,” she says.

Breastfeeding cause. Lifestyle factors, or those that can be controlled, account for up to 42 per cent of cases.

If possible, several months of breastfeeding can help reduce a mother’s risk of developing breast cancer. While not applicable to all those who may be at risk, it brings benefits beyond nourishing a baby.

TO REDUCE RISK

Hormone therapy

Many factors may be out of our control but, fortunately, certain risks are at the mercy of our choices and can be reduced based on lifestyle changes.

If hormone therapy is prescribed, it’s a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly as its use has been linked to a higher risk of a breast cancer diagnosis. “It’s really important to talk to your doctor about whether it has benefits for you,” cautions Sam. “Sometimes you just have to balance whether the benefits you’re going to get from hormone therapy will be greater than the risks of taking it.” Other modifiable factors that can increase one’s risk of breast cancer include smoking, a poor diet, and exposure to chemicals. By understanding how these factors may play a role in your life and evaluating your lifestyle in regards to the known risk factors, certain behaviours may be modified in attempt to prevent or decrease your risk of breast cancer.

Healthy weight Those who maintain a healthy weight, especially after menopause, have a lower risk of a breast cancer diagnosis than those who are overweight or obese, says Sam.

Exercise “It’s important to maintain an active lifestyle,” Sam says. “We know that physical fitness is really good for your entire body including reducing your risk of getting breast cancer.” TM

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It is important to note that being at risk for breast cancer and identifying with more than one risk does not mean that you will develop the disease. Unfortunately, the same can be said for those without many risk factors; a decrease risk does not mean that you will undoubtedly escape cancer’s stranglehold. “75 per cent of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no identifiable risk factors,” Sam says, adding, “There are a lot of women out there who say I do take good care of myself, I do exercise, I do eat well, I can’t understand why I should be at risk for breast cancer. The unfortunate truth is that a good percentage of the women who do get diagnosed have no identifiable risk factors.” So while breast cancer can’t be predicted or prevented, early detection is essential to controlling and combatting the disease. “One misconception that we get from people is that they think that having mammograms is preventative. Another misconception is they think if they get a mammogram and everything is normal, they’re good to go forever and that’s not true either,” explains Sam. “Mammograms are not preventative; they’re just a way of checking for those early changes so that we can find problems when they are small and deal with them easier and requiring less surgery and treatment. Just because you have a normal mammogram doesn’t mean you’ve got a clean bill of health for the rest of your life. Cancer can develop over time and that’s why we like you to come in regularly for your mammograms to get checked.” “There’s no perfect test out there,” admits Sam. “So even if you have a negative mammogram or ultrasound, if you notice any changes in your breast, you should go in and see your doctor right away and allow them to do further testing.” Certain risks will exist despite any measures taken to avoid and protect against breast cancer but understanding your body and what it means to be healthy – both overall and when it comes to your breasts – can help prevent the disease from becoming deadly. Being aware and in tune with your breast health may be the best defence for beating breast cancer. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ashley Stephens Ashley Stephens is administrative by day and creative by night. She loves to write, paint and force her husband to go to the gym on a regular basis. Ashley is a certified Personal Training Specialist, who aims to inspire healthy living for all.

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Few tips for when the weather goes bad.

Dress the part There is nothing more miserable than getting soaked with sweat in chilly temperatures, which will make you cold right down the bone – and maybe even sick. Make sure that you wear a base layer that will wick moisture away from your body, such as wool, silk, or synthetic blends. And a heavier outer layer might be essential too, depending on the temperature. Don’t forget your extremities. Exercise pulls the blood towards your core, so be sure to insulate your feet, hands, and head. Thick socks, mittens or gloves, a knit cap, and perhaps even heat packs will all save you from a lot of discomfort, and maybe even worse.

By Nick Hilden

Stay fit come

rain shine or

t’s always sad to see it go, but the season of sun is on its way out and fall and winter are bringing their wetter, colder, less outdoor-inspiring weather. For many people, this means the end to their fitness routine, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Just because heading outdoors for exercise doesn’t seem like the most exciting thing in the world doesn’t mean that you can’t keep up your fitness in comfort and safety.

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Illuminate With the changing seasons comes less and less daylight. Be sure to keep safe when running in dim light or darkness by wearing reflective clothing and lighting.

Consider your shoes Wet and icy surfaces can make for an easy slip. Remember to wear shoes that offer plenty of traction so that you can avoid ending up on the ground.

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It’s just as important to stay hydrated in cold weather as it is in hot, but many people forget about it because it’s harder to notice the effects of dehydration when it’s chilly. Remember that the winter wind can dry you right out.

Wear your sunscreen That’s right – sunscreen can be important even after summer is behind us. This is especially true if you’ll be outdoors in the snow. So put on some moderate SPF sunscreen to ward off burns and skin disease.

Go out in bursts

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When the weather is good you might be used to heading outside for extended workout sessions, but when it gets cold and wet, consider taking short breaks during which you head back indoors to warm up and dry off.

Know your limits You might think the temperature looks fine on the thermometer, but don’t forget that the wind-chill can make the actual temperature significantly lower. And unless you have the proper gear, rain and snow can be downright dangerous and uncomfortable. Know when the conditions are too bad for you to head outdoors safely.

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Maybe the solution is to cut off your outdoor workouts altogether and bring things inside. For some people that means joining a gym, but you can get a great workout at home with the right gear and equipment. Get yourself something that can provide a solid cardio routine – a jump rope makes for a great affordable option, or you can go big with a treadmill or elliptical. Bolster that with dumbbells, resistance bands, a pullup bar, and whatever else you need to get a good burn.

Stay nutritious Finally, bad weather makes it easy to stay inside, do nothing, and eat anything and everything, but remember to keep up healthy eating habits. Offset any reduced physical activity with a nutritious diet, and you won’t come into spring with a panic to get your beach bod back.

Nick Hilden Native to the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, Nick Hildenʼs career has spanned fiction, 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 HOME

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Your Home in

Lights

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ights. You don’t notice them until you do.The right fixture hung at the proper height, pointed in a specific direction with an appropriate wattage can make all the difference around your home. Lighting can change the mood of a room. It can provide a sense of comfort or security. It can help ease your ability to perform tasks. Before you flip the switch, take into account the many ways the right light can light up your life. Just as you would with most other elements of your home,

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function will be the guiding factor in your design decisions. “You can certainly achieve both [function and design] but you have to keep function in mind most importantly,” advises Dave Leeming of Light the Store. Ask yourself what activities occur in the room before you start sorting through lighting styles. The lighting in each room will reflect what tasks happen in each space and need to be addressed individually. “You can easily use the same kind of lighting in all

the bedrooms or use the same kind of lighting in all the bathrooms,” Leeming says. “For bathrooms, though, you might want to have something different for a powder room versus a master bathroom. Or in bedrooms, you might want to have a larger fixture for a master bedroom versus in a kids’ room.”

Living Room Ensure all four corners of the room are lit. Combine lights that shine both up and down with a mix of table lamps and floor lamps. Provide lamps for each reading spot.

Dining Room Use indirect lighting around the room with an overhead light directly above the table to highlight the main space where people are likely to gather and eat.

Kitchen Focus on overhead lighting to brighten up a cooking space and consider adding under-

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cabinet lighting to illuminate countertops and workspaces. “We generally recommend that you put your recessed lighting right over the edge of your counters,” says Leeming, adding that one common mistake often seen is recessed lighting scattered around the centre of the room when it really should be right over the task areas.

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Bedroom Lamps or sconces should be placed by the bed but not aimed directly at it. Other overhead fixtures should be pointed away from the bed and used to illuminate a dressing area.

Bathroom Find an overhead light that will fill the room with

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For the dining room, use indirect lighting around the room with an overhead light directly above the table to highlight the main space where people are likely to gather and eat. light while using lights or sconces alongside the mirror. Depending on size, you may need a light directly over the shower. Once you know what lighting your room will need, ask yourself several other questions before the shopping begins. What mood do you hope to create? With careful consideration, lighting can take

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a room from sterile to cozy or uninviting to welcoming. Include a low-wattage lamp that gives off the allure of candlelight in your bedroom. A dining room may benefit from indirect lighting so a subtle glow keeps guests relaxed after a big meal. Do you have artwork or a feature wall that you wish to highlight? If you’ve invested in any decorative elements that you want to emphasize, consider treating them independent of the main lighting in a room to ensure they are given the illumination they deserve. Is your décor more contemporary? Keep the number of lamps to a minimum and consider more built-in lighting instead. Does your décor lean towards traditional? Search for pendant lights, sconces and lamps that suit your style. If you have dark walls or finishes, consider additional lighting as they absorb more light than lighter finishes. While installing a dimmer switch may not seem like an important upgrade, it’s a ‘must-have’ on the lists of many designers. Dimmers offer the opportunity to turn general or task lighting into

ambient lighting making all lights on a dimmer a versatile option no matter the space. Function may come first but style doesn’t have to be ignored. Lights come in an unlimited number of shapes, sizes, and styles and you’re sure to find something unique for your space. Pendant lights have become fully customizable making them an increasingly popular choice when it comes to dramatic, sculptural or unexpected design elements. Try a dark chandelier in place of bedside lamps, vintage lamps hung about kitchen islands or group industrial lighting together above a coffee table. Look for materials that aren’t traditionally associated with lighting such as wood, glass and wrought iron. Try fun fixtures in rooms like a powder room where your style might not shine through otherwise. Don’t be discouraged if your guests don’t comment on any upgrades or improvements; lighting done right is rarely noticeable and that’s a good thing. A properly lit space will leave guests – and the room they’re in – looking their best and feeling comfortable; yet they likely won’t be able to pinpoint why.

