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ello DARPAN readers, spring is here and to keep you company throughout this beautiful season is our interesting issue filled will lots of fun and informative articles.

Put the spring mode on with our article titled ‘Flower Power’. Studies state that the presence of flowers triggers happy emotions and affects social behaviour in a positive manner. Read the article to know the various benefits of including flowers in your lifestyle.

Fashion-lovers, our feature on spring fashion will be your go-to guide this season. Dress up in floral prints, colourful jewellery, and bright heels, and welcome the season in style. This is also the time the city is filled with exciting outdoor events, adventurous activities and more.

From educational to entertaining to downright unforgettable, Vancouver offers a horde of activities to choose from. Check our list of five fun activities to do during the spring break.

Our cover this issue is young entrepreneur Karthik Naralasetty whose social media application, Socialblood, has created a social space for thousands of potential blood donors and recipients to meet and donate through Facebook. Now, finding an ideal blood donor is just a few clicks away. Naralasetty's creation has now become an app used in many countries.

The March-April issue also highlights the important issues that have been in the news recently. Read our special feature on women’s safety to get a clear idea on what measures are being taken to stop or reduce the violence against women. The article also includes contact numbers of 24-hour crisis lines offered by most centres when a woman is in trouble or hurt.

With the economy down, money management is a great step to save your finances. Our article on easy money-saving tips will help you cut down on your expenses without making a lot of sacrifices.

We hope you enjoy this issue to the fullest. We would like to know your comments, suggestions and thoughts. Please send your feedback to editor@darpanmagazine.com or leave a message on our social media sites.

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DARPAN Magazine is published by DARPAN PUBLICATION LTD. DARPAN is a bimonthly 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 2015 DARPAN Publication Ltd. All rights reserved. Publications sales agreement no. 41116014

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CONTENTS

24

COVER

MARCH/APRIL STORY

2016

80

124

94

ENTERTAINMENT 122 BOLLYWOOD On-screen Diary

10

106

124 HOLLYWOOD The Kids Will be Alright

LIFESTYLE 76 RECIPES

Chef Ajay Chopra

80 BEAUTY

Stroke of Genius

BUSINESS PROFILES 56 Perminder Chohan

84 STYLE

62 Bassi Properties 90 Bains Pharmacy

86 HEALTH

18 SPOTLIGHTS

68 NEWS IN PICTURES

Get that Perfect Beach Body

Indu Brar

126 GLOBAL INDIANS

IN EVERY ISSUE 08 READERS REACTION 10 DARPAN’S 10 Minister John McCallum

Gurvinder Bhatia Gaurav Shah

46 SALUTES

Life Beyond an Acid Attack

Kanwal Rekhi

130 CANADIAN IMMIGRANTS Meet the Goswami family

Spring Fling

Have you Heard about Hearing Loss?

92 FITNESS 94 HOME

An Eco-Friendly Environment

98 TECH

Gadget Trends

100 WEDDING

Manpreet & Ramneek

104 ACTIVITIES

FEATURES 12 ECONOMY

Low Flying Loonie & BC Housing Affordability

32 EXCLUSIVE

Things to do this Spring

106 TRAVEL

70

Gateway to the South: Kentucky

128 HOROSCOPE

The Extraordinary Life of Olympian Balbir Singh Sr.

40 EXCLUSIVE

40

The Many Hats of Vir Das

44 YOUTH COLUMN 7 Steps to School Sanity

50 SPECIAL FEATURE

116 Lexus IS350 F Sport

58 FEATURE

120 Toyota Venza

Flower Power

70 FEATURE

Make Way for Little Chefs Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

Detroit Auto Show 2016

118 Audi Q7

64 FEATURE

MARCH / APRIL 2016

110 FEATURE

An Attack on Our Safety

A Guide to Saving Money

6

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MARCH / APRIL 2016 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

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R

s e r d ea Reactions Cover story

Thank you so much for the cover story on Anoushka Shankar. I love her music and she is simply gorgeous. I am excited that she will be performing in Vancouver. Looking forward to seeing her in person.

- Archana Shah, Delta

Re: Archana, I am glad you liked our cover story on

the talented sitar player Anoushka Shankar. She is such an amazing musician and a great inspiration to many budding artists. I hope you enjoy her upcoming concert.

Keep writing to us.

– Editor

Youth column Congratulations on the youth column. It is a great idea for youngsters to express their views. The article on parent-youth relationship was good. It’s good to know the teenager’s point of view.

– Mayur Puri, Richmond

Re: Thank you Mayur for the kind words.

DARPAN aims to give our youth a voice through this column. After all, they are the future of the country. Look forward to more interesting write-ups by the youngsters.

– Editor

Serving Surrey & Delta

Home Decor The home article on ‘Picking the Perfect Colour Palette’ was interesting. The advice mentioned in it is very helpful. I will make sure to keep it in mind if my family decides to get the house painted again.

– Shubha Poojari, Coquitlam

Re: It is great that you enjoyed reading the home and

decor article Shubha. Colours play an important role in adding life to the house. It’s wise to do a lot of research on it and choose the right shades.

– Editor

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

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Avocados Wow, I did not know that avocadoes have such great benefits. I have started adding it to my daily diet. I am slowly enjoying the taste and benefits of it. Thank you so much for the informative article.

– Baldev Mann, Surrey

Re: Yes Baldev, avocadoes are a great addition to the diet. Packed with essential nutrients, it is considered as one of the healthiest fruits in the world. Make the most of it. Readers looking to subscribe can visit our website – www.darpanmagazine.com – Editor

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DARPAN

Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

9

DARPAN’S

6 Do you feel people who wish to migrate to

Yes, because Canada is one of the top countries of the world. We are only a small part of the world with 35 million people compared to billions of people in the world. People do want to immigrate to Canada way more than we can accept. What we are doing is we are working very hard to make it easy to those who we can accept to come here as soon as possible and be welcomed.

But we will never be able to accept everybody in the world who wants to come here.

7

JOHN MCCALLUM MINISTER OF IMMIGRATION, REFUGEES AND CITIZENSHIP

1

It’s an exciting job; initially mainly for our 25,000 refugees, but it is much more than that in terms of making Canada a welcoming country for newcomers and reducing the time people have to wait to become permanent residents.

2

In the short run, the main focus has been welcoming 25,000 Syrian refugees and to settle them well and give them a good start in Canada.

In the longer term, the challenge is to fix the immigration system which has in many ways been broken in terms of welcoming newcomers and requiring them to wait too long to be accepted, and creating an immigration system where the main focus is to welcome people to Canada and not to keep people out.

We have to work really hard to make our processes efficient, to not undertake measures that are unnecessary, and to have a much more efficient way to welcome newcomers. Also, we will need some more money to hire more people to do the interviews so as to speed everything up.

3

It’s going well. The more important point is not just to achieve the numbers, but to welcome

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MARCH / APRIL 2016 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

DARPAN

them well, and to give them housing, language training, and jobs, so that the refugees can quickly become full-fledged contributing Canadians.

Many of the refugees are doing very well.

Some of them are still waiting in hotels to find long-term accommodation, but many already have jobs, are learning English, and have found accommodation. On the whole, I think they are doing very well. When you bring in so many people all at once, it takes time. They are vulnerable individuals, they often do not speak English, and they don’t necessarily have a great deal of education. It takes a significant amount of time to welcome them and make them feel comfortable. I think the process is going well.

4

The most difficult task – the one I am working right now – is to make the department more welcoming, to bring down the waiting crunch, and to change the attitudes in the immigration department to be one where people are more welcoming.

5 Do share your views on the Canadian

The Canadian immigration system has big challenges. It is underfunded – not enough money, and as a consequence it is much too slow. So what we are working on is to inject more money and also to change the way we could do business so as to make everything move much smoothly.

TM

Every job is different; I have never been Immigration Minister before, but I have been part of other areas like defence. So I think that helps to understand how the system works and to understand what you have to do to make things happen. I think past experience pays well in terms of carrying my current mandate.

8

The most memorable moment was meeting the refugees. I met them when they first came in at Toronto and Montreal airport and I met them in Jordon and Lebanon, and I particularly remember meeting some young refugee children at the UNICEF building in Jordan. That was a moving and heart-warming experience, so I am convinced we are doing the right thing. It is a lot of work but I think more Canadians are welcoming the refugees, so it’s a very rewarding job.

9

I enjoyed my job very much as a professor, teaching and interacting with students. That’s a part of my job I don’t do as much as before, but I still spend time going to universities and speaking to students. Just recently I had been to a university in Toronto and spoke on the refugee issue. I go to schools in my riding, elementary and high school, and talk to students there. I guess I am a teacher from a long time back and I still do some of that when time permits and I enjoy it very much.

10 sage would you want to give to the residents of

My message is that we are a country that needs immigrants. Yes, people want to come to Canada, but at the same time we need those people. We are an aging population, so we need new blood; we need new people to increase our numbers.

We have always been a country to grow up on immigration, so I think we should have a welcoming attitude towards immigrants. Most Canadians do, but I think we have to improve the performance of our department to make that a reality.

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Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

darPaN examines the Canadian economy to help you understand the global collapse in oil prices and the domestic implications it could have on Metro Vancouver’s housing market.

LOW FLYING

LOONIE &

BC HOUSING

aFFOrdaBILItY

By Brandon Kostinuk

T

he benchmark price of oil sunk almost 75 percent since mid2014, with global crude output exceeding demand by 1-2 million barrels per day, as reported by Globe and Mail’s Barani Krishnan in early February.

Bloomberg further reported Canadian oil sands producers were to the point of pushing bitumen at around US$8.35 a barrel, “down from as much as $80 two years ago.”

The situation for Canada’s oil industry is dire, which means so is the Canadian economy.

So tightly tethered to the

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MARCH / APRIL 2016 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

price of oil is the value of the Canadian dollar that any fluctuation in per barrel pricing has an almost direct correlation.

When the price of oil floated to below $30 per barrel in mid-January, for both Brent Crude, the global benchmark, and West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. benchmark, Canada’s loonie fell to around 70 cents U.S., its lowest point since the spring of 2003.

But, does the low dollar afford any advantages?

Further, how does the slumping loonie affect housing affordability in the Lower

DARPAN

TM

Mainland, a place where the market, as Thomas Davidoff, University of British Columbia (UBC) associate professor at the Sauder School of Business, plainly states: “is terrifying.”

First let’s understand why Canada is in such a position to begin with.

The economy in context

China’s economy hit its lowest growth in a generation as production worldwide peaked well beyond the demand.

And it’s not just oil. The price of coal, copper and

iron, some of Canada’s other key resource exports, have also been hampered by the crawling global economy and this is in part due to China’s slowdown, which, an economy as large as it is will inevitably have ripple effects throughout the world.

However, according to Bloomberg, nonperforming loans in China, that is, loans which are in default or close thereof, climbed by 51 percent last year.

The loss to China’s banks will be staggering, estimated at 1.27 trillion yuan or nearly USD$196 billion dollars, signalling an impending financial distress not different to what transpired in 2008 in the U.S., but perhaps bigger.