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DARPAN Weddings

r o & o N anbir M Q: How did you meet?

Photos: Dream Box Creations

Manbir: Noor and my sister were co-workers and I met her on several occasions at our house and other outdoor gatherings. We both studied at Simon Fraser University and found that we had many mutual friends. The more we hung out, the more we connected and were drawn to each other’s energies.

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Q: What do you love most about one another? Noor: Without a doubt, Manbir and I are really compatible. He truly is a “suitable partner.” I never knew someone who is as kind, patient, responsible, unconditional and generous as he is. No vices, no bad habits; just a deep love for spicy food and rock music. Always so cool and collected, who believes that shouting or blaming will never

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solve problems. My husband is my best friend and my adviser. I’m living the fairy tale life since I married him. Manbir: She is my dream girl who loves to laugh a lot. Her personality is what really attracted me to her. I couldn’t picture my life without her. She is very proactive and organized. She cares for me more than anyone could. In fact, wherever I go, she checks the weather of the place and texts me to be careful when I step out.

Q: Could you share your proposal story? Not much of a proposal story as we knew we were going to get married, and when the time was right we took the step. We did have an engagement party a week before our wedding day where we had

the official ring ceremony in the presence of our family, friends, and near and dear ones.

Q: Describe your wedding day. What was your favourite moment? Noor: We had a beautiful traditional ceremony. We had planned every little detail of the wedding and everything went accordingly, so we had no stress whatsoever. Having all our family and friends come together from around the world to celebrate our wedding was unbelievable. We enjoyed every minute and it was a dream come true. My favourite moment was when I heard that the groom’s side was here and I got very anxious to see my husband-to-be. Manbir: My favourite moment was waiting for her to come down the

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aisle and sit next to me “officially.”

Q: Could you tell us about your reception? Our reception was amazing. When we made our entrance with dhol and a bhangra crew with a musical laser show, it was the most unforgettable feeling. Everything from decoration to the music was perfect.

Q: Can you describe your outfits? Noor: For the wedding I wore a red lehenga with gold embroidery, and Manbir wore a gold sherwani with red details that matched my lehenga. For the reception, I wore a custom-made lehenga of a bright pink skirt and an embroidered yellow blouse. Manbir wore a custom-made black suit and tied a pink turban that matched my lehenga.

Q: What are your goals as a couple?

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We want to continue as best friends and help each other build our careers. We both want to excel in a law career and want to be our own bosses one day.

Q: What are the strengths of your marriage? Our understanding of each other; we have exceptional communication skills and a deep understanding of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. We know what is important to one another. We are a couple who not only loves each other but also helps each other grow day by day. We both love to try new things, especially food!

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Q: If you could provide any advice to other married couples, what would it be? Love can’t be forced and it can’t be fake. Everyone fights but what you take from each make up is the lesson of life. Couples should always try to push each other higher and be there for each other no matter what.

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DARPAN ACTIVITIES

Richmond World Festi val Minoru Park in Richmond is the place to be on September 3. From 11am to 10pm, the Richmond World Festival will celebrate cultural diversity with award-winning music performers like Delhi 2 Dublin, artisanal markets, and food trucks with offerings from all over. There will also be cultural pavilions where you can learn about different heritages! Visit richmondworldfestival.com for the full program itinerary.

FALL FE S TIVALS YOU

MUST SEE Photos: Facebook pages of festivals featured, Andy Chamberlayn, Dan Rickard

By TARANA RANA

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BC Beer Awards & Festi val BC is craft beer haven and we have a festival to prove it! The BC Beer Awards & Festival celebrates the best locallybrewed craft beer and takes place on October 15 from 4 - 9 pm. Basically what happens is breweries from around BC submit their frothy entries to judges who rank them. Festival-goers can sample the very best of craft beers from all across the province. The fun doesn’t stop there – the event also has an after party. For more details and tickets, visit bcbeerawards.com.

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ummer may be slipping away, but there’s still a lot to look forward to. As we head into Fall, Vancouver is abuzz with festivals around just about everything! From international movies to Halloween, there is something for almost everyone this season. Check out some of these fun festivals around the Lower Mainland. Vancouver Halloween Parade While technically not a festival, the third annual Halloween Parade brings enough celebration and flair to count as one! The parade takes place downtown on the 16 of October at 11 am and is the place to be for an unforgettable sight. You should also check out the world’s largest Cosplay stage. Bring the kids, as it’s a family-friendly event!

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Mark your cale ndars! Her e are the top five fall fest ivals in Vancouve r yo u sh ould check ou t.

Coho Festi val Celebrate the return of the Coho Salmon on September 11 at Ambleside Park in West Vancouver! Snack on some grilled salmon from the barbeque as you explore the First Nation’s Village, visual art exhibitions, and live entertainment. The highlight of the festival is tracing the journey of the salmon, and keen walkers can do the 4.5 km ‘Coho Walk’. Visit the events page on vancouversnorthshore. com for more details.

Vancouver I nternational Film Festi val You know it’s Fall when the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) is in town! This annual festival is a great way to check out some thought-provoking films from all across the globe. With more than 300 films from over 70 countries presented, the hardest part is selecting what to see! Check out the program details at viff.org. 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

Enjoy

Waikiki The Boutique Way BY Benjamin Yong

hether it’s artisanal coffee, craft beer or even bespoke clothing, people love their finely tailored products – even when vacationing in a tropical destination like Hawaii. So why not extend that concept to lodging? In recent years, boutique companies such as VIVE Hotel have popped up among the sea of big chain hotels, providing guests an accommodation experience that is a little more uniquely fun and custom than the norm. Opened in 2014, VIVE Hotel Waikiki advertises itself

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as going “far beyond the traditional amenities and services typically offered in a beachside locale.” Centrally situated in southern Oahu, just two blocks from the water and surrounded

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by shops and restaurants, VIVE is easy to spot thanks to its vibrant orange sign above an all-glass facade that allow passersby to peer into the trendy interior. In true boutique fashion, there’s an expansive sitting area beyond the lobby outfitted with an array of colourful and comfy seating options, 24/7 hot coffee and fruit-infused water, and a small well-stocked library. One of the hotel’s premier amenities is a daily complimentary breakfast from 8 to 9:30 a.m. serving different breads, pastries, juice, and best of all, some of the freshest fruits you will ever taste. There are various types of rooms, all located on floors seven through 22 and some featuring

themes like the Library Suite or the Musician Suite. We were treated to a stay in a Lifestyle Junior Suite that includes a king size bed, desk, separate seating area with a table, and large bathroom containing a seriously oversized rainfall shower. Our windows afforded a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean, while other suites in the building also face either the mountains or the iconic Diamond Head State Monument. All rooms come with plush robes, Wi-Fi, mini fridges, air conditioners, and blessedly, no resort fee to bloat up the price. Valet parking is $25 a night, although there is free street parking if you look hard enough.

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session, first explaining safety and basics on land like how to carry the board, paddle, and stand before hitting the water. Once out there, instructors take the time training each student until they successfully catch some waves.

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Waikiki Brewing Company is proof of the rapid expansion of the craft beer scene across the globe. Brewmaster Joe Lorenzen co-owns the fullservice outdoor brewpub that launched last year, which is right next door to burger joint Cheeseburger Waikiki where Lorenzen formerly served as general manager. There are almost 10 draught beers on the menu, many rotating, and thirsty patrons can order either $2 samplers or $6.50 glasses. A good way to go is

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A slightly older establishment that has recently been renovated by designer Anthony Laurino, Shoreline Hotel Waikiki is stationed nearly as close to the beach and is the sister property to Coconut Waikiki Hotel. The rooms are simple and clean, some featuring small balconies, and overlook either the city or part of the ocean. Coffee, tea and water are free in the lobby, as are beach towel rentals and same-day luggage storage.

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create your own flight (the Aloha Spirit Blonde Ale and Hana Hou Hefe were two favourites), complemented by a craft beer cocktail (try the Macadamia Brown, $8). Balance your liquid meal with a healthy Tomato, Avocado and Watermelon Salad ($11).

Dine It’s quite possible no restaurant in town gives a better view of Waikiki Beach than the patio at the famous award-winning Tiki’s Grill & Bar. On the second level of the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel, the eatery specializes in American fare with a Pacific Rim twist. Palm wood flooring, torches, fishnets, hand-carved tiki masks, and a 30-foot manmade volcano remind customers of where they are, while the friendly staff is ready to answer any questions about the food or the island. Before your meal, sip a cocktail – I suggest the signature 1944 Mai Tai for $11, or add $4 and have it poured in a souvenir tiki glass to take home. As a starter, go for the tender Calamari Katsu ($16) served steak strip style and panfried. Follow with the melt-in-your-mouth Miso Butterfish ($29) and finish strong by

The 42-acre Honolulu Zoo, split into Tropical Rainforests, Pacific Islands, and African Savanna zones, is home to 64 reptile, 38 mammal and 160 bird species. Highlights include pink flamingos, African giraffes and lions, Indian elephants, Sumatran tigers, and the list goes on.

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getting the decadent coconut-crĂ¨me-infused 20-layer Haupia Crepe Cake ($10), a personal creation of five-year executive chef Ronnie Nasuti.

PhotoS: ISTOCK, Benjamin Yong, Tiki's Grill & Bar, VIVE Hotel Waikiki

Visit Fish and birds arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the only animals found in Hawaii. The 42-acre Honolulu Zoo, split into Tropical Rainforests, Pacific Islands, and African Savanna zones, is home to 64 reptile, 38 mammal and 160 bird species. Highlights include pink flamingos, African giraffes and lions, Indian elephants, Sumatran tigers, and the list goes on. Aim to spend at least two to three hours on the expansive grounds, and make sure to pick up a map at the entrance to ensure you make it to all the sections. Admission is $14 for adults and $6 for children aged three to 12.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Benjamin Yong Benjamin Yong is a Vancouver-based journalist often found driving, writing and/or eating, in no particular order.

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DARPAN TECH

Tile Bluetooth tracker This tiny square tracker tag can go almost anywhere – think on the same ring as your car keys. You can also tuck it discreetly inside, say a wallet or stick one on a laptop or tablet you’re always leaving behind somewhere. Through the companion Apple or Android app, users can “call” their tag(s) that will emit a loud melodic sound to aid in locating it. One tile costs about $32, or save 30 per cent by purchasing a set of four. Available at thetileapp.com.

Ricoh Theta S 360-degree camera

TOP

AUTO

GADGETS By Benjamin Yong

The Ricoh Theta S takes action cams to the next level with 360-degree video capture in high definition. Affix this to the roof or trunk of your car using any tripod mount attachment kit and record up to 65 minutes of stunning scenery during a road trip or racing action at the track. Features an F2.0 lens, 30 framesper-second shooting, and eight gigabytes of onboard memory. The Theta smartphone app has a live view mode so you can see what the camera sees. Available for $449.99 at theta360.com.

f you’ve recently sat in a vehicle made in the last few years, you’ve probably noticed how computerized and connected they’ve become. Many models now offer functions like GPS-based emergency calling or smartphone connectivity so that you perform a variety of electronically-assisted tasks. Whether your car can do these things or not, third party manufacturers are coming out with their own gadgets that rival original equipment manufacturer (OEM) automotive high-tech equipment – here are six of DARPAN’s favourites.

Koolatron P-27 Voyager cooler Never be on a road trip without a cold drink close at hand ever again. The Koolatron P-27 plugs right into the cabin 12-volt adapter and draws less electricity than the parking lights, and is not affected by movement from driving. Conveniently, flipping a switch on the cord turns the Voyager into a food warmer so you can keep a meal at the perfect temperature while en route to your next destination. No ice is required, and the cooler can fit up to 48 soda cans. Available for $202.49 at koolatrononline.stores.yahoo.net.

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GEKO Smart Whistle Sometimes, dangerous situations can arise on the road. Fortunately, help is easily at hand now that the GEKO Smart Whistle has just been released. Simply download and install the proprietary app, pair your whistle and then select the contacts you wish to be notified in case of emergencies. After that, blowing on the mouthpiece or holding the top button for two seconds will call (Android only), text and email the selected recipients, delivering a message notifying them of your current location. Available for $64.85 at mygekogear.com.

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Pioneer AppRadio 4 No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatibility in your vehicle? That’s not a problem with Pioneer’s AppRadio 4 infotainment system designed for iPhones and Google-powered devices. Fitting well into double-din dash spaces, the 6.2-inch capacitive touchscreen allows access to your smartphone calendar, music library, maps, text messages and more once you connect everything up with a dedicated cable (sold separately). It also supports Siri Eyes Free voice commands. Available for $819.99 at pioneerelectronics.ca.

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PHOTOS: COURTESY OF BRANDS FEATURED

Forrader C3 wireless car charger If you have a fancy new Qi-standard wireless charging enabled smartphone – like select Nexus, LG, HTC, Motorola and Nokia models – the Forrader C3 will allow you to top up the charge by just inserting it into the slot located at the top of the unit. Supporting a maximum mobile device screen size of 5.3 inches, the Forrader fits conveniently into conventional vehicle cup holders and is powered via a 12-volt adapter. Available for $65.99 at iforrader.com.

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BUSINESS PROFILE

oe Khan always had a passion for cars since a young age. The General Manager

at OpenRoad Infiniti Langley loved talking about cars with people. “Growing up, I wanted to be in the automotive industry,” shares Khan, who has been a part of the Langley branch since

past nine months. Prior to this, he worked as a Sales Manager for eight years at OpenRoad Honda where he was ranked top six out of 308 managers in the country. He also received the Grand Master Sales Manager Award. OpenRoad

Infiniti

opened

its

doors

July 27, 2012, to serve the Fraser Valley communities of Langley, Surrey, Aldergrove, Abbotsford, White Rock, and beyond. The Langley branch has quickly earned a reputation

preferred

Infiniti

test

drive

facility. “We have seen a lot of success since the store has opened,” adds Khan. Khan’s

association

with

Open-Road Auto

Group – the number one automotive retail group by sales volume in British Columbia – goes back about 15 plus years. “I started off as a salesperson at one of our OpenRoad stores in 2000, about 16 years ago,” he reveals. The job, Khan recalls, was a “natural fit.” “I was in sales; I had a passion for cars and wanted to get into the car industry.”

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“OpenRoad provides a client experience. We have beautiful showrooms, comfortable furniture, and a selection of beverages. The customer experience isn’t simply about buying or visiting the dealerships,” says Moe Khan.

Talking about his vast expe-

reputation

industry, Khan points out that

consecutive Best Employer in

the

has

Canada (2012-2016) and Best

really changed over the years.

Managed Company (2012-2015)

“Now

and

awards, as well as the presti-

Internet, people have informa-

gious CADA Innovator of the

tion

Year Laureate (2012) award.

automotive with

industry

technology

about

cars.

Customers

organization

people-first

with

come into the showrooms know-

Coming back to cars, an excit-

ing what to purchase; they do

ed Khan discloses interesting

all their research online. Back

details about two new models

then, customers went to four

that will be part of OpenRoad

to five dealerships before they

Infiniti soon. The 2017 Infiniti

could make a decision on the

QX30 and 2017 Infiniti Q60 will

car they wanted to buy,” he

be on display at the showroom

explains, encouraging consum-

in September. “We are very

ers to do their research before

excited about both these cars,”

going to a dealership.

expresses

Khan,

Moe Khan

General Manager OpenRoad Infiniti Langley

highlighting

At OpenRoad Infiniti, customer

some features of Q60. “The Q60

care and a satisfied client-buying

will be replacing the old G37

experience is guaranteed. “We

which was a very popular model

pride ourselves in having the

in the Infiniti line up that we had.

best automotive professionals

It’s redesigned, and the Q60 will

don’t follow the maintenance

deals. OpenRoad also has a Club

in BC to help you with your

be available in three different

schedule. Instead, they take the

OpenRoad loyalty program that

car

ownership

engines – two litre engine and

vehicle to their own independent

awards

experience,” states Khan. Not

three litre engine with 300 and

mechanic while it is still on war-

points each time they service their

just the Langley branch, but

400 horsepower. So the Q60

ranty and that can really have

vehicle. Points can be used towards

the OpenRoad Auto Group as

will be the most powerful car we

negative affect on the longevity

future vehicle purchases within

have in the line-up.”

of the vehicle.”

the OpenRoad group. Members

buying

and

a whole aims at ensuring that

Photo: Amrit Photography PHOTOS: VARSOLA VISUALS

earned

rience in cars and the auto

members

each customer leaves with a

A brand new car, however,

great car deal and experience.

comes with a lot of responsibili-

experience, consult Moe Khan

“OpenRoad provides a client

ties – maintenance being one of

today

promotions.

experience,”

Khan,

them. One of the biggest mis-

on a wide variety of cars and

“We have beautiful showrooms,

takes car owners do, says Khan,

comfortable

is not following the maintenance

The

schedule. “When you buy a new

customer experience isn’t simply

car, it is very important to follow

about

the maintenance schedule for

selection

proclaims furniture,

buying

and

beverages. or

visiting

the

dealerships.”