China’s economy has shifted away from investment and toward consumer-based consumption. Their fiscal growth has since crept to a pace that is the weakest it has been in a quarter century and so China’s appetite for commodities, especially oil, but also metals and raw materials, has waned where before its ravenous demand forced prices skyward.

But it’s not just China

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the one clear advantage to the low loonie, aside from tourism, which has already seen a significant boost likely to continue, is the jump in non-resource exports globally. contributing to the downwarddriving loonie. The rising U.S. dollar and global oil production as a whole are helping dampen the economic environment for Canada, a net energy exporter.

The strengthening U.S. dollar makes it much more costly for those nations with currency not pegged at or near the value of the greenback as oil, among other goods, are traded internationally against the U.S. dollar.

The rising U.S. dollar has also resulted in the Federal Reserve bumping interest rates up 0.25 percent.

Then, finally, there’s the glut in stock further straining demand and therefore the overall price of oil.

As reported by Bloomberg’s Dan Murtaugh, the U.S. Energy Initiative stated that “there are more than two billion barrels of oil and oil products in the U.S. alone,” and production doesn’t appear primed to slow, in the U.S. or globally.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) economic counsellor Maury Obstfeld stated, “it’s hard to see oil going back to

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MARCH / APRIL 2016 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

the $100 barrel level anytime soon,” with the agency stating in its World Economic Outlook in January that it forecasts economic growth to increase 3.4 percent globally this year, followed by 3.6 percent in 2017.

That assessment is a 0.2 percent decrease from the IMF’s previously published forecast in October.

Low loonie and housing The one clear advantage to the low loonie, aside from tourism, which has already seen a significant boost likely to continue, is the jump in non-resource exports globally, as asserted by Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz in January.

DARPAN

TM

As a whole in 2015, Canadian exports, where commodities make up nearly half the lot, decreased 0.9 percent to $524 billion, “while the value of energy products exports shrunk by more than a third (down 34.6 percent),” as reported in Canada's International MerchandiseTrade Performance.

While the loss in energy exports was in large part mitigated by gains in 10 of 11 major sectors, Canada posted a trade deficit of $23.3 billion for the years, compared to a $4.8 billion surplus in 2014.

Poloz predicts that the economic fallout – from the weakened commodities prices to the consequent higher import prices in lieu of Canada’s lowering purchasing power – will last up to five years and will drain the Canadian economy of around $50 billion each year.

It doesn’t paint too rosy a picture for housing affordability on the west coast where the benchmark price for a detached home rose 20.1 percent higher than its rate last year, to currently sit around $1.2 million.

Premier Christy Clark and her Liberal government have recognized the unaffordability of housing in the Metro Vancouver market, and beneath the tarpaulin of the low-flying loonie, changes were announced in February.

The 2016 budget released on February 16 addressed a host of items including modification to the property transfer tax,

capital spending along with the proposed collection of foreign investment data, which has not been done since the late ‘90s. The property transfer tax exemption threshold was expanded to newly-built homes priced up to $750,000. The exemption will reportedly help buyers save up to $13,000 and is slated to provide $75 million in relief.

The government also announced it will provide $355 million in capital spending to support construction and renovation of affordable housing

units throughout the province.

As elucidated by the government, the relatively high housing prices are driven by the increase in demand, which is the result of B.C.’s population growth and its constrained geography, namely the lack of available land to build on.

Capital investment is thus the other side of the equation to solving unaffordability. New construction is needed to boost supply, which in its currently constricted state only serves to increase housing costs, affecting both buyers and renters in the Lower Mainland.

DARPAN

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MARCH / APRIL 2016 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

15

On the backdrop of the cheapening dollar, however, it means cost of materials will increase, to be transferred on to the buyer, and an additional layer of demand – one that’s not domestic – may simply be further increased.

Davidoff referred to “eye-popping numbers” in Burnaby and elsewhere in the Lower Mainland and pointed to the proposed annual surcharge to be part of a B.C. Housing Affordability Fund (BCHAF). This recommendation was put forward to the provincial government, by Davidoff, Joshua Gottlieb and Tsur Somerville, all UBC real estate economists.

The surcharge would affect owners of vacant properties and owners who are not Canadian taxpayers, a problem experts view as contributing to the housing bubble and negatively affecting the economy on multiple levels.

“The goal is to support those living in parts of the province that have seen skyrocketing real estate prices, while also making our local markets less attractive to investors who wish to avoid taxation or park cash,” said Davidoff in a press release earlier this year.

But, as the UBC professor explained, “demand is notoriously hard to measure,” and while asserting foreign demand matters to the local market, evidence of it is very much anecdotal.

Collecting data on foreign ownership is thus the first step to establishing an effective policy initiative.

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MARCH / APRIL 2016 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

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Strong provincial winds The one solace for British Columbians is the relatively strong economic forecast for the province. The Conference Board of Canada predicted B.C. will lead the country in economic growth in 2016, just as we had last year. And it isn’t just the Conference Board laying such claim.

Royal Bank of Canada followed up, stating B.C.’s economy will indeed lead Canada in growth slating 3.1 percent for 2016 and 2.9 percent in 2017. The B.C. government forecasted economic growth for 2016 at 2.4 percent. The IMF stated it foresees Canada’s economy will grow just 1.7 percent in 2016 and 2.1 percent in 2017.

With the price of oil the way it is and as the economy shifts from the global energy demand of the yesteryears, a rise in the loonie anytime soon should not be expected. Investment bank Macquarie predicts the loonie to fall to 59 cents U.S., but as economic predictions go, there is no certainty in any of it.

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Gaurav Shah talks to us about his interest in the media industry, his journey, and his exciting career.

aNCHOr, PrESENtEr & radIO HOSt

GaUraV SHaH PHOTOS: Caramel Studios

BY NERISSA JAWANDA

G

aurav Shah, a familiar name and face among the Indian community in Surrey, is a successful anchor, presenter and radio personality. He has hosted prominent events in British Columbia and India including Sundown Goa Fest, Mika Nite, and Indian Premier League (IPL). Shah is currently a radio jockey on Spice Radio where he hosts the show Spicy Cha with

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Shah, while also working as an anchor/presenter for various events in and around the Lower Mainland.

Known for his positive attitude and energy, Shah explains that it’s not always easy to be in host-mode all the time, “Fighting with situations on the inside but smiling and being energetic on the outside has never been easy.” Despite the tougher aspects of his profession, he has been able to rise to the occasion and make his mark in the industry.

Shah was brought up in a middle-class family in Chandigarh, India. Although financial difficulties created a turbulent home environment, his childhood was very enjoyable and his family was close-knitted and loving. He never expected to work in the media industry. “Being from a middle class family, I never thought I’d be doing TM

anything big. I just wanted to get a good job and start earning money as soon as possible,” he explains.

The talented personality ended up finding his way into the media industry without even trying. Shah, one day unknowingly interchanged his helmet with someone else. When he went to exchange helmets, the other person turned out to be an event manager; this manager ended up introducing Shah to the media industry.

“The helmet exchange incident brought me into media and my interest in the field continued to grow as I gained popularity and became a local celebrity,” he adds.

Over his 10 years in the media industry, Shah has achieved many milestones, including television appearances on Zee Etc. Punjabi for the globally popular show Campus Punjabi, winning the title

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Being from a middle class family, I never thought I’d be doing anything big. I just wanted to get a good job and start earning money as soon as possible.”

Mr. North India in 2004, appearing in the Hindi film 2 Nights in Soul Valley (2012), and much more. When asked what his best career moment is, he responds, “Each and every show I do is the most important one for me.

They’re all very close to my heart, from road and television shows to big star nights.”

Shah loves hosting because of the public interaction aspect. “When a crowd of hundreds of thousands of people responds back to you, it is a heavenly feeling.”

The love and support of his family and friends as well as his honest and hard work has helped Shah achieve success. He also believes that his patience, fighting spirit, and passion for work contributed strongly. “My mom used to say that this industry was for rich people, but I didn’t take it seriously, although I later realized it. Fortunately I was able to get into the system and make my own place,” shares Shah, revealing that his dream has always been to be a successful actor, anchor and television personality, as well as a successful son, brother, and future husband and father.

His advice to others interested in the media industry is to get an education, respect those around you, have patience, and always continue to sharpen your talent.

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DARPAN SPOTLIGHT

One of my strengths is aligning people to strategy and ensuring that our actions result in exceeding what we have set out to do, which is delivering a consistent, outstanding and personal guest experience.”

Managing

Success With Elan

Indu Brar

Brar’s hotel career started in Alberta with progressive positions at the Chateau Airport in Calgary, The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald in Edmonton, The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, and recently at Vancouver’s the Fairmont Waterfront as general manager.

BY PETRINA D’SOUZA

“A

nything is achievable!” says Indu Brar. The general manager of the Fairmont Empress, Victoria, believes that 1 percent is luck and 99 percent is hard work. That’s precisely why Brar has had a successful hotel experience for over 23 years and also a Chartered Hotel Administrator (CHA) designation.

Brar’s hotel career started in Alberta with progressive positions at the Chateau Airport in Calgary, The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald in Edmonton, The Fairmont Chateau Lake

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Louise, and recently at Vancouver’s The Fairmont Waterfront as general manager.

“I fell into my job,” says Brar, recalling how she got into the hotel industry. “I was going to school and applied to a hotel on a part time basis.”

Very quickly Brar learned that hotels were in her blood. “To be truly successful in this industry you must have a calling for service, and a genuine desire to create something memorable and special and the ability to deliver,” she points out, describing her TM

journey so far as exciting, challenging, inspiring and never the same.

So how does she manage a role that comes with great responsibility? “I am intrigued by each situation that is new and different, what keeps me at my best is collaborating, finding the path, which may lead through many twists and turns and once we achieve it, re-setting to another milestone that seemed out of reach only to be grasped,” says a determined Brar, “I am a firm believer ‘good enough’ never is.”

Brar’s success motto – building strong teams and delivering results. “I surround myself with great people, who are passionate and driven, in turn the achievements are a byproduct of our success,” says the dedicated general manager, adding that a good hotel relies on how you engage and inspire your colleagues to deliver exceptional service day in and day out.

Expressing further her passion for work, she says “One of my strengths is aligning people to strategy and ensuring that our actions result in exceeding what we have set out to do, which is delivering a consistent, outstanding and personal guest experience.”

Having worked for different Fairmont hotels, Brar believes that each Fairmont has a unique and very special personality of its own – driven by the colleague culture and focus on the guest experience.

She was thrilled to work at The Fairmont Waterfront and in the beautiful city of Vancouver. Her objective was to create awareness and enrich the hotel experience for the luxury guest, having just fully renovated the hotel. “Fairmont Waterfront is full of very passionate colleagues who exude West

Coast warmth and service. The focus on environmental stewardship, celebrating the bounty that is British Columbia, and our social responsibility is a fabric of our culture,” shares Brar.

Talking about the role of general manager at Fairmont Empress, Brar states that it is an incredibly exciting time for the hotel, “as it is being fully refurbished and brought back to a grand state of luxury of a bygone era.”