the long life of your car,” asserts

It doesn’t come as a surprise

the car expert. “A lot of times,

then that the auto group has

consumers take shortcuts and

avoid to

a get

bad

car-buying

expert

advice

with

reward

also receive exclusive invitations guest

events

and

special

T: 604-227-3881 moe.khan@openroadinfiniti.ca

www.openroadinfiniti.ca

DARPAN

5995 Collection Drive Langley BC

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BY Benjamin Yong

ACURA TLX

SOME SPORT SOME LUXURY T

Debuting in 2015, the sports sedan with pretensions to luxury, or vice versa, is now a sophomore and remains a viable option for buyers looking to get a little more for their money in this segment than they might from a BMW 3 Series or Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

he mid-size TLX is the “meat” in Acura’s sedan lineup, sandwiched in-between the compact entry-level ILX and RLX flagship. Debuting in 2015, the sports sedan with pretensions to luxury, or vice versa, is now a sophomore and remains a viable option for buyers looking to get a little more for their money in this segment than they might from a BMW 3 Series or Mercedes-Benz C-Cass. The TLX is pulling double duty, filling the shoes of both the former TSX and TL after Acura decided to trim some of the fat from its four door offerings. In

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terms of appearance, the vehicle looks more like a shrunken-down TL, measuring nearly 100 millimetres shorter in comparison, than an evolution of the TSX. Although defined bodylines and an athletic profile are present, features such as the now omnipresent Jewel EYE LED headlights give the car an undeniable sophisticated, grown up air. While perhaps not on the same level as the Germans, Acuras have always had decentlyplush interiors and the TLX carries on the torch using alloy and wood accents throughout the cabin and a one-piece soft-touch

Some family secrets are worth talking about. Ferry Porsche had a fundamental belief that performance could best be achieved through efficiency. It’s a belief that remains at the core of every car we build, and every technology we develop. More power, with less weight, improved performance and a more dynamic driving experience, with lower emissions and better fuel economy. With new technologies such as Direct Fuel Injection (DFI), the Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) gearbox, the fuelsaving auto start/stop function and parallel full hybrid -- getting more from less just runs in the family.

The Porsche family. From $52,700.* Ask about our attractive Porsche Financial Services Lease and Finance options today.

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DARPAN AutoREVIEW In keeping with industry trends, the company has been moving in the direction of providing a variety of safety and convenience technologies such as Siri Eyes Free, which lets drivers execute smartphone functions through the infotainment system.

Photos: Benjamin Yong, ACURA

Highlights

MSRP: $47,990 Motor: 3.5-litre V6 Horsepower: 290 @ 6,200 rpm Torque (lb-ft): 267 @ 4,550 rpm Gearbox: Nine-speed automatic transmission Layout: Front engine, all-wheel drive Fuel economy: 11.5 L/100 km mixed city/highway (observed)

dash cover. In keeping with industry trends, the company has been moving in the direction of providing a variety of safety and convenience technologies such as Siri Eyes Free, which lets drivers execute smartphone functions through the infotainment system. One area they are still lagging behind in is navigation, particularly when you consider how other manufacturers, including Ford with SYNC 3, have leapt ahead. The optional GPS, controlled via a combination of buttons and the seven-inch On-Demand Multi-Use Display touchscreen, is slow to respond and not intuitive to input addresses. When you approach the vehicle, it detects the key fob and puddle lights illuminate the ground in a subtle manner and without any garish logos. This is something not truly appreciated until you’re fumbling for your keys in a dark parking lot. Two powertrains are available depending on the trim level – there is a 2.4 litre four-cylinder motor that makes 206 horsepower

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and 182 lb-ft of torque, or a 3.5-litre V6 putting out 290 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque in my SH-AWD Elite press car. The latter is an improvement of 10 hp and 13 lb-ft over the TL’s 3.5-litre engine. While the V6, mated to a nine-speed automatic, feels buttery smooth, don’t expect to burn up the tarmac when you put your foot down. The Integrated Dynamic System

has four settings (ECON, Normal, Sport and Sport+) to tailor the throttle and shift behaviour according to user preferences, and the Sport mode does make performance feel a little livelier. The base 2016 Acura TLX starts at $35,490, and the fully loaded all-wheel drive Elite model comes with a price tag of $47,990.

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BY Benjamin Yong

BMW M2 Return to true form

M2 has been called a lot of things: heir to the 1M Coupe; the first real-deal M car in many years; a true driver’s car. After spending a week in one, I can confirm every description is accurate.

ince the high performance variant of the 2-Series, the M2, was confirmed to be entering production, it has been called a lot of things: heir to the 1M Coupe; the first real-deal M car in many years; a true driver’s car. After spending a week in one, I can confirm every description is accurate. The M235i released earlier was a preview of sorts to what the M2 might eventually resemble, but the latter is much more aggressive and there should be no event where the two might ever be confused for one another. In fact, it‘s closer to being a baby M4 with a very similar front fascia featuring

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the bigger sculpted front air intakes and a sleeker grille. Other differences include wider, flared wheel arches and a redesigned rear bumper cover housing a built-in blacked-out lower rear diffuser and integrated quad tailpipes. The wheels also get an upgrade in a major way – they’re forged with a black chrome finish, measuring 19-inches in diameter and nine inches width up front and an impressive 10 inches out back. The interior is about the same you’d find in any other M vehicle, albeit a little more scaled back in accordance with the model’s

COMMAND PERFORMANCE. The 2016 BMW 3 Series.

Unmistakable design elements make the BMW 3 Series the sportiest vehicle in its class. With a contemporary interpretation of the classic sedan proportions, the vehicle upholds the design tradition of the BMW brand: long hood, short overhangs, long wheelbase and set-back passenger compartment. Rest assured, the best-selling BMW Series of all time continues to lead the way within its segment.

Lease or finance from

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Langley Auto Collection  Greater Vancouver’s Luxury Auto Mall

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DARPAN AutoREVIEW The 365-horsepower M TwinPower bi-turbo V6 roars to life sending a fierce cackle surging through the sport exhaust. The best way to articulate in one syllable how the M2 feels behind the wheel is raw.

Highlights

MSRP: $64,900 Motor: 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 Horsepower: 365 @ 6,500 rpm Torque (lb-ft): 343 @ 1,400 rpm Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic transmission Layout: Front engine, rear-wheel drive Fuel economy: 11.5 L/100 km mixed city/highway (observed)

lower position in the pecking order. For example, there is loads of a carbon-fibre-wrap material covering various trim pieces rather than the real deal you might find in say an M6. No head-up display, either. Once you fire up the motor, you won’t remember, or care, how the inside looks. Side note: a friend of mine who owns an M4 came along for a ride and pointed out a neat detail of how the start button is angled towards the driver, which reinforces the driver-focused nature of the car. The 365-horsepower M TwinPower biturbo V6 roars to life sending a fierce cackle surging through the sport exhaust. The best way to articulate in one syllable how the M2 feels behind the wheel is raw. From the sound it makes throughout the entire rpm range to how the perfect seating position makes you believe you’re in a fighter jet. While a six-speed manual gearbox is standard, my press tester had the sevenspeed M Double Clutch Transmission (DCT). I normally prefer a stick shift, but the DCT and its lightning quick shifts and rev matching was almost enough to make

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me switch sides. Activating Sport mode will cause gears to be held longer when you’re attacking a windy road, not to mention make the engine note even more glorious. BMW has given the M2 gas-saving technology like an Auto Start Stop function, Brake Energy Regeneration and intelligent management of select components allowing them to draw power only when required. No matter how hard I drove the vehicle, it still returned a combined city and highway fuel consumption of 11.5 L/100 km. The 2016 BMW M2 is available in dealerships now, but be aware that when you inquire about purchasing one,

the waitlist may be long.

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2017 BY Benjamin Yong

Chrysler PACIFICA UPPING THE MINIVAN ANTE Inside is where the Pacifica dresses to impress, especially when you load it up with options like eight-passenger seating and the massive tripane panoramic sunroof that stretches all the way back to the third row.

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e-engineered using an all-new platform, Chrysler is calling the 2017 Pacifica “the most technologically advanced minivan.” A bold claim for sure, but the Town and Country replacement does boast over 100 available safety features, a rear seat theatre, hands-free doors and liftgate, and a segment-first hybrid model. Let’s take a closer look at all the changes and innovations. Firstly, the design of the vehicle embodies all of the brand’s current

Highlights MSRP: $43,995 Motor: 3.6-litre V6 Horsepower: 287 @ 6,400 rpm Torque (lb-ft): 262 @ 4,000 rpm Gearbox: Nine-speed automatic Layout: Front engine, front-wheel drive Fuel economy: 13.0 L/100 km mixed city/highway (manufacturer estimate) styling cues like flowy headlights that blend seamlessly into the upper grille housing the prominent winged emblem. Underneath, a pair of foglights resides on either side of a large lower grille. The entire front fascia is a spitting image of the Chrysler 200 mid-size sedan. The elongated nose, stretched out wheelbase, and low stance give the minivan a sporty and uncharacteristically nonminivan-like appearance. Other qualities adding to its sleekness include sliding door rails hidden beneath the rear-quarter side glass and available big 20-inch alloy wheels. Inside is where the Pacifica dresses to impress, especially when you load it up with options like eight-passenger seating and the massive tri-pane panoramic sunroof that stretches all the way back to the third row. Chrysler’s signature Stow

TOYOTA

FINANCING

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;n Go seats have been redesigned and return easier to use than ever. Pressing a button on the B-pillar scoots the front chairs forward, making room for the second row to fold into the floor. When not stowed, an Easy Tilt function provides occupants easy access to the back. Calling shotgun might be a thing of the past after passengers try out the rear entertainment system. Two high-definition 10-inch touch screens and six, 13 or 20 speakers depending on trim level allow for watching movies, playing built-in games or streaming content from the Internet via paired mobile devices. The experience is made even better by the standard active noise cancellation that keeps unwanted road sounds out. The Pacifica utilizes the latest version of the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine, producing 287 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The powertrain is similar to the setup found in other vehicles under the FCA umbrella, and strikes a good balance of performance and fuel economy netting an average of just under 10.0 L/100 km in combined city and highway driving. Later this year, customers can look forward to the arrival of a hybrid variant capable of approximately 50 kilometres electric-only range, running off of a 16-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery. Among the large amount of safety tech found in the vehicle, the Surround-View camera is being debuted, which uses four exterior-mounted cameras to display whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going on outside in 360 degrees. A few other highlights are adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and parallel/perpendicular park assist. The gasoline-powered 2017 Chrysler Pacifica is on sale now, and the hybrid is expected in late 2016.

AVA I L A B L E OR REBATES UPTO $ 6000 !* *on selected models, call for details

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WHERE BUILDERS

BUY DARPAN

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PHOTOS: BENJAMIN YONG

BY Benjamin Yong

Goodbye GLK, hello GLC Mercedes-Benz

GLC 300 4MATIC F

arewell, Mercedes-Benz GLK – there’s a new kid on the block: the bigger, younger, lighter and better-looking GLC 300 4MATIC. This turbocharged crossover hits the ground running poised to compete with current heavy hitters in the segment that include the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Lexus NX, Range Rover Evoque and Lincoln MKC, to name a few. Starting production in October of last year, the GLC has a long way to go before approaching the 600,000-plus units sold reached by the GLK during the last eight years. On appearances alone, however, it should be a doable task given the vehicle’s good looks blending the go-any-

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where ruggedness of the original GL, combined with wind-swept body panels, and the signature sporty look of the German luxury manufacturer’s current lineup. All GLCs benefit from a large two-slatted grille housing a large three-point Mercedes-Benz emblem, sitting above a silver colour off-road-inspired front skid plate garnish. The headlamps house halogen low/high beams with eyebrow-shaped LED daytime running lights that really stand out when you see them on the street, especially amongst the sea of generic looking Daylight Running Lamps (DRL). Up above, there are aluminum roof rails ready to take on additional

DARPAN

The GLC improves upon the outgoing GLK in almost every way – from its appealing brawny appearance to the manner it behaves on the road, whether you’re out for a Sunday drive or a romp down an empty road.

Visit us on the go: OpenRoadInfiniti.ca

ANYTHING BUT COMPROMISING. Starting from

$35,990

THE COUPE IS BACK. Starting from

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OpenRoad Infiniti Langley 5995 Collection Drive (5 minutes from Willowbrook Shopping Centre)

604-532-8888

DARPAN

Moe Khan General Manager

SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 2016

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Selling price for a new 2017 QX30/2017 Q60 2.0t AWD is $33,990/$45,990. Price excludes $1,995 Freight and PDE and all applicable levies and charges. License, registration, insurance, duties and applicable taxes Reare f l e cextra. t i n g TRetailer h e S o uorder/trade t h - A s i a n L may i f e s tbe y l enecessary. Vehicle and wheels may not be exactly as shown. See OpenRoad Infiniti for details.

DARPAN AUTOREVIEW

Motor: 2.0-litre turbocharged four cylinder Horsepower: 241 @ 5,500 rpm Torque (lb-ft): 273 @ 1,300 rpm Gearbox: Nine-speed automatic transmission Layout: Front engine, all-wheel drive Fuel economy: 13.1 L/100 km mixed city/highway (observed)

cargo, and are complemented by matching aluminum running boards below the doors to ease entry and exit. Other standard exterior highlights include 19-inch multi-spoke wheels, lowslung roofline, tailgate spoiler, long wheelbase, and dual tailpipes embedded in the chrome rear bumper diffuser. For people willing to splurge, moving up to the Sport Package provides a whole slew of extras such as an AMG front bumper with more aggressive centre opening and brake cooling ducts, special lightweight AMG twin five-spoke wheels, four-piston big brake system, and AMG rear lower bumper apron. Footprint-wise, the GLC slots in-between the company’s GLA subcompact crossover and bigger brother GLE “Coupe,” the mid-size replacement for the former M-Class. At 1,880 millimetres wide, 4,648 mm long and 1,638 mm high, the size is

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liveable and doesn’t cause too much of a headache when parking, fitting quite well even in a cramped apartment underground parking space. Makes sense when you consider that the GLC is approximately 152 mm shorter and lower and more than 25 mm narrower. As such, cargo area is nearly half that of the bigger SUV, 580 litres vs. 1,000-plus litres. Like most Mercedes-Benz products, the interior is all class. A meaty three-spoke Nappa leather-covered steering wheel awaits the driver, and infotainment is delivered via a seven-inch non-touchscreen controlled by a touchpad on the centre console. Subtle dark wood trim in brushed aluminum accents are strategically scattered throughout the interior. You may notice as you slide onto the seats that the experience is a little different

PHOTOs: Benjamin yong

Highlights

MSRP: $44,950

than when sitting in a more expensive offering higher up in the M-B food chain. The official literature states the upholstery is finished with what they call Artico leather, which is in fact not made from cowhide and is pretty obvious to the eye. While this might be considered less luxurious, it is more environmentally-friendly, a quality increasingly sought-after by modern-day customers. Under the hood lies a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four that generates 241 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, mated to a 9G-Tronic nine-speed transmission. Considering it weighs 1,765 kilograms, the powertrain moves the crossover along sufficiently, although there is a hint of turbo lag when you step on the gas pedal. Still, getting from 0-100 km/h in less than eight seconds is possible when you throw the Dynamic Select mode in Sport. What this does is it tightens up the suspension, quickens the shifts, and increases throttle response to prioritize performance. If saving fuel is the mission, Eco mode activates the engine start/stop function and turns on a new “sailing” feature that effectively lets the vehicle coast by disengaging the clutch whenever the gas pedal is released. By default, Comfort mode is on, optimizing the ride to feel smooth and easy, and is what a majority of drivers will likely find themselves using most of the time. In short, the GLC improves upon the outgoing GLK in almost every way – from its appealing brawny appearance to the manner it behaves on the road, whether you’re out for a Sunday drive or a romp down an empty road.

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CELEBRITYNEWS

IN PICTURES

Lakme Fashion Week Winter Festive 2016 The Lakme Fashion Week Winter Festive 2016 was off to a banging start with celebrity designer Tarun Tahilianiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collection that was a breathtaking aria of drama and sensuality. Many Bollywood stars like Kareena Kapoor Khan, Kriti Sanon, Arjun Kapoor, Dia Mirza, among others, showcased different creations at the event.

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Star Power at Rustom Screening Rustom starring Akshay Kumar, Ileana D’Cruz, Esha Gupta, and Arjan Bajwa has hit the theatres. It is inspired by the infamous K M Nanavati vs State of Maharashtra case which shocked the nation. A day ahead of the movie release, Akshay Kumar hosted a special screening for his friends in the industry. Many Bollywood stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham, among others, came to watch the movie.

IMC Women Entrepreneur Exhibition Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor, along with Australian swimmer and Olympic medallist Stephanie Rice, lent support to a Women Entrepreneur’s Exhibition hosted by the Ladies’ Wing of the Indian Merchant Chamber (IMC).

Will Smith parties with Akshay Kumar Hollywood superstar Will Smith was the special guest at Akshay Kumar’s party celebrating his successful year. Akshay hosted the party for his friends for delivering three back-to-back successful films, including Airlift, Housefull 3 and Rustom, all having crossed the 100-crore mark.

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DARPAN EXCLUSIVE

I don’t really understand the word bold!”

By Shweta Kulkarni

x-adult star, Sunny Leone, perhaps doesn’t need any introduction. After all, she is the most searched celebrity on the Internet. Despite this, there is a certain mystery attached to this gorgeous CanadianIndian actress who has taken the Bollywood industry by storm ever since she set foot in 2010. Undoubtedly, there are plenty of preconceived notions around her, but engage the lovely lady in a candid conversation and you will be surprised to know that behind the poised persona and the sexy image is a down-to-earth girl, who has her own set of insecurities, loves watching Bollywood films, is courageous, and whose key to happiness is her husband (Daniel Weber), her dogs, and her family.

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Excerpts from the interview:

thing new that happens.

It’s been six years since your debut film, Jism 2 , how would you define your journey in Bollywood?

What perception did you have of the Bollywood industry when you started?

It’s been a roller coaster ride. There have been some amazing moments and there has been a lot of learning too.

I had no set perception about the Bollywood film industry. I am only glad that I was given the chance I was waiting for, and I wanted to prove myself. I still feel that way.