Brar is also Vancouver Hotel Destination Association (VHDA) Chair – an organization that aims to promote and grow tourism through marketing here in the city. Her role as chair is to work with the management committee in ensuring that their objectives are being achieved. “We have a strong executive director who works closely with various partners including Tourism Vancouver, the Vancouver Convention Centre and the exciting new Sport Development initiative with the city,” Brar agrees that the hotel industry has changed since she first started. “The industry continues to evolve, today everything is 24/7, people are looking for immediate responses. Being on top of social media is critical, and the fact that the world is moving at a faster pace. Everyone is busier and always out of time and therefore when taking a vacation, guests are looking for seamless, unique, curated experiences that are tailored to their individual preferences and make the best use of their valuable time off,” she explains.

Besides work, Brar is also passionate about adventure travel and has other interests. “I love exploring the world and all that there is to experience.” She also enjoys a healthy lifestyle that includes running the sea wall, the trails, and just being outdoors. Coming from a large family, spending quality time with family is very important to her. “My life achievements evolve around the excellent friends and family that I am surrounded by and of course my curiosity and thirst for life and adventure through my travels and experiences,” she sums up.

For youngsters wishing to follow her path, her advice is to follow your passion. “If you have the genuine desire to engage, to serve, to create and be a part of this fantastic industry, then jump in!

Be open to feedback and learning, and the unique ability to finish what you start, and both the ability and desire to want to continue to excel.”

For those unsure if the hotel industry is the right career, Brar simplifies the decision saying, “If you want to travel and gain international experience and are excited and flexible about new cities, cultures and experiences and different markets, then this is the career for you.”

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DARPAN SPOTLIGHT

IN HIGH

SPIRITS GuRvInDeR BHATIA

BY NERISSA JAWANDA

Wine expert Gurvinder Bhatia shares his passion for the alcoholic drink and talks about his successful career in food and wine.

G

urvinder Bhatia is one of the few lucky ones to turn his passion into a profession. The Alberta-based wine expert left his 10-year career as a lawyer to pursue his interests in food and wine. He is now a successful wine consultant, educator, judge and writer – and also named as one of the 50 most influential people in Alberta.

As part of his exciting career, Bhatia has the unique

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opportunity to travel the world and constantly meet new people.

His establishment, Vinomania, has been recognized as one of the top 20 wine stores in Canada.

The wine lover believes his interest in wine developed naturally from his interest in food, which was fostered by his parents throughout his childhood, “I’ve had an interest in food since I was young, which stemmed from the fact that there were never any restric-

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tions placed on me. In fact, I was encouraged to try everything. I also travelled a lot with my parents, and they always wanted me to try new things. So I grew up loving food, which naturally kind of led itself to wine.”

His foray into wine began when the Alberta government privatized retail liquor stores. “While I was practicing law, the Alberta government privatized the liquor stores.

There were some chains starting to open up, but there weren’t

any significant wine stores operating other than the ones that existed prior to privatization. I thought that there was a little bit of a void in the market, and the idea was to create a wine store with a boutique selection that was also accessible,” explains Bhatia.

Opened in 1995, Vinomania set itself apart by sourcing wines from small producers around the world.

Bhatia points out that the goal was to “expose people to quality producers from around the world, whose wines have a great sense of place and are great representations of their regions.” Vinomania has recently merged with another private wine boutique called Unwined.

Having spent many years as a wine educator, Bhatia finds it rewarding to share his knowledge with others.

“A lot of people are intimidated by wine, and I love to take that intimidation factor away and help people become more comfortable with wine, and not be scared of trying something they’ve never heard of before.”

He finds satisfaction in exposing people to wines they haven’t tried before, in hopes of helping them discover something they’ll fall in love with. Bhatia also loves discovering the people and history behind the wine. He enjoys hearing stories directly from the producers. “I love to learn what they’ve gone through, why a particular bottle tastes the way it does, what they’ve done in the vineyard, their family history, and the cultural aspect of it, because wine really does get its context from the people, the place, the culture and the history.”

Ask him which are his favourite wines, and he replies – “those which reflect where they’re from.” “For me, wine needs to have a sense of place. People forget that wine is an agricultural product, and what’s in the bottle should really reflect where the grapes are grown. When you get the sense of place, combined with it being well-made, and having a great price-quality ratio, those are the most enjoyable wines to drink,” says Bhatia summing up.

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Â

STO

RY

Young entrepreneur Karthik Naralasetty’s social media application Socialblood has more than 300 thousand active users across the globe. This much-needed service has created a social space for thousands of potential blood donors and recipients to meet and donate through Facebook. Now, finding an ideal blood donor is just a few clicks away.

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KARTHIK

NARALASETTY SOCIALIZING CHANGE

BY PETRINA D’SOUZA

T

here is no denying that social media has become an integral part of our life. We post on Facebook, share pictures on Instagram, send out tweets on Twitter – there isn’t a single day when we aren’t using social media to share or like something that interests us. Yet social media can be much more than merely posting, sharing or liking. One young man

saw the potential and reach social media has and decided to put its features to good use.

Karthik Naralasetty, founder of Socialblood, created a social media application that connects blood donors and recipients of the same blood type through Facebook. The goal – one, to create an easy, trustworthy and a reliable network of donors around the world, and two, to grow together with hospitals, blood-banks, and supporting organizations. Today, Socialblood has more than 300 thousand active users across the globe and has created a social space for thousands of potential blood donors and recipients to meet and donate. Now, finding an ideal blood donor is just a few clicks away.

It all began a few years ago. In 2009, Naralasetty dropped out of Rutgers University, New Jersey, to proceed with an initiative of his own. He founded Redcode Informatics, an information technology (IT) services company based in Bangalore, India. Though the company was generating good revenue, Naralasetty felt no sense of purpose to what he was doing. “I feel that when you are doing something, it should help other

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COVER STORY In June 2011, Naralasetty witnessed a family’s struggle to find regular blood transfusions for their four-year-old daughter to treat her thalassemia, a genetic blood disease.

“I researched; spoke to a lot of people and patients to understand why it is difficult to find blood donors at times.”

human beings. I did not really feel that accomplished or great about what I was doing.”

In June 2011, Naralasetty witnessed a family’s struggle to find regular blood transfusions for their four-year-old daughter to treat her thalassemia, a genetic blood disease. “I researched; spoke to a lot of people and patients to understand why it is difficult to find blood donors at times,” recalls Naralasetty, noticing the structural deficiencies in the local system of blood transfusions.

Meanwhile, he also read on TechCruch that more than 80 percent of India’s internet population is on Facebook every other day. This got Naralasetty thinking. “If so much of the population of India was connected through Facebook and logging in every day, why couldn’t we connect blood donors and recipients on a single platform?

That’s when I realised that by using social media and

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technology, this problem can be solved,” says the innovative founder, narrating how Socialblood came into being.

He created eight Facebook groups for eight blood types and invited his friends to join in. “Not only they joined in but they actually shared requests for blood and it spread like a wildfire,” shares the young achiever.

The innovative idea was an instant hit.

The same year, Naralasetty won the Ashoka Staples Youth Entrepreneur Award and travelled to the US to present his initiative in front of popular figures like Sean Parker, an American entrepreneur who served as the first president of Facebook.

Very soon, other countries started approaching Naralasetty to

TM

create something similar in their own. “I quickly realised that this is a problem people across the globe are facing.”

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I think for problems like blood donation, social media is a good medium, and if you look at bone marrow campaigns, they are also using social media to a large level.”

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This surprising fact encouraged him to start his own organization. “When we started initially, it was just India. We did not have a platform for ourselves; we were doing everything on Facebook. Once that grew to around 10 to 15 thousand numbers, we understood the gravity. We launched a platform ourselves off Facebook.”

Today, Socialblood has many investors in India and the United States of America.

It has received a lot of appreciation and support from many companies and organizations for its service. Naralasetty’s creation earned him a place on Forbes India 30 Under 30 list in 2015, and as one of Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 innovators recently in February.

Socialblood is simple to use. Once a user creates an account through Facebook, he/ she adds information like the city they are available in, blood type, and contact details.

Then it pulls up a list of connections that are already using the service.

The filters on the top bar help to narrow down on blood request and donors available for a particular blood type. The map pulls up that information with markings on the location. The user can also make a blood request using a quick form asking critical questions.

The app can scan the network for blood relations (known people with the same blood type as ours) and also invite members.

“So we are actually forming a network of blood donors within your friends circle,” adds Naralasetty.

Also, if you are looking for a particular blood type and nobody from your friend list has it, the app shows if any of your

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Socialblood has also partnered with Facebook on an initiative called Free Basics, previously called Internet.org. “We are a global partner. Wherever they go, they take us with them.

So Socialblood is a free offering where people don’t have to pay for internet to use it,” states Naralasetty. friend’s friend has it.

Socialblood has also partnered with Facebook on an initiative called Free Basics, previously called Internet.org. Through Free Basics, Facebook wants to provide free services to countries without proper internet connectivity. “We are a global partner. Wherever they go, they take us with them. So Socialblood is a free offering where people don’t have to pay for internet to use it,” states Naralasetty.

This partnership has been very beneficial for Socialblood and its users. Naralasetty shares a story of a first-time internet user in Bangladesh who used Socialblood to create a blood request for his wife. His wife was undergoing a pregnancy operation and was in need of blood. The man posted the request in his own language. Within a couple of hours, he got responses from other local people willing to support him.

“So it makes an impact like never before as Facebook is touching people who have never used internet ever. People are using the internet and actually benefitting from it.

That is a great milestone for us,” expresses Naralasetty of the partnership that he believes will help better Socialblood’s platform.

The reach and success of Socialblood only goes to prove that social media can play a

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crucial role in helping the healthcare system of any country address issues affecting the people. Naralasetty agrees, “There are not many healthcare solutions based on social media but I see a lot of start-ups using social technology to solve some problems. I think for problems like blood donation, social media is a good medium, and if you look at bone marrow campaigns, they are also using social media to a large level.”

Talking about healthcare, Naralasetty believes the health sector of India is growing. He points out that there are a lot of start-ups in India these days focussing on healthcare. This, he believes, is partially because of healthcare funds. “When we were raising funding initially, there were a lot of hiccups to do that. Now there are a lot of focussed healthcare funds supporting start-ups,” expresses Naralasetty, who is now based in San Francisco Bay Area.

He adds, “India is in a very good place right now as the country has a lot of problems to be solved and healthcare is one of the biggest problems there. Using social media and technology, I think they are dong a good job there.”

The number of Socialblood users has only been growing since the time it was initiated.

That is exactly what Naralasetty expects the application to do. “We want to grow as much as possible in as many countries.”

With great partnerships such as the one with Facebook, backing of strong investors, and a service that aims to help lives, it is a given that Socialblood has a long-lasting and successful journey ahead of it. Naralasetty and his team are also tying up with a lot of hospitals to tap into their networks. “Right now the focus is making sure there is always blood when there is a requirement,” says Naralasetty summing up.

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The Extraordinary Life of

Olympian Balbir Singh Sr.

Since he was a child, Singh was destined to play field hockey and become the greatest player to play the sport, winning three Olympic gold medals and setting an Olympic Record and Guinness World Record for scoring the most goals in a game. However, this incredible athlete has been overlooked in his home country of India. Journalist Patrick Blennerhassett chronicles his life story in A Forgotten Legend’ to set the record straight.