What changes have your experienced since the time you first started as a Hindi film actress until now?

Were you a film buff before you joined the film industry?

Everything has changed. Initially, I didn’t know what I was doing or where to start. Today, I have learned so much about the craft and I am still learning every day. With each film that is released to each song or shoot, there is some-

I was, more so when I was younger. But after my parents passed away, it was too hard to watch films because when I was growing up, it was a family tradition to watch films together. I love watching Bollywood films now as well.

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You are also a writer; you have written a book titled Sweet Dreams , which includes 12 short stories. Do you intend to explore other creative aspects of cinema like scripting and directing in future? No, not at all. I am not a writer. I took up that project as a challenge but I am not sure it will be something I will continue to do. I take projects that interest me or are a challenge for me. I enjoy the idea of keeping myself on my toes.

Bollywood happened to you accidentally, when Mahesh Bhatt offered you Jism 2 while you were still in the Bigg Boss house, but was there ever a plan or a childhood dream of becoming a Hindi film actress? I always wanted to be an actress, so it really didn’t matter if that was in English, Hindi or any other language. I love that I have been given this opportunity to be here.

Can you tell us about your forthcoming projects? At the moment I am working on Tera Intezaar and it’s been a great shoot so far. I have two more films which I will be shooting this year. have already signed them and I am very excited about it.

How do you usually interpret your characters and make them yours? My interpretation doesn’t matter; it’s more

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DARPAN EXCLUSIVE about understanding the character itself and becoming the character that was created. I work very hard with my Hindi acting coach to understand my character.

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Reflecting SouthAsian Lifestyle

What are your career plans? Is there any particular kind of a film that you would like to do in the future?

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I would love to play a superhero in a film someday.

What kind of cinema do you believe in? I believe in all kinds of cinema.

Apart from films, what other interests keeps you busy? I have my perfume line Lust by Sunny Leone, my game – “Play Teen Patti with Sunny Leone” (an Android game similar to poker), my shows, shoots, and appearances… there is plenty of stuff to keep me busy. Then, I love being home with my dogs and spending time with my family.

E: info@darpanmagazine.com | T: 604.537.7277

“Your Home Is Where My Heart Is"

And what are the things that make you happy? My family, dogs and my husband.

The film industry is known to be very uncertain, do you have any insecurities? Yes, of course I do but those insecurities help me push forward.

You have worked in over 15 films till now, have you made any friends in the industry? I know a lot of people but not sure about friends. I have definitely made some friends that are not actors though; they are the friends I will have for life.

The word ‘bold’ often has a very one-dimensional meaning to it when one uses it to define an actress, however, it is a lot more than an actress showing off her skin. What does playing a bold role mean to you? I don’t really understand that word and everyone’s definition is different. It’s weird. I believe being attractive is the reason most of us watch films.

While the industry did give you a warm welcome, there are still a lot of people who are not exactly nice to you. Where do you get the strength to ignore/fight all your detractors? Mainly from the way I was raised, and also having great people around me. And most of all, my husband is my biggest pillar of strength. We work through everything together.

Lastly, what is your dream now? Just to work and be happy.

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B O L LY WO O D

DARPAN BOXOFFICE

Are you all set for your date with Bollywood this fall?

MOVIE

TiME

Mirzya Release date: October 7 Directed by: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra Starring: Harshvardhan Kapoor, Saiyami Kher, Om Puri

By Shweta Kulkarni

ollywood has packed an exciting bundle of entertainment in the coming months, which will keep taking you back to the cinema hall, one film after the other. Sonakshi Sinha’s action-packed Akira looks promising, Mr. Bachchan’s Pink with its comment on women empowerment demands attention and Riteish’s colourful musical action-drama promises to entertain. Then we have Sushant Singh’s biographical drama on Indian cricket team’s captain – Mahendra Singh Dhoni, followed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Mirzya, which brings a bout of fresh air to Bollywood by launching two enthusiastic youngsters. As you can see there is entertainment galore, so go ahead block your dates now.

Mirzya brings to the screen a much-needed freshness in terms of new faces. Directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, the film marks the debut of Anil Kapoor’s son Harshvardhan and former Kingfisher calendar girl Saiyami Kher. While not much is divulged about the film, Saiyami disclosed few interesting facts, “We are trying to show how love travels through different times with this film. It was great to be a part of Mirzya because we got to play two different characters – very few people get to do that in their first film. It was also exciting because we got to learn horse-riding from scratch.”

PINK Releasing: September 16 Directed by: Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Kirti Kulhari, Andrea Tariang

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Leading all the action in this one is none other than the megastar of Bollywood, Amitabh Bachchan, who is playing a lawyer in the film. “Pink is a powerful story of today, it has the most remarkably talented artists and it is a strong comment on women empowerment,” disclosed Bachchan. Pink is a thriller set in Delhi and revolves around three other important characters, other than Bachchan’s character. One of them is played by Taapsee Pannu and there is also a NorthEast actress in the film – Andrea Tariang. Now it’s the combination of Big B and these young girls TM together that’s going to entice us to watch this one.

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AKIRA Release date: September 2 Directed by: AR Murugadoss Starring: Sonkashi Sinha, Konkona Sen Sharma, Anurag Kashyap We all have seen Sonakshi Sinha romance some of the biggest action heroes of Bollywood, now we shall see her kick some butts in Akira. Yes, the highlight of this action-thriller is the brand new avatar of Sonakshi where she has transformed from the quintessential leading lady to an action heroine. Directed by AR Murugadoss, Akira is a remake of Tamil film Mouna Guru and has Sonakshi performing some high-octane action sequences. Talking about her role, Sonakshi said, “It’s a story about a girl who stands up against all odds. It’s actually a really cool thriller and has a couple of tracks going on simultaneously. One is Anurag’s track, one is Konkona’s track, one is my track, and they all are interconnected in some way. So it’s a really cool Murugadoss style action thriller.”

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PHOTOGRAPHY & CINEMATOGRAPHY

604-723-6804 M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story

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Release date: September 30 Directed by: Neeraj Pandey Starring: Sushant Singh Rajput, Kiara Advani, Anupam Kher Joining the current trend of biopics, M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story will bring to the big screen the journey of Indian cricket team’s captain – Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Starring Sushant Singh Rajput, this Neeraj Pandey-directorial traces the struggles of the famous and successful skipper of India, who is popularly known as MSD. While it was exciting to play the star cricketer onscreen, it was also quite a challenge for Sushant to portray him. He said, “It was a challenge and more than that a huge responsibility, considering you are playing someone who is the most famous, loved, and successful skipper of India. I worked on this film for 7-8 straight months, 10 hours a day, doing nothing, absolutely nothing else. I’ve watched countless videos of Dhoni playing cricket to understand his mannerisms and style of cricket.” Now how can any cricket fan or movie buff skip this one, right?

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BANJO Release date: September 23 Directed by: Ravi Jadhav Starring: Riteish Deshmukh, Nargis Fakhri This is indeed an experimental phase for all Bollywood stars. We have Riteish Deshmukh in a never-seen-before look in Ravi Jadhav’s Bollywood directorial debut – Banjo. The film, a musical action drama, is set in the dingy bylanes of Mumbai slums and presents Riteish as a musical sensation and a street fighter. Riteish, who will be seen in a solo lead after a very long time, said, “It is an exciting film for me. It is one of those stories that touches your heart and I am super happy to be a part of it.” Co-star Nargis, who plays a DJ in the film, is equally excited about the film, “I play an NRI in the film, who is from New York. I am very happy to be a part of this film as I got to learn a lot about the Maharashtrian culture.”

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DARPAN BOXOFFICE

HOLLYWOOD’s

BIOPIC FEVER By Jorge Ignacio Castillo

Hoping for an Oscar? There is no better way that mirroring someone who already existed.

t’s common knowledge around Hollywood that a thespian’s best shot to score an Academy Award nomination is by playing a historical figure. The last four Best Actor winners had a real-life referent: Leonardo Di Caprio in The Revenant, Eddie Redmayne in The Theory of Everything, Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club and Daniel Day Lewis in Lincoln. Interestingly, this rule doesn’t seem to apply to females (just one of the last six Best Actress winners has been for a biopic). This year, there are several high-profile figures vying for recognition. Many of their films are set to open in the next couple of months.

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Sully September 9

Tom Hanks as pilot Chesley Sullenberger The feat of airline captain Chesley

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Sullenberger is well-known: after his plane collided with a flock of geese, Sully successfully executed an emergency landing in the Hudson River, saving the life of everyone on board, a total of 155 people. Director Clint Eastwood’s approach to the story is less about the accident and more about the aftermath. While Sully became a hero in the eyes of the public, an investigation questioned the pilot’s decisionmaking abilities. Under siege, enduring PTSD and unwanted attention, Sully started to crumble. Once an Academy favourite, Tom Hanks hasn’t been nominated for an Oscar since 2001 (Cast Away). Sully could herald his return.

Snowden September 16

Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Edward Snowden One of the most influential figures of the last decade, Edward Snowden caused a worldwide ruckus when he leaked classified information regarding the US government’s surveillance programs. Not only did he succeed in his whistleblower efforts, he managed to escape capture. Not one to shy away from controversy, director Oliver Stone (Wall Street, W.) anchors the film using the meeting between Snowden and three journalists in a hotel in Hong Kong (chronicled in the Oscar winning documentary Citizenfour). Stone also delves into the complicated relationship between the former NSA contractor and his girlfriend Lindsay Mills (Shailene Woodley, the Divergent series).

Queen of Katwe September 23

Lupita Nyong’o as Harriet Mutesi Technically, Lupita Nyong’o is not the lead in Queen of Katwe. That would

be newcomer Madina Nalwagna, commissioned to play Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi. Born in the slums of Kampala, the odds were stacked against Phiona. A school dropout, the 10-year-old girl has little chance to escape poverty, despite her mother’s efforts to keep the family afloat. Phiona discovers chess through a sports outreach program and becomes immediately captivated by the game. Soon it becomes clear the girl is a prodigy, but the task at hand – become a professional chess player – will require more than just talent. This feel-good sports drama comes with heavy social undertones. Appropriately enough, director Mira Nair (Salaam Bombay!, Monsoon Wedding) is behind the camera.

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PHOTOGRAPHY & CINEMATOGRAPHY

604-723-6804 info@amastermedia.com

Deepwater Horizon September 30

Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russell and John Malkovich as BP oilrig workers

PHOTOs: Bleecker Street/Elevation Pictures, Open Road Films, Warner Bros, Disney, LionsgatE

The second collaboration between Mark Wahlberg and Peter Berg (the first one was Lone Survivor), Deepwater Horizon discloses the events that led to the largest accidental marine oil spill in history. While mostly an action film driven by the rig workers’ fight for survival, Deepwater Horizon is also critical of oil and gas giant BP. John Malkovich draws the short straw as the BP representative who underestimates the dangers of working on the rig.

Denial October 7

Rachel Weisz as historian Deborah Lipstadt In 1996, one of history’s most insidious denials was put to trial in England. Writer David Irving sued fellow historian Deborah Lipstadt for libel when the latter accused the former of misrepresenting evidence to support his thesis that the Holocaust never took place. Lipstadt had to demonstrate her accusations against Irving were true and consequently not libelous. The court battle became emblematic: It had the potential to bury Holocaust denial for good (at least in the mainstream), but also trigger a legal crisis of unthinkable magnitude if Lipstadt were to fail to prove beyond reasonable doubt the genocide took place. Written by David Hare, one of Britain’s finest scriptwriters (The Hours, The Reader), Denial features a remarkable cast led by Rachel Weisz and Timothy Spall as the warring historians. The wild card is Mick Jackson, a director whose most celebrated credit is The Bodyguard.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jorge Ignacio Castillo Jorge is a journalist and film critic with over 15 years of experience in publications across North America. Castillo is also a budding filmmaker with two shorts under his belt and a feature documentary in production. Member of the Vancouver Film Critics Circle since 2013.

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INDIANS GLOBAL INDIANS GLOBAL INDIANS GLOBAL INDIANS GLOBAL INDIANS GLOBAL INDIANS GLOBAL INDIANS GLOBAL INDIA

GLOBAL

Q&A

INDIANS

How do you want to see the campaign evolve?

I N T RO D U C I N G

R a j vin d e r

Khaira “It’s something that I started thinking about when my brother was born because I noticed the difference in the way people reacted to his birth versus that of my sister. I was around 12 years old at the time and I vividly recall having a conversation with my mom about how we should start a trend to help mark the birth of a girl.” By garima goswami

ink Ladoo campaign created by Rajvinder Khaira targets a pressing issue in the South Asian community – gender discrimination. The issue extends to other communities, cultures and individuals from all around the world at various degrees, but in some families in the South Asian community, discrimination starts right at birth. While the birth of a boy is marked by distribution of sweets, a girl is

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welcomed with dismay and is seen as a burden on the family due to factors such as dowry. Khaira explains, “Our campaign is based around gender equality and encouraging families to celebrate the birth of girls because we are trying to get the South Asian community to take ownership for the problems that South Asian women face (such as domestic abuse and dowry violence) and to realise that the rea-

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son women face these issues in the South Asian community is because women are seen as having less value than men.” Khaira advocates strongly against the bias through her campaign which presently operates in the United Kingdom and Canada. But what exposed Khaira to a subject so strong? A personal experience Khaira describes saying, “It’s something that I started thinking about when my brother was born because I noticed the difference in the way people reacted to his birth versus that of my sister. I was around 12 years old at the time and I vividly recall having a conversation with my mom about how we should start a trend to help mark the birth of a girl.” Sometime later, Khaira was introduced to Nach Balliye, a Bramptonbased group empowering women and using pink ladoos to fund their various activities. Khaira says this was a “light bulb moment” for her and decided to use the sweet as a symbol of protest against genderbiased treatment. “It has to be a bit of a ‘no brainer.’ The Pink Ladoo fit perfectly with all those objectives; you see it and because it’s a ladoo you know that it relates to a celebration and because it is Pink, you immediately associate it with a girl. That’s how we arrived at Pink Ladoo.” The campaign came into focus in October 2015, when the organization distributed boxes of pink ladoos to parents of all babies – male and female – born in Birmingham Women’s Hospital (UK). This was the advent of a powerful campaign that went beyond gender discrimination at birth. It consequently deals with other social issues such as domestic and dowry violence. Pink Ladoo PHOTOs: Zab Mustefa

Women won’t just randomly wake up one day and feel empowered to say no to dowry, or demand equal access to education or fight for their right in the workplace if the message they receive from the day they are born is that they are valued a little bit less than the men in their lives. Every gender-biased message has an impact on young South Asian girls. We want to see the campaign evolve into something bigger, we want to create a community of empowered women and families who can say no to gender discrimination and we feel this will only happen when we elevate the status of women from birth. What has the response to your campaign been so far?

The response to the campaign has been overwhelmingly positive. Initially we were flooded with stories from women who were keen to share their experience, particularly their negative experiences surrounding the birth of their daughters or the pressure to have a son. After that the response evolved into something more nuanced where people started sending us pictures and stories of the ways in which they celebrated their daughters. During the Lohri period we had countless emails and messages about families who had thrown Lohri parties for their girls. This wasn’t something we suggested but we were delighted to see it because it meant that people were getting our wider message which is that girls and boys should be treated and celebrated equally. How is your campaign being reflected on Canada’s diverse landscape?

The Canadian response to the campaign is something I feel all IndoCanadians should be proud of; the campaign took off across Canada like wildfire. I had emails pouring in from excited volunteers who have since worked tirelessly at getting sweet shops across the country to sell Pink Ladoo and fostering support on social media. These are all women with demanding careers and personal lives who have carved out time and applied themselves so generously to the campaign. We are now a global team of 17 and our Canadian team is the biggest.

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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

By Kelly BensoN

S E P T- O C T 2 0 1 6

HOROSCOPE ALL SIGNS:

The Sun sits in Earth-based Virgo, and on September 22 it moves into air sign Libra. Summer activities begin to wind down as this season shifts. The children go back to school and life takes on a fresh routine. Mercury moves into retrograde from August 30 to September 21 for its third time in 2016. This is not an ideal time for major purchases such as vehicles, computers, cell phones, or major appliances. Use extra caution and check the fine print when signing any contracts. Communications with others can be confusing and misleading. It’s important to double check everything. Ask for clarity in your conversations – remember there are no stupid questions (asking questions shows you’re paying attention). Use this time to go back to unfinished projects or clear old business off your plate. It’s a great time to go through old items or ideas and reorganize or repurpose them. As well, lucky Jupiter moves from Virgo to Libra and will remain there for one year. This is an excellent transit that helps to bring bounty all of our social ties! It’s time to harmonize with significant people in our world. New friends are made and romantic relationships deepen. It’s also a fantastic time to celebrate the arts, be that through your own creative efforts or celebrating those of others. Check out galleries, parks, museums, and live performances!

Aries (March 21-April 19) It’s time to turn over a new leaf, Aries. You’re ready for new discoveries now and curious about the world around you. The adventurous, pioneering spirit of your Aries nature is drawing you to new places! You might develop a fascination for religious, spiritual, philosophical and cultural studies. Don’t let yourself get fenced in – it’s time to be a free bird! Clashes with authority figures or people trying to exert their power over you may come ahead near the full Moon in mid-October, be forewarned. Meanwhile, Jupiter has just moved into your house of relationships. This bodes well for all types of connections, but in particular it’s wonderful for romantic, marital and business ties. New relationships can easily develop now. Singles might meet someone from another culture or a different background. Enjoy!

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You’re making some big changes related to your career and your financial security Taurus. Major investments in areas of shared finances can become a focus. Matters around inheritance, family money, land, taxes, and business partnerships might pose a challenge. A little diplomacy goes a long way. Some time by yourself to reflect on what makes you (a hard-working earth sign) feel truly secure might be in order. It’s important that you honour yourself and your long term goals. You might have a tough decision to make. One that possibly goes against the wishes of someone else, but you know what you need to do. Job opportunities or ways to expand your skills and practice are coming your way. Capitalize on this! You might travel for work as well. Romance can get seriously hot this autumn!