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BY RENu SINGH-JOSEPH

M

ost of us aspire to have an extraordinary life, whether be it in politics, athletics or in our chosen careers. And then, there are those fortunate few, who are destined to fulfill their life’s calling – this is the case with Balbir Singh Dosanjh, known by his nickname Balbir Singh Sr. From an early age, Singh exhibited tremendous aptitude and skill set to succeed in the sport of field hockey. Not only did Singh shine in field hockey throughout his adolescence and college years, but this prolific scorer ultimately represented an independent India (post British Raj and Partition) in the Olympic Games in 1948, 1952 and 1956. Singh secured three consecutive Olympic gold medals at these games, achieving the highest honour

TM

for an athlete to successfully represent their beloved nation.

Despite being a gifted, humble athlete, a national treasure, and three-time Olympic gold medalist, Singh has not been heralded in his home country as the legendary player that he is. Vancouver-based, award-winning journalist Patrick Blennerhassett travelled to India in 2014 to not only meet Singh and learn his life story, but to investigate why this incredible athlete has been overlooked. The result was the creation of the non-fiction book, A Forgotten Legend: Balbir Singh Sr., Triple Olympic Gold & Modi’s New India.

A FORGOTTEN LEGEND “To put it quite simply, Balbir is arguably

India’s greatest Olympian, in a country that has over a billion people. However he is not a national hero in his homeland, and no one knows his extraordinary story,” says Blennerhassett. “His legend has been sorely forgotten over the years, and with this book, we hope to uncover him and present him to a new Canadian audience.”

A Forgotten Legend shines light on Singh’s journey of sheer will and determination to fulfill his life long calling, despite facing adversity and anonymity amongst India’s changing social, political and economic landscape from the British Raj era to present-day Modi’s India.

As you read the book, you are drawn into two different narratives that interweave – the first is Singh’s story told against the context of India and its history. And the second is Blennerhassett’s journey to India and the revelations and factual information he uncovers as he continues to investigate Singh’s life story from growing up as a child in Moga, Punjab, and playing field

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from a kid in Burnaby to a mom in Surrey to pick it up and read it, and get something from it.”

Sitting across from Singh, who is 92 years old, and Blennerhassett, you can see the camaraderie and mutual respect between the two. “Balbir’s story for me became my own labour of love…

It’s an honour to tell Balbir’s story and I feel blessed to share his story with the world – he has become my hero,” adds Blennerhassett.

QUICK FACTS

“Balbir represents the iconic Olympian.

He is a pitch-perfect athlete, a hero

London Olympics 1948 – Singh scored 8 goals in 2 games he played. The final was between Britain and an independent India, who was victorious 4-0 with Singh scoring the first two goals.

Secured first gold medal.

who is incredibly humble and always one to give his teammates all the credit. He is very idealistic, someone who has spent their entire life turning the other cheek, all the while achieving greatness in the process.” - Patrick Blennerhassett, author, A Forgotten Legend: Balbir Singh Sr., Triple Olympic Gold & Modi’s New India

Helsinki Olympics 1952 – Vice Captain and India’s flag bearer in the opening ceremony, scored 9 of India’s 13 goals. Set Olympic/ Guinness World Record for 5 goals in a game – 6 to 1 against Netherlands in the final. Secured second gold medal.

Set an Olympic Record and Guinness World Record at the 1952 Olympics for scoring the most goals in a game – 5 goals against Netherlands, India won 6 to 1.

Melbourne Olympics 1956 – Captain and India’s flag bearer.

Singh broke a finger, missed a few group matches, but played in semifinal and final. India won gold against Pakistan 1 to 0.

Singh scored 22 goals over three Olympic games.

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ON THE PITCH

hockey for Khalsa College to working as a police officer during Partition and his travels around India and across the globe as a field hockey player, and later as a coach.

“Journalism is seen as the rough draft of history. With this book, I wanted to rewrite history factually and show people instead of what is being propagated over the Internet and what

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has become mythology over the years, strip that all away and just leave the facts, and let the facts speak for themselves,” explains Blennerhassett, who received the coveted Jack Webster Foundation Fellowship Award in 2007.

He goes on to say, “The idea was to not write an academic book, but a non fiction book that read like a story. We want to reach not only people who are interested in India and field hockey, but we want the average person

“He darted from home straight onto the field, his little legs barely able to keep up with his excitement. Immediately he joined a game, running, galloping back and forth until he felt as if his tiny lungs were about to burst.

That night he came home exhausted…When he awoke the next day, his rambunctious soul now had a purpose, and one purpose only – field hockey.” – excerpt from A Forgotten Legend.

Singh turns to me and says, “My first love is hockey and I’ve always wanted to play,” he then goes on to explain that his father gave him a very

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Photos: A MAster MediA, BAlBir singh sr.

Singh holds a field hockey stick in his hand, and you can see the passion in his eyes for his sport. I ask him, ‘How would you like future generations to remember you?’ and he replies with a smile, “As a hockey player, as a real sportsmen.”

important gift for his seventh birthday – a field hockey stick. His father Dalip, a freedom fighter, may not have known it at the time that this fateful gift would steer his son in the direction of his life’s calling.

“I really like his story, the way he started playing hockey, he’s a self made man who recognized the talent in himself and wanted to play,” says Ujjal Dosanjh, former cabinet minister and BC premier. Dosanjh says his father would bring magazines home showcasing Singh’s pictures on the field, and he

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would tear the pages out and put them on his bedroom wall. “As a child, I knew of him fondly, as we were so proud of him – he was a humble giant of a player.”

Singh would play centre forward and be heralded for his “lightning shot that he could rip in a split second,” says Blennerhassett, adding “I always call him field hockey’s first power forward – he was the first player to combine speed and hands with size. He was also tough to knock off the ball.”

Nick Sandhu, former Team Canada, medal-winning field hockey player, similarly describes Singh’s style of play, “He had the TM

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quickest release in the game and had a wicked shot plus speed to get to places – the combination of all those three is deadly for any forward in any game,” says Sandhu. Singh’s ability to successfully score goals is evident during the Olympics, as he scored 22 goals over three Olympic games.

A friend’s father played with Singh in India, and shared stories with Sandhu about Singh’s sportsmanship. “He was so dedicated to his sport that he worked on his skills tirelessly.

Singh was a good leader who led by example, if he wanted the other players to train hard, he was the first one to go train hard himself, he would only demand if he was going to do it himself.”

Sandhu first met Singh at the 1986 World Cup in London, and couldn’t believe “a man of his stature was so unbelievably humble” and over the decades, Sandhu says he was not only inspired by Singh’s achievements on the pitch, but by the life lessons bestowed by Singh to be a better person off the pitch.

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Singh not only won three Olympic gold medals with his Indian hockey team, but the

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“I would like his legacy to show what the reality has been, rather then displacing him from the top position and fictionalizing the record of someone who is superior. The whole intent has been to get dad’s real story out so he’s not placed second to Dhyan Chand, but is in fact recognized as the best hockey player in the history of the game.� - Ringo Dosanjh, Balbir Singh Sr.’s son

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team went on to secure silver medals in the 1958 and 1962 Asian Games. In addition, he set an Olympic Record and Guinness World Record at the 1952 Olympics for scoring the most goals in a game – five goals against Netherlands, India won 6 to 1 clinching the gold medal. Singh’s love for hockey transitioned to coaching, and he victoriously led India’s team to clinching the 1975 World Cup. Most recently, Singh was recognized at the 2012 London Olympics as one of 16 iconic Olympians. Singh, along with other incredible global athletes, including American Jesse Owens, were featured in an exhibit titled ‘The Olympic Journey: The Story of the Games’ at the Royal Opera House. Singh was the only Indian and the only field hockey player to receive this distinguished honour. “Balbir represents the iconic Olympian. He is a pitch-perfect athlete, a hero who is incredibly humble and always one to give his teammates all the credit,� says Blennerhassett. “He is very idealistic, someone who has spent their entire life turning the other cheek, all the while achieving greatness in the process.�

Singh’s son Ringo Dosanjh reflects on his father’s legacy and says “I would like his legacy to show what the reality has been, rather then displacing him from the top position and fictionalizing the record of someone who is superior.

The whole intent has been to get dad’s real story out so he’s not placed second to Dhyan Chand, but is in fact recognized as the best hockey player in the history of the game.�

Ujjal Dosanjh adds to this sentiment, “He’s a very humble man, I would remember him as an honest, decent Indian, the best hockey player the world ever produced.�

Singh holds a field hockey stick in his hand, and you can see the passion in his eyes for his sport. I ask him, ‘How would you like future generations to remember you?’ and he replies with a smile, “As a hockey player, as a real sportsmen.�

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DARPAN eXCLuSIve

Not only the comedian continues to travel around the world with his stand-up act, he has a blooming career in film and manages his own advisor business.

The Many Hats Of

Vir

Das

By Jorge Ignacio Castillo

D

iversification is the name of the game for Vir Das. Not only the comedian continues to travel around the world with his stand-up act, he has a blooming career in film and manages his own advisor business.

Though Weirdass, his comedy consultancy endeavour, Das provides assistance from corporate events to scriptwriting, alongside a team of professionals handpicked by him. Weirdass is likely to also become a film production company towards the end of 2016 or early 2017, focusing on low-budget, high-concept comedies, and using Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison as a blueprint.

DARPAN talked with Das shortly after getting off stage, in the midst of the Pajama Festival, one of India’s largest comedy festival.

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DARPAN eXCLuSIve

I live in a country where being a comedian is a dangerous profession, especially because I don’t believe in censoring my act.

Luckily, I’m not a vulgar comedian – most of my act comes from a place of intelligence – so I manage to talk about everything.”

Your educational background is quite impressive (includes a program in Harvard). Do you consider your comedy consultancy the result of all your skills combined?

No (laughs). I think of myself as a lousy businessman. I’m a man of ideas that are not always accompanied by numbers. We had the luck of the Irish: The consultancy bled money for the first two or three years, but while that was happening I had a couple of big Bollywood films. That gave the brand the push it needed and all the sudden clients started coming in.

How do you distribute your time between film, stand-up work, and comedy consultancy?

I try to do two to three films a year, which end up taking 45 to 50 days of my time and 30 days to promote. I make sure not to shoot on Saturdays or Sundays, to dedicate them to stand-up comedy.

You generate a lot of material. Is there a method to your creative process?

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I live in a country where being a comedian is a dangerous profession, especially because I don’t believe in censoring my act. Luckily, I’m not a vulgar comedian – most of my act comes from a place of intelligence – so I manage to talk about everything.

What are the topics that interest you today to mine for comedy?

Initially you write about things you believe everybody else would dig: Sex, Bollywood, cricket, etcetera. A couple of years into it, you start writing about what you like. I enjoy history, so I did “History of India”; I like science, so I wrote “Battle Of Da Sexes”. After nine years working as a comic, I decided to tackle something that really scared me: Myself and my journey as a comedian. The material I bring to North America in the “Unbelievablish” tour is extremely personal: Living in America, being fired, not having medical insurance, cancelling a wedding, getting arrested…

The film and TV industry in the US seems to be making a push for diversity. Does it tempt you to return?

The idea behind a new comedy special comes to my head while travelling. Typically it would take me six to eight months to come up with a new routine. The longest show I’ve done was called “History Of India”. It made me pick up history books and then I locked myself in a cottage in the north of India for about a month to write it all down. It ended up selling over a quarter of a million tickets over the last four years.

Do you adapt your act to wherever you’re performing, or you expect the audience to adapt to you?

I adapt a little. I’m aware there is a global need for an authentic In-

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dian comedy voice. In the American and British markets, having an accent has always been the punch line, but never the point of view. What I like about performing for those crowds is the opportunity to tell them what an Indian thinks of Obama, Donald Trump or their foreign policy. I may do some local material, but I wouldn’t change the perspective I’m bringing to the table.

A common issue among North American comedians is that audiences are more easily offended than ever.

Have you encountered this phenomenon?

The idea of signing with (management agency) CAA is with the intention of breaking into the American market. I know CAA would like me to move to America, but I’m not ready to do that just yet.I definitely see myself spending four to five months a year there, trying to get into television and the stand-up circuit.

What would you say is the biggest misconception about you?

I’ve always believed that your image doesn’t belong to you.

Others will always be in charge: One day they decide that you’re famous, likeable, credible or the opposite. The only thing you can control is your talent. It’s really about bringing everything down to baby steps: The next joke, the next clip, the next show. The rest will take care of itself.

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YOUTH SPEAK

7

STEPS TO SCHOOL

SANITY

HOW TO GET THROUGH YOUR MIDTERMS AND FINALS

B

BY ANOOP VIRK Anoop Virk is one of Canada’s Top 20 Under 20, a Three Dot Dash Global Teen Leader, BC’s 24 Under 24, and an Ambassador for the Minerva Women’s Foundation. She was invited to Rideau Hall by the Prime Minister and Governor General for the celebration of exceptional Canadian service, and was selected to give a gift to the Royal highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. At the age of 21, Anoop has connected with some and shakers around the world - Ndaba Mandela, Chelsea Clinton, Prince William and Kate, and Stephen Harper, to name a few.

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eing a student is never easy – you’re balancing work with your class assignments, and trying to find a balance between having somewhat of a social life and your grades. During the semester comes a time where every major essay and exam seems to be due, making you sick from all the stress. You may want to lie on your bed all day contemplating how you got here, and that it is going to take a miracle for you to absorb all the material in time for your exams. But don’t you worry; here is a seven-step guide to help you stay healthy and ready to take on your workload.

PLAN AHEAD Yes, we’ve all heard this since elementary school, yet we end up opening our textbooks the night before the exam, every semester – opening your notes and feeling a flush of anxiety, or opening a new blank document, thinking that this is the last time you’re going to leave it to the nigh before. Write a deadline in your agenda or iPhone, and

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Our youth are the leaders of tomorrow and their voice mu st be heard. Throug h this column, DARPAN give youngsters an opportunity to express their vie ws and ideas on top ics they are passionate abo ut. If you wish to contribute, em ail us at

editor@darpanm

agazine.com

prepare to go over your notes and read your chapters well before the last class, so you have time to absorb all the information and don’t get overwhelmed.

GO TO OFFICE HOURS If you prepare ahead of time, you’ll realize what concepts you fell asleep during, or were perhaps texting your friends. Going to a couple office hours before your exam ensures you can get some insight from the professor, and this will make you feel like you took an extra step and are ahead of the game. The teacher will know how determined you are, and this can always help your participation grade.

WORK WITH CLASSMATES Study groups are great because it helps you not procrastinate or make excuses to get a snack and spend time on YouTube, like you do when you’re alone. If you partner with another friend and are on a deadline, you can split a book in half and take notes for one another. Studying with your classmates at the library is great because you guys can focus, make brainstorming maps, and use Google documents, so that everyone can add important questions and concepts on the go.

SCHEDULE BREAKS Making an unrealistic day schedule with back-to-back blocks of study-

ing will just get you more stressed when you don’t follow it. Schedule breaks to chill, go to the gym, eat meals, and take naps. This will help you work hard and maintain your studying schedule, and in return, you can reward yourself with a 20-minute break to watch Netflix or do something you enjoy.

EAT HEALTHY We’ve all been there where we have just ordered fast food out of tiredness, and felt sick after. Drink water and fresh juices, and eat vegetables to make sure you keep your energy up and your brain sharp. You’ll feel better, and also avoid feeling more stressed that you’ve added a couple extra pounds.

EXERCISE Whether you do yoga, go for a walk, go to the gym, or any other exercise activity you prefer, you will feel more energized and refreshed to take on your classes.

HAVE FUN It’s easy to get so consumed and just focus on memorizing instead of actually understanding the material.

When you start early, you’ll be able to actually understand the material and add less stress onto your plate.

Remember it’s important to work hard, but it’s not the end of the world if you try your best and not get an A. There are more important things in the world, and you will survive and strive.

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LIFe BeYOnD AN ACID

ATTACK

By GARIMA GOSWAMI In 2013, Stop Acid Attacks’ activism to restrict trade of acid resulted in the Supreme Court of India banning over-the-counter sale of acid. Further reforms to the law mean convicts can draw up to 10 years in prison for acid violence.

A

cid attacks have been in existence for several years in various parts of the world but have especially gained prominent attention in the past decade. A weekly publication in Glasgow, The Reformer’s Gazette, published an editorial in the 1830s highlighting one such attack and commented about the use of vitriol (sulfuric acid) saying, “The crime of throwing vitriol has, we grieve to say, become so common in this part of the country, as to become almost a stain on the national character.”

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The premediated crime brutally scars victims physically and psychologically leaving some of them to resort to suicide so that they can escape excruciating multiple surgeries, financial load, and a diminished prospect of finding employment. All of this while they also desperately struggle to get their attacker behind bars in states lacking strict laws for such attacks.

DARPAN SALuTeS www.darpanmagazine.com Presently, the bulk of acid attacks comprise within South Asia’s India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Cambodia. Although Bangladesh is leading the model of recovery from acid attacks with strict laws and harsh punishments in place – reports suggest a steady decline of 20 percent to 30 percent – other nations within the category are struggling to cope with their escalating stats of acid violence. In fact, it was only in 2013, when the Indian judicial system decided to isolate acid attack crimes from other offences under Section 326 of the Indian Penal Code (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or other means) and created Section 326A and 326B which specifically deal with acid violence. And yet, acid attacks in India continue to increase.

This continuous rise is what germinated the establishment of Stop Acid Attacks (SAA) and similar organizations that extend various services

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Photo Credit: stop Acid Attacks, sheroes Cafe, Paltan

With the aim of restoring lives of acid attack survivors, SAA and similar organizations across India have developed efficient means of rehabilitation. Sheroes Café (She+heroes) is one of them.

– financial support for surgeries, legal aid, shelter, employment, and a space for survivors and campaigners to unite voices against the horrors of acid attacks. SAA was initiated as a campaign by Laxmi, an acid attack survivor, and her partner, Alok Dixit. It has now fermented into a nationwide anthem with regular protests and campaigns in India. Personalities from various fields, national and international, have come forward to speak for legal rights of acid attack victims and agitated for their acceptance in a rigid society.

In 2013, SAA’s activism to restrict trade of acid resulted in the Supreme Court of India banning over-the-counter sale of acid. Further reforms to the law mean convicts can draw up to 10 years in prison for acid violence. The reform has helped lift the veil on this crime that had for years forced those affected by it to live in the shadows.

Moreover, victims are more confidentially coming forward to register cases and taking refuge of law.

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DARPAN SALuTeS The premediated crime brutally scars victims physically and psychologically leaving some of them to resort to suicide so they can escape excruciating multiple surgeries, financial load and a diminished prospect of finding employment.

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With the aim of restoring lives of acid attack survivors, SAA and similar organizations across India have developed efficient means of rehabilitation. Sheroes Café (She+heroes) is one of them. Ritu, Geeta, Neeta and other survivors manage this café based in Agra, India. The location transforms into an activism space, community radio hub, and an exhibition ground showcasing textile creativities of survivors. Sheroes website describes its role in acid attacks saying, “As the idea of this space has evolved from a campaign for acid attack survivors, the ideas of beauty and importance of appearance in society remain the epicentre of discussions and programmes run from here.”

Recently, SAA inaugurated Sheroes Café’s second branch in Lucknow, India, while accentuating the need to identify more of such victims in the area and rehabilitating them. Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, reportedly contributes to a majority of these acid attacks. In coherence with SAA’s mission of rehabilitation, a bus will travel to various districts within the city to spread awareness and identify victims that were attacked prior to 2013 when the law was pursued in this direction.

Already, acid attack survivors have carved success stories of themselves. It is definitely motivating to see Laxmi getting honoured with International Women of Courage Award 2014 and as the face of a fashion brand, Viva N Diva; Kavita Bisht serves as the brand ambassador of the Uttarakhand Women and Child Development Department; and Rupa as a fashion designer sharing her boutique space with Sheroes Café, Agra.

The long run agitation by survivors and activists has motivated survivors, men and women, of this appalling crime to confidentially come out in the open and raise their voice against it. In fact, this has been a forceful factor in the Supreme Court of India allocating an exclusive section to the crime and ordering states to extend financial support to victims for their surgeries. This does not mean the fight for their rights is over, because what is also a fact is that acid attack figures have not come down despite of law emplacements.

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SPECIAL FeATuRe

DEFENCE

Secret

FEAR

HARASSM

ENT

STALKED DOMESTIC

ABUSE

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RAPE

THE FRIGHTENING CONVERSATION SURROUNDING WOMEN’S SAFETY THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE.

An Attack On Our

SAFETY

By Ashley Stephens

S

afe. It’s a feeling easily taken for granted. We wake up, go to work, take the bus home to our family, and tuck our kids in at night without a second thought.

But as violent attacks on public transit, random outburst in seemingly innocent neighbourhoods, and sexual crimes at well-respected universities continue to make the news, it’s hard not to question the sanctity of one’s safety.

For women, the issue of safety is especially precarious.

In speaking with organizations around Vancouver that provide support and resources for women in times of need, it’s clear the concern over women’s safety is complicated. Do women in Vancouver feel safe? It’s not a simple yes or no answer.

“It depends if women feel safe in their

homes and if women feel safe in the public. If women feel safe in the public areas where there are more people, like parks and on public transportation, and if they’re feeling safe when there’s not many people, like side streets or residential areas,” says Angela Marie MacDougall, executive director of Battered Women’s Support Services, detailing situational concerns over a women’s safety.

Unfortunately, there is justified reasoning for any concern at all. “When women know how much the threat of violence is real, most women are very aware of that and a lot of times behave accordingly,” says Hilla Kerner, of the Vancouver Rape Relief & Women’s Shelter. “They will try not to walk alone at night or they hold

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SPECIAL FeATuRe

Women are never responsible for the violence committed against them. Instead of putting the burden on women to keep themselves safe, systems and institutions need to respond to

Kendra Milne, Director of Law Reform of West Coast LEAF

violence against women by holding perpetrators accountable. Creating safety for women requires a shift in the way our communities respond to sexualized violence.�

their keys while they’re going to their car – all kinds of little “ordinary behaviours’ women internalize because they know there is a threat of violence.� “We are socialized to protect ourselves from male violence,� agrees MacDougall.

Sadly, such behaviours are often not enough; statistics show a woman’s safety is most often compromised in places thought to be safe.

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“We know from our work alongside women that stranger assaults are a very small percentage of the sexual assaults that we see. Most women are assaulted by people they know and trust,� Women Against Violence Against Women (WAVAW) Rape Crisis Centre said in a statement emailed to DARPAN. “You just don’t anticipate it will happen to you from someone you trust but, I think, in general, women feel unsafe because they are aware of the reality of women’s lives,� says Kerner.

While questions surrounding the safety of women in the city are complicated, the solution to the violence seems to be just as problematic. “We are asking the question, what women do or what women can do to feel safe in the public realm and in the private realm,� says MacDougall. “The bigger question is, why is there male violence against women.

And why does it continue with relative impunity?�

WAVAW expressed similar concerns: “Women are never responsible for the violence committed against them. Instead of putting the burden on women to keep themselves safe, systems and institu-

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“We look to put the problem with the individual and we render invisible the pervasive and endemic male violence against women,” continued MacDougall.

“It doesn’t help to continue to focus on individual women; we actually need to go to the source of the problem. The conversation that then results in behaviour change is going to be the solution for women’s safety.”

The sad truth is we’re not there yet and so violence happens and women are at risk. Because the risk exists, so do certain strategies that aim to help women.

“International human rights laws like the Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination against Women require that signatory states like Canada take action to eliminate mental, physical and sexual violence against women,” explains director of law reform of West Coast LEAF, Kendra Milne. “Canada and BC have taken steps to implement laws to address violence against women and girls, but while the laws prohibit violence, most of them provide legal remedies after the violence has already occurred.”

Despite the laws currently in place, recent attacks show just how necessary it is that more can and needs to be done.

“Unfortunately, women often need legal advice and representation to access many of these legal remedies, and legal aid in BC is wholly inadequate,” says Milne, detailing the struggle to receive legal aid is hindered by extremely low income eligibility thresholds. “In addition, we know that up to 90% of women who experience sexual assault do not report it

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If you or anyone you know is thought to be at risk for violent attacks or feel their safety to be compromised in any way, there are many support lines and resource centres available to offer information and assistance. “Because when you’re not safe, you need an immediate response,” says Kerner about the need for 24-hour crisis lines offered by most centres.

Battered Women’s Support Services www.bwss.org 604-687-1867 or 1-855-687-1868 (toll-free)

B.C. Crime Stoppers

“We are asking the question, what women do or what

www.bccrimestoppers.com 1-800-222-8477 (anonymous tip line)

women can do to feel safe in the public realm and in the private realm. The bigger question is, why is there

Surrey Women’s Centre

male violence against women.”

www. surreywomenscentre.ca Surrey Mobile Assault Response Team 604-583-1295 (24-hour)

to the police and, when they do, very few cases lead to charges and prosecution.”

Coupled with changes to community thinking, authoritative action can help shift the conversation.

“The BC and Canadian government can absolutely take proactive steps to eliminate violence against women in Vancouver,” says Milne. “A meaningful and properly funded national and provincial action plan to address violence could include elements like address issuing of poverty, inadequate healthcare and inadequate housing that put women, and especially marginalized women, at increased risk of violence or make it more difficult for them to escape it.

It should include reform to the police and criminal justice system to eliminate the stigma and revictimization that comes with reporting sexual violence.”

Vancouver Rape Relief & Women’s Shelter www. rapereliefshelter.bc.ca 604-872-8212 (24-hour)

Women Against Violence Against Women Rape Crisis Centre www. wavaw.ca 1-877-392-7583 (toll-free 24-hour) If you don’t feel safe, talk to someone.

Assaults do not have to be reported to the police to access the majority of services available to those in need. This includes access to medical intervention in the event of injury during an assault which should never be avoided due to shame or guilt. Knowing your options can be the best defence when it comes to staying safe.

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MARCH / APRIL 2016 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

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“Legal aid service in British Columbia should be adequately funded to allow women to access the legal supports they need when they have or are at risk of experiencing violence,” she says, noting that proper funding for support services is also necessary as some crisis centres report 1.5 year wait lists to access counselling.

When there is work to do, rent to pay and families to tend to, enough worries consume our everyday without adding safety to the list.

Walking alone at night or taking a new bus may make women think twice but the thoughts of those who provoke such worry may be what should be questioned more.

While feeling safe shouldn’t be taken for granted, it’s a feeling that shouldn’t be taken away by someone else.

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I never had any difficulties to develop my business at Desjardins because when you are honest and transparent, people can see if you’re truthful or not. I always try to be truthful and honest from day one,” states Chohan

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PERMINDER CHOHAn Chohan is well-known in the community as a veteran insurance industry leader and a dedicated philanthropist. “God has given me the opportunity to help others. That’s why whenever someone is in need, I want to be there,” says he.

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Making small budgetary changes will help you reach your financial goals sooner.

Make a grocery list before you go shopping An easy way to save money is to only shop when you have a list. Majority of the time you’re without one and typically end up making unplanned purchases – all things that cost money. Create a list before you go the grocery store. Not only will you avoid buying food that you may waste, but it can also help you buy items that fit within your meal plan.

Invite friends over instead of going out

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re you looking for ways to trim a few bucks from your monthly budget?

It can be tough especially with the cost of living expenses rising. There are two ways to look at saving money: as a punishment, or as a reward.

If you opt for the former, it will feel like a series of painful sacrifices.

However, if you embrace the latter, making small budgetary changes will help you reach your goals sooner. You have to find the ways that work for you, and slowly start incorporating the strategies into your life. Here are a few points to help you get started.

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MARCH / APRIL 2016 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

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Going out to eat has a way of completely destroying both your food budget and your entertainment budget. Fact is it’s always cheaper to stay in with friends and come up with your own ways to stay entertained. Host a fun pot luck dinner, play cards, sit around a fire pit, or watch movies! You’ll all save money – and have a good time.

Avoid dining out and fast food Try making simple and healthy replacements for fast food and junk food. An hour’s worth of meal preparation one weekend can leave you with lots of meals and snacks for the following week. There are plenty of phone app’s or websites that can help you get started with meal planning and recipes. Over time, you’ll find that cooking at home is much easier than you think – and way cheaper than take-out or dining out.

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61

BUSINESS PROFILE

72nd Ave and 116th Street Townhomes

HARDEEP BASSI, Principal tender age of 13, learning the

After establishing a remarkable

skills and trades of the home

presence in Ladner, the company

development industry. Together

is now expanding to North Delta.

the father-son duo has created a

Photo: Amrit Photography, Bassi Properties

D

in North Delta, and is getting ready

company’s of

portfolio

condos,

town

to launch 40 town homes later this year on 116th Street and 72nd Avenue.

objective is to build homes that

One of their current projects is

are reliable, affordable, and of

Muse located at 9015 Scott Road

quality,” says Hardeep, who is a

in

graduate from the Sauder School

elegant six-storey building that

of Business at the University of

encompasses 101 condominium

British Columbia (UBC). “We take

suites and four townhomes, as

pride in the homes we build.”

well

“To Bassi Properties, it is about

North

Delta.

seven

Muse

commercial

is

an

units.

Its amenities include a large

elta is rapidly grow-

company, Highmark Homes, been

ing. It is this growth

carrying out home development in

building

will

comfortable social lounge, fully

that has encouraged

the Greater Vancouver for more

withstand the test of time. We

equipped fitness centre, secure

many home buyers

than 25 years.

want our buildings to not only

underground parking, and storage

enhance the community but we

lockers. “All commercial units and

to make the city their home. One

62

comprises of 30 single family lots

community.

homes and land acquisition. “Our

NOT JUST HOMES

recently

to build on a trusted name in the

comprises

BUILDING COMMUNITIES,

Properties

developed Stegavik Court which

The

P ROP ER T I ES

Bassi

dynamic team that has continued

Gary Bassi, founder of Bassi

something

that

can credit Bassi Properties for

Properties,

from

want the community to be proud

40% of the residential units were

playing a major role in pulling

India to Vancouver in his early

of them,” says Hardeep about

sold in just two months,” reveals

the crowd towards Delta. Bassi

twenties and started his first

the company’s work. He further

an excited Hardeep.

Properties, one of the fastest

development company, Highmark

points out, “for us it is about

Surrounded by an abundance of

growing development compa-

Homes. His son, Hardeep, began

building a reputation and brand

amenities and attractions, from

nies, has along with its sister

working for the company at the

homebuyers can trust.”

shops and schools to restaurants

MARCH / APRIL 2016 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

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migrated

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Previous Bassi Projects

Muse located at 9015 Scott Road in North Delta

Stegavik Court Three storey single family homes in North Delta.

Bentley Lane Single family homes located in West Lander.

Laurel Drive Single family homes surrounded by rich greens in West Ladner.

Marina Gardens Luxurious homes backing onto Cove Links golf course with breathtaking views.

Central Drive Coach homes located in the heart of Ladner.

Muse is an ideal location for a home buyer. The spacious open floor plans, nine-foot ceilings, and expansive view windows create a bright, inviting space for living and entertaining. refurbish

Bassi’s

“The project will bring new life

Sky Train conveniently close,

project is a positive move in

and vibrancy to the city. I

Muse is an ideal location for a

that direction,” he shares. Muse

am

home buyer. The spacious open

will benefit the community, he

development.”

floor plans, nine-foot ceilings,

asserts, “The project will show

and expansive view windows

active involvement in the area

closely

create a bright, inviting space

and encourage other developers

entrepreneurs and start ups

for

as

to

the

The company also works alongside

young

providing

in the South Asian community – one of the many aspects

screens

real necessity.”

that make them different from

entertaining.

expand

your

living

fitness

and

social

amenities

complete the Muse lifestyle.

With an aim to make their homes functional and livable,

Delta

similar companies around. “We

North and former Delta City

are currently working with a

Councillor, has worked closely

number of organizations that

with Bassi Properties during his

promote South Asian youth to

tenure as Councillor. “I have

start their own businesses. It is

known Gary and Hardeep for

important for us to give back to our community.” says Hardeep.

Scott

space outdoors year round, while

Scott Hamilton, MLA Delta North and former Delta City Councillor

the company pays close attention

PHOTO: AMRIT PHOTOGRAPHY, BASSI PROPERTIES

forward

affordable housing which is a

and

are

looking

Sheltered balconies with privacy

living

They

Rd.

from Ladner Market and Village.

and movie theatres, with even the

well.

Scott

Westminster Court Single family homes walking distance

Hamilton,

MLA

to all details – right from the

has been greatly appreciated

15 years. Bassi Properties is a

initial stages of development to

by the City of Delta and its

well-established

the very end. “During the design

Councillors.

that

stage we work closely with our

Councillor of Delta Municipal

quality products,” says Hamilton,

offers better than the best.

trusted

Council,

architects

to

ensure

Bruce

vouches

our buildings and homes will

Properties’

enhance

McDonald,

believes

adding, “They are in par with

It

many other companies in town,

just a home, but a familyfriendly surrounding in Delta’s

every time.”

sure our condo units were larger

exactly

than anything offered in the

says he.

company

what

they

produces promise,”

exceed

my

expectations

promises

growing

Hamilton believes that Muse will be a great addition to Delta.

to

provide

community.

not

After

all, your home is where your heart is.

Councillor McDonald, also the

Hardeep, adding that Muse has

Community

been getting rave reviews for its

Committee Chair, is well-aware

design.

of the Muse project. “For many

The company’s exceptional work

– Bassi Properties

work.

and

area and at a better price” says

the best

Bassi

well. The

the

delivering

for

“Bassi Properties has done very

promote

in

outstanding

community. For Muse, we made

and

Every homeowner deserves

organization

Planning Advisory

years we have been trying to

www.bassiproperties.com

T: 778.317.3715 DARPAN

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DARPAN FEATURE

Flower POWER

By Petrina D’Souza

I

t is the beautiful season of spring. The sight of flowers blooming all around indicates that happiness is in the air, giving way to happy days ahead.

Happiness is indeed connected to flowers – research conducted at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, proves that the presence of flowers triggers happy emotions, heightens feelings of life satisfaction, and affects social behaviour in a positive manner.

The study, titled An Environmental Approach to Positive Emotions: Flowers by Jeannette HavilandJones, Holly Hale Rosario, Patricia Wilson, and Terry R. McGuire, was published in the Evolutionary Psychology Journal in 2005. In three separate studies, the researchers were able to show significant evidence that flowers have very positive effects on people.

The researchers suggested that

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MARCH / APRIL 2016 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

people who received flowers expressed increased genuine positive emotions, lasting up to several days after receiving them.

“Additionally, people receiving flowers were seen changing their social norms. For example, in the study, participants that received

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flowers stood closer to the people that presented the flowers, even though these presenters were strangers. This is fairly remarkable as these “social distances” are well established within different cultures and are difficult to overcome,” says Dejan Kristan, marketing director of Flowers Canada Ontario.

In the third study, the researchers were able to show that the happiness flowers provide was cumulative, in that people who received more flowers were happier than the people that received fewer. “Astonishingly, they also gathered evidence that the memories of people who received flowers were improved!” adds Kristan.

Including the presence of flowers in your lifestyle has a lot of benefits – mentally and physically.

Dejan Kristan,

MARKETING DIRECTOR, FLOWERS CANADA ONTARIO

Kristan states that there are studies suggesting that flowers can help with: 1) Concentration and memory 2 ) Help clean the air you breath of impurities 3) Enhance learning for children who are around plants 4) Reduce stress levels for people who nurture plants and tend to gardens 5) Being around plants improves relationships between people and the compassion they feel towards each other

“There is even a study, Effects of Flowering and Foliage Plants in Hospital Rooms on Patients Recovering from Abdominal Surgery by Seong-Hyun Park and Richard H. Mattson, that suggests flowers help patients recover after surgery!” points out Kristan. According to the study, patients with plants in their rooms experienced lower pain intensity and pain distress, lower systolic blood pressure, and had higher room satisfaction than patients without plants in their rooms.

Plants within a working environment can affect employees in a positive manner. One research paper found that employees with plants in their offices expressed higher job satisfaction and a higher overall life quality rating than employees with no plants in their offices.

According to another study, plants in an office environment significantly reduced the preva-

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DARPAN FEATURE

lence of both neuropsychological (fatigue, headache, concentration problems, etc.) and mucous membrane symptoms (itching or irritation of the eyes, running or stuffy nose, cough, etc.). “Any office environment struggling with any of these issues could look at introducing flowers into their workplace as an interesting and inexpensive tool to help alleviate some of these problems,” advices Kristan.

To get the maximum benefit, Kirstan suggests choosing flowers of vibrant colours.

“In the study, “An Environmental Approach

to Positive Emotions: Flowers”, a theoretical explanation is put forth that we may be attracted to flowers, in part, because of our “primate trichromatic colour visual system” and that our preference for certain colours may have evolved from the importance of finding ripe fruit against a green background.”

Also, go with the flower you like. “That is the one that will probably affect you the most. If you are thinking of giving flowers, have confidence that whatever variety you choose, the person receiving them will likely have a positive emotional reaction,”

shares Kristan.

He recommends taking up gardening as an activity to not only be around flowers, but also stay fit. “Gardening is great exercise and some estimates put the number of calories burned per hour of gardening between 200 and 400.”

To know more about these beneficial blooms, Kristan recommends reading an article published in the Journal of Environmental Horticulture titled Economic, Environmental, and Health/Well-Being Benefits Associated with Green Industry Products and Services: A Review by Charles R. Hall and Madeline W. Dickson. This article is a literature review of all the recent studies involving flowers and summarizes their many benefits.

In conclusion, he says, “Nobody is saying that flowers are going to solve all of your problems. They most likely will not. But, you may find that you too start experiencing some of these benefits and maybe you find that flowers make you a little bit happier, or a little bit calmer, or a little bit healthier.

After all, wouldn’t we all like to be a little happier, a little calmer, and a little healthier?”

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DARPAN NEWS

IN PICTURES

Black Tie Affair The Black Tie Affair, a gala fundraiser organized by PICS in support of PICS Diversity Village, a culturally sensitive extended care home for seniors, garnered a whopping $400,000, the total up to an impressive $850,000 for the project. More than 800 people attended the event including Canada’s National Defence Minister, Honourable Harjit Singh Sajjan who was also the key note speaker.

Bollywood Ball The Surrey Hospital & Outpatient Centre Foundation was able to announce at the inaugural Bollywood Ball, presented by Bausch + Lomb, the completion of Project Eye with $1.2 million raised to help prevent blindness. All donations will go towards equipping a dedicated Retinal Operating Room at the Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre. Photos: Ella Haus Photography

Prime Minsiter Trudeau Visits Surrey Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently visited Surrey to meet his supporters and spend an evening with the South Asian community. The fundraiser was organized by Dr. Gulzar Cheema, a well-known physician, politician and Liberal Party supporter, and his wife Harinder. Attendees included top businessman and social elites from the Indian community, who came to support and meet the Prime Minister and exchange ideas with him.

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MARCH / APRIL 2016 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

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Wishing all of our customers a Happy Vaisakhi!

The Business of Culture Fundraiser Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration Society (VIBC) and the Surrey Board of Trade presented a dynamic night of art, music, dance, food and great conversation focused on the positive impacts of the arts on business – especially in the development and support of local communities and social networks.

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DARPAN FEATURE

kids who learn to cook are empowered to make healthy food choices that are right for them.

Make way for

little chefs

By Petrina D’Souza

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Brandt points out that cooking can benefit children in many ways:

hildren should be taught to adopt a healthy lifestyle since a young age. With health issues like obesity, diabetes, and eating disorders affecting even kids there days, its best the young ones understand and practice healthy eating habits as early as possible.

One easy way to start this practice is by teaching your child to cook. Barbara J. Brandt, author of Your Kids: Cooking!, agrees. “It is imperative that kids learn to cook, especially today when their only other option is commercially prepared processed food that has been proven to be causing unprecedented heath issues in our children.” Brandt’s book/DVD set teaches kids to cook using video demonstrations and a unique kid-friendly recipe format that makes it possible for them to prepare 20 complete meals on their own, with minimal supervision.

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MARCH / APRIL 2016 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

Kids who learn to cook eat healthier because they are able to prepare delicious food using fresh and wholesome ingredients.

When children are taught and understand the basics of nutrition and what it means to eat healthy and why it’s important to eat healthy, they are gaining knowledge that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.

They are empowered to make healthy food choices that are right for them, which is the definition of independence – not being influenced or controlled by others.

Their food choices are not influenced or con-

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trolled by food companies that want to sell them unhealthy food full of salt, sugar, fat and preservatives.

Learning in this way builds confidence and motivation and develops in them a sense of pride and accomplishment that can only come from knowing they did it all on their own.

They learn organizational skills, time management skills, how to follow directions, food safety, math, science, patience, and humility, among other values.

One of the best by-products of their learning to cook is that they gain an appreciation for what it takes to get tasty, healthy

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Banana oatMeal Muffins

sPinach Balls the name is sometimes enough to make kids turn up their noses to the idea. if that might be the case with your kids, try calling them green Meanie Balls, or Martian Bites, or anything but spinach balls!

ingredients:

PreParation:

2 ½ cups old-fashioned oats

Combine all the ingredients together and mix well.

1 cup yogurt

Bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes.

¾ cup sugar of your choice 1 ½ tsp baking powder ½ tsp baking soda

whole grains, delicious snack full of dairy, and fruit.

2 ripe bananas

ingredients: 20-oz frozen spinach (thawed and thoroughly drained) 1 box stuffing mix (chicken flavour) 1 cup Parmesan cheese 5 eggs (lightly whisked) 1 onion (finely minced, or grated) ½ cup butter (melted) 1 tsp oregano 1 tsp basil PHOTO: deliciousinadash-blog, istockphoto

2 cloves garlic (crushed)

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Barbara J. Brandt, author, Your Kids: Cooking!

8 oz mozzarella cheese (finely grated)

PreParation: Combine everything in a large bowl.

Mix together until the spinach is evenly distributed throughout the other ingredients.

Form into small balls. Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes.

MARCH / APRIL 2016 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

DARPAN

food on the table. It also helps them gain an appreciation of what it takes to keep the kitchen clean.

Not only does a child learn to cook, but the process also encourages closeness and bonding with the family. “When families spend time together in the kitchen, they

TM

and bananas, Made with oats, yogurt

can’t help but engage in spontaneous conversation, whether it be about what their day was like or about something that has been on their mind for a while,” explains Brandt, adding, “In these busy times, this is often the only chance families get to spend that kind of quality time together.”

It may be hard for parents, at times, to get their child interested in cooking. So how do you get the kiddie involved? “By letting the kids be in charge of the process, starting with picking out which recipes they want to make, to shopping, and especially when preparing the recipe,” answers Brandt, offering a solution.

Allowing kids the opportunity for their input and choices to matter is usually all it takes to spark an interest in kids to learn anything. “They spend all day in school being told what they are going to learn and rarely have a chance to engage in active learning. When they are allowed the freedom to choose and feel like they are really

DARPAN FEATURE “when families spend time together in the kitchen, in spontaneous conversa tion, whether it be about what their day was like or about something that has been on their mind for a while.” contributing to their family in a meaningful way, they become very excited and motivated,” says Brandt.

A few points need to be kept in mind when teaching your young one to cook.

“Safety, safety, safety,” emphasizes Brandt on the most important point, “In my book, we take great care to educate kids about the dangers they may encounter in the kitchen, and group them into “hot stuff,” “germy stuff,” and “sharp stuff”.” Another crucial point is patience.

Keep the teaching process simple, advices Brandt. “Just introduce them to the basic concepts of the five food groups and how to build a healthy plate.” They also need some understanding of the difference between fresh ingredients and processed ingredients and to understand why fresh is better than processed.

Brandt believes that kids should be allowed to eat the things they like. “By allowing this and with the understanding that all things in moderation is ok, kids are more willing to be open to trying new foods and more open to reducing the amount of not-so-healthy foods they are used to eating.”

In conclusion, she states that meals like soups, stews or casseroles are easy to prepare and encourage participation by all family members. “The really little ones can wash produce, or measure spices, and the older one can do the knife work to prepare the veggies. And everyone can have a say in what goes in it, because that’s the nature of soup or stew – they are great ways to let the creative juices flow and put in everyone’s favourites.”

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DARPAN RECIPES

About the Chef

An

acclaimed culinarian, Ajay Chopra’s love and passion for food has seen him grow as

a modern Indian chef. His conviction and diligence has conferred him as one of the most celebrated chefs in the Indian television and food industry.

He is popularly known for co-hosting and judging MasterChef India Season 1 and 2. He has also been a food host for shows such as Chop Chop

Chopra,

Veggistan,

and

others.

Being

a true food lover, chef Chopra believes food can

bring

miracles

to

one’s

life,

specially

when it is given its value and cooked with the right mix of ingredients, heat and warmth of love.

Chicken tikka spring rolls

Chef Chopra has worked in India and United restaurants such as JW Marriott in Mumbai, Mint

ingredients:

PreParation:

Leaf in UK, and The Westin Mumbai Garden City.

6-8 cooked chicken tikka pieces

Cut the chicken tikka pieces into small dices and put in a bowl.

Kingdom, and has been part of well-known

During his culinary sojourn in the UK, he was voted one of the eight best Indian chefs of London. At

4 spring roll sheets

his stint at Mayfair, he has brushed shoulders with

A few fresh mint sprigs

Gordon Ramsay and Angela Hartnett.

Having

worked

in

London

and

with

his

knowledge of the international restaurant trends, chef Chopra brings a refreshing approach to the

A few fresh coriander sprigs 1 green chilli, finely chopped

food scene in India. He is greatly committed to

1½ tsps finely chopped ginger

taking Indian cuisine into new and uncharted areas

1 medium onion, finely chopped

and constantly experiments with new ingredients and flavours.

After a sparkling career as the head of the kitchen brigade for globally recognized chains

3 tsps lemon juice 3 tbsps mint chutney

Marriott and Starwood, and after successfully hosting

3 tbsps mayonnaise

food shows on two of India’s leading television

Refined flour paste for sealing

channels, chef Chopra has reinvented himself. He has now taken on the role of entrepreneur through his latest venture, Burgundy Box, a revolutionary doit-yourself meal kit service. Being a food visionary, he wanted to see India dine in a whole new way.

With his experience around many mediums, he

TM / APRIL 2016 76bringsMARCH a freshThe approach toLifestyle food onDARPAN a daily basis.

Reflecting South-Asian

Oil for deep-frying

Finely chop mint and coriander sprigs and add in the bowl along with green chilli, ginger, onion, two tablespoons lemon juice, one and half tablespoons mint chutney, two tablespoons mayonnaise and mix well.

Place a spring roll sheet on the worktop.

Put generous spoonful of chicken tikka mixture on one end of the sheet and tightly roll it sealing the edges with refined flour paste. Similarly make the remaining spring rolls.

Heat sufficient oil in a wok. Deep-fry spring rolls till golden and crisp.

Drain on absorbent paper.

Combine remaining mayonnaise, mint chutney and lemon juice in a bowl, mix well and transfer into a serving bowl.

Halve the spring rolls and serve hot with the mayonnaise dip.

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MARCH / APRIL 2016 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

77

DARPAN RECIPES

By Chef ajay Chopra

Pithaud cake with masala green peas and kadhi

ingredients:

2 green chillies, chopped.

For Pithuad cake:

3 gm red chilli powder

50 gm gram flour

2 gm turmeric powder

15 gm ghee

5 gm salt

For green masala, heat ghee in pan, add cumin seeds and let it crackle.

5 gm breadcrumbs

10 gm fresh coriander leaves, chopped

Add chopped onion, ginger and green chillies and sautĂŠ well.

5 gm coriander powder

2 gm turmeric

5 ml lemon juice

5 gm salt 10 gm curd

For the kadhi:

Kadhai powder (roast 10 gm cumin seeds, 50 gm coriander seeds, and 20 gm whole red chillies, and grind coarsely)

10 gm gram flour

For masala peas: 50 gm fresh green peas 10 gm onion, chopped 5 ml ghee

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2 gm salt 2 gm ginger-garlic paste 50 gm curd 200 ml water

For the garnish: 6 orange zest julienne

5 gm tomatoes, chopped

2 basil leaves

1 gm cumin seeds

2 coriander sprigs

5 gm ginger, chopped

6 dill leaves

MARCH / APRIL 2016 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

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PreParation:

Add tomatoes, green peas and red chilli, coriander and turmeric powders. Cook until the green peas are done.

Add salt and finish with lemon juice and chopped coriander leaves.

For the pithaud cake, whisk curd and gram flour together.

Add turmeric and kadhai powder, salt and mix well (it should be thick like a batter).

In a kadhai, heat ghee, add the above mix and cook on a slow fire.

When it becomes a little thick and leaves sides of the kadhai,

remove from fire.

Take a one-inch deep grease tray, add this curd mix and let it cool.

Cut into round shapes with a mould and grill it for two to three minutes from the both sides.

For the kadhi, combine all the ingredients of the kadhi and leave it on fire to reduce it. When thick, turn off the gas and cool it.

Arrange the pithaud cake with the green peas masala on top and kadhi. Garnish with orange zest, basil leaves, coriander and dill leaves.

Serve.

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79

Tips For Shaping The Perfect Brows

B

rows continue to be a strong beauty trend this year, thanks to models like Cara Delevingne and every other selfie on Instagram. But what works well in editorials and social media rarely translates into the real world. What looks bold and fierce on your screen can often look mean and angry, face to face.

To capitalise on this trend without looking like an Angry Bird is definitely a learned skill. Unless you already have lovely, lush, full brows that simply need a bit of taming, you can’t be slap dash about this. The great news is that there are a lot of fantastic formulas and textures on the market now.

Here are my best technical tips to achieve well-groomed, realistically polished brows.

3

Don’t forget to brush your brows before, during and after. Not brushing your brows would be like popping on blush without blending. Use the brush before to help manoeuvre the hair to expose areas that need coverage; use it during to help distribute colour; and always finish off by brushing to blend and soften the entire look.

4

Don’t get tortured trying to make your brows identical. Think of them as sisters, not twins.

By Catherine Tse

Stroke of

1

The most common mistake made with brows is choosing a colour that’s too dark.

Never pick black; always go for a colour one or two shades lighter than you think.

Genius

2

5

The second most common mistake is choosing a colour that’s too warm.

Unless you have true coppery undertones, pick an ashy colour (a true, cool grey).

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MARCH / APRIL 2016 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

Start at the arch, then work towards the tail and then come back to the centre. By then, you should have lightened your brushstrokes, which is what you want for the inner points.

Going too heavy here is what gives brows a mean look.

DARPAN

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6

It’s OK to see a little skin.

For natural brows, you actually want some colour variation and have the skin look translucent in places. If you want to be pro about it, use two different colours to help mimic natural shading.

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These are great for duplicating individual hairs. The fine tip allows you to literally draw in each individual hair so this is a great option if you have gaps or are looking to create more structure. Many (including these two recommendations) are also waterproof and sweatproof, making them ideal for humid conditions, whether it’s a club, tropical beach, or gym. Tip: Brush the hairs downwards to expose any gaps, fill them in with light feathery strokes, then brush the hair back into place to blend.

Amaterasu, Liquid Brow Liner, $29. Available online (amaterasu.ca) and at select salons.

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Pencils

These aren’t the same as eyeliner pencils; they’re harder in texture and softer in colour payoff – which is exactly what you want in a brow pencil. They offer precise application that can be easily softened. Again, brushing and blending are key here. Tip: For faster application, warm up the pencil by putting in a pocket while you’re doing the rest of your makeup.

Burberry, Effortless Eyebrow Definer, $36.

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DARPAN BEAUTY

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Gels

For anyone who’s cursed with those one or two brow hairs that simply defy combing, brow gel is an absolute must. Similar to mascara, brow gel deposits the perfect amount of product to keep hairs in place. While there are clear brow gels available, pick one with colour to achieve double duty. These deposit colour at the same time while taming brows. Tip: Use short quick strokes, which will deposit colour build volumising micro fibres simultaneously.

MAC, Brow Set, $21. Available at MAC counters.

Benefit, Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel, $30.

Available at Sephora and select drug stores.

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Use a stiff angled brush to apply brow powder.

This is an excellent option especially for those with full brows, looking to add a little more definition and emphasis. Tip: To fill in sparse areas, wet a fine eyeliner brush, which will mimic a pen allowing you to draw in feathery strokes.

Anastasia Beverly Hills, Brow Powder Duo, $30.

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Elizabeth Arden, Beautiful Color Brow Shaper, $27. Available at London Drugs.

Waxes

This is a finishing product which, like gels, helps keep brow hairs in place. It has less holding power than a gel, but offers a glossy finish and is less prone to flaking. Tip: Use this after filling in your brows; using it before will result in a muddy mess.

NYX, Tame & Frame Brow Pomade, $9.99. Available at drug stores.

Nudestix, Brow Wax, $28. Available at Sephora.

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MARCH / APRIL 2016 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

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Breathe new life into your wardrobe, much like that of the turning over of a new season. Remember to shine like the sun and be strong like the newly

SPRiNG

Fling

BY JOSEPH A. FEDERICO

A

h, springtime! The chill in the air is finally fading, and the sunshine’s rays are that much more inviting.

As you wake up with a smile on your face, you think about what you want to wear today. It is a new season, so men and women, be flirty, dirty, and awesome. Spring up and take a chance on these warmer months.

Women, you’re first. You have to sport 1960s hairstyles, bouffant-esque, with large, chunky hairbands. Think “Mad Men” with a modern twist. This is a feminine look that will drive the men, and even your girlfriends, wild.

Now onto the clothing…

Floral denim is great, ladies. Let us start here. Blue jeans with a lacey floral print is a statement piece. Pair this up with a chunky sweater of a similar

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MARCH / APRIL 2016 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

colour, and let your hair down for a more casual look. On your feet, sport a natural-coloured wedge or dark flat. Perfection.

In the accessories department, there are many things you will find exciting this season. Let us start with rings.

A style of ring to watch out for is the fruit-shaped ring. Raspberries and bananas will be filling up your proverbial fruit bowl of a jewellery box. Jewels and diamonds will be loud and bright; oversized yellows, ruby reds and oranges are the colours of the spring.

Now, let us move onto the purse or hand bag. This season, “sculptural” bags are all the craze.

Natural colours, lazy purples, dark greens and even silvers are

DARPAN

TM

pass.

leave the apartment without it.

How about shoes, you ask? High heels – about three to four inches – with studs adorning them, are the shoe of choice. These are spectacular because they can be worn to the office on a semi regular basis, but also transform an outfit into night time sexiness. Take a bright heel and look for silver or black studs on it. You will not regret it.

On your head, especially on a drab and windy day, wear a hat! Think 1960s or 1970s wide brimmed hats. They make any outfit you choose to wear seem simpler than what it actually is.

Now, it’s time for the men.

Men’s jeans will be baggier