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Interesting changes abound in 2016 and 2017, Gemini. You’re rewriting your life path and taking some major step forward. You might have liberated yourself this past year from a restricting situation such as a dead-end job or a loveless marriage (Some Geminis are still preparing to take those steps). Like that saying “When God closes a door, he opens a window.” Trust that the universe has something positive in store for you. It’s highly likely that a significant relationship with someone you admire and respect develops into something more meaningful. Influential people from all walks of life may come into your world and share their philosophies with you. This is an excellent time to travel or stretch your brain in some way. Your creative nature is ready to grow – give it the boost it needs!

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Cancer (June 21-July 22) Your work or craft takes on a new level of importance, Cancer. Whatever your focus, you can expect a renewed determination this autumn. 2018 marks a very pivotal time in your career and your public status. At present you are preparing for that cycle to come. You’re careful and cautious as you hone your energies now. You may find more meaning in the simple things such as caring for your home or preparing a meal. You’re more grounded and in sync as you go about your day to day activities. The nurturing and empathetic side of your nature comes into play. Relations with family members improve as you invite more people into your world. This is a wonderful time to welcome in new members of the family through birth, marriage or adoption, or maybe even a furry friend. Awww.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) This is a strong time of the year for you Leo. You’re eager to push up your sleeves and get to work. You have more discipline now with Saturn activating your fifth house and this assists you in attaining your goals. You’re giving form to your dreams – like the sculptor shaping the clay or the entrepreneur starting a new business. It’s an excellent time to push forward! Connections with colleagues, coworkers, and community members prove to be useful and uplifting. New friends and acquaintances are made. This is also a good time to start (or return to) a hobby. Any kind of study that helps to train and calm your mind is blessed. Advanced training and higher education may also be calling your name! Workplace romances might heat up in October. It’s important to use a little discretion when mixing business and pleasure.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Happy Birthday Virgo! It’s your time of the year to take action and go after what you want! On September 1, it’s the new moon/solar eclipse in your sign. This is a powerful day to set your intentions for your personal year ahead. Many of you are looking at investing (financially or emotionally) in your home, your family’s future, or perhaps a partnership (Did I hear wedding bells?). There is a strong drive now to build security and strength around you. Your earnings aregoing to start increasing and with it your confidence rises as well! This gives you the courage to ask for more out of life. Job changes are highly likely. Keep in mind, it’s all about finding the right fit. Don’t be discouraged by delays or snafus brought about with Mercury retrograde, just stick to your plan and you’ll be fine!

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) This is a very exciting time for you, Libra. Lucky Jupiter is about to enter your sign on September 9 and bring in a world of opportunity with it. This is the beginning of a 12 year growth cycle that supports you in attaining your goals and dreams. In particular, mental attitudes or limiting belief systems that have held you back in some way are likely to be changing now. It may be through your dialogue with others that helps you to see beyond these limitations. It’s a time for liberation! Relationships with others can grow tremendously now. In particular, romantic and marital relations are very blessed. New relationships can bloom! This is a wonderful time to get the support you need from individuals and communities alike. Education, training, study and travel are appealing. It’s time to go for the gold!.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) This is an important time of greater self-understanding, Scorpio. You went through a lot in the last few years and you’re better equipped to handle life on your own terms now. We see that you are getting clear on what you really value. Not just about material things, but also your spiritual and emotional values too. What do you really need to get by in life? Keep this in mind as you apply yourself to your career and continue to build equity in yourself. This is a wonderful time to TM

let go of fears and mental obstacles that have been blocking you from attaining your goals. You may meet someone who acts as a spiritual catalyst – assisting you to identify what needs healing. You might also perform the same task for someone else. Relationships with others improve since your surrounding yourself with quality people!

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Maturing experiences that provide you with pearls of wisdom are an ongoing theme now and throughout 2017, Sagittarius. You’re taking responsibility for yourself, your dreams, and you’re also considering how your actions affect others. Good on you! Huge life decisions have been made (or are about to be) and it’s important that you face these changes with courage and optimism (The latter being your natural talent, dear Sag). New steps on your life path emerge like stones rising from the water. If you can’t see three steps ahead don’t fret, just focus on the step you’re on. Friendships and group experiences provide powerful emotional and spiritual support. You’re learning about life – not only from your own experiences, but also from the experiences of others. New friends are silver and old friends are gold!

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) You sure have been hard at work, Capricorn! This is an important time of completing projects and seeing things through to the end. The more disciplined and focused you are, the greater the harvest will be! Lucky Jupiter has just moved into your 10th house. Over the next year you’re likely to receive more credit and accolades or at the very least, acknowledgment for all the efforts you’ve been doing. Dealings with authorities, bosses, teachers or VIPs can bring about favourable changes for you. If there’s a cause you believe in, this is the time to champion it! Some of you may be deciding to make a career change. This is an excellent time to get the extra training or education you may need to make that career change possible. It’s likely that your status, both professional and personal, will shift in some form over the next year.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) This is a wonderful time to spread your wings and expand your horizons, Aquarius. Your perspective on life is shifting and you’re curious to learn more about the world around you. Opportunities to study abroad or to take further education and training might fall in your lap. Profound subjects such as philosophy, religion, politics and science might be more attractive now. If there is a message you want to share with the world, this is the time. Communities with common interests are inviting and inclusive. You feel like you’re one of the team! Romance with someone from another culture or a different background is highly likely now (Hey, if you want to learn to speak French why not take a French lover?). Be sure to read the fine print when it comes to important purchases – some deals really are too good to be true.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) It’s harvest time, Pisces! The seeds that you’ve been planting for the last seven years are coming to fruition. If you have prepared well then the results will be marvellous! Conversely, if you’ve been asleep at the wheel there may be some repercussions that deal with (eek!). Fortunately, lucky Jupiter blesses your relationships with others making this an excellent time to develop strategic relationships (business or personal). This autumn is an important time of action and you may find yourself getting ready to make a major decision. Review your dreams and aspirations and see if they’re aligning with the course that you’ve chosen. It’s time to push forward and you might need to let something go in order to bring in something new.

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SHARE THEIR STORIES By PETRINA D'SOUZA

he t t e e M

DODAy

l i m a F

Biggest obstacle faced so far in Canada: Finding a job in one year time span in Canada.

Lalit Doda is a Technical Support Consultant at Allscripts Healthcare Solutions

Navjot Kaur is an Underwriting Assistant at Intact Insurance

Getting Here: Lalit Doda and his wife Navjot Kaur moved to Canada – the land of opportunities – in 2015. “We chose to land on Canada Day to make it memorable, and celebrate that day always,” shares Navjot, who is an underwriting assistant at Intact Insurance. Before moving to Canada, the couple did some research on the country and the opportunities it provides to new immigrants. “My husband worked with US and Canadian clients in India and was aware of the demand of Healthcare IT professionals in North America,” recalls Navjot, “Furthermore, we did some research and found through various resources that Canada is among the best places to live in around the globe. Hence we decided to move here.”

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On arrival, they lived for three months at a rented basement in Brampton arranged by Navjot’s brother. Eventually they moved to Vancouver. “We stayed in a house rented through the Airbnb website for the first three weeks till we arranged a rented space,” says Lalit. It didn’t take much time for the couple to adjust to the surrounding and the people. “Luckily we came in July, so we felt that the weather was almost same as India. Furthermore, people were very helpful in guiding us during our initial days,” says Navjot. Back in India, Navjot worked for Infosys as an HR process specialist and Lalit was working with Cerner Healthcare Solutions as solution designer. Despite having professional experience back home, the couple’s major difficulty in Canada was to find a suitable job in their respective

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domains. “It was a challenging experience,” narrates Navjot, “We met people who had different experiences, some got the job they had education in and others had a bad job experience.” This made it difficult for the Doda family to focus on their own career aspirations. Eventually, Lalit got a job at Allscripts Healthcare Solutions. “My husband had worked earlier with Allscripts in Pune and they rehired him in Canada in October 2015,” adds Navjot. They learnt a great deal through this job-hunting experience. “We learnt and developed ourselves the most during that period,” explains Lalit. Lalit and Navjot have enjoyed their journey in Canada so far. “It has been exciting as well as challenging at the same time. People are welcoming and ready to help. We got to learn about diverse people, culture, cuisines and lifestyle,” they express. According to the Doda family, there are a lot of aspects that make Canada a great country to stay in – the natural surrounding, good facilities, and diversity, to name a few.

Resolutions made for yourself or family: To always keep learning new things and developing yourself.

Advice for future immigrants: Be flexible to work on temporary positions. It may or may not be related to your profession but keep your spirits high and be focussed on what you want to achieve in the long run and always maintain a learning attitude.

Memories of your homeland: We really miss our family and friends back in India.

“Canada is really a beautiful country and people pay a lot of attention to preserve the nature and save the environment. It is so diverse and this makes it a really special place,” the couple states. Their only dislike – the crazy housing prices. Lalit and Navjot hope to “continuously grow and develop ourselves and contribute to the community.”

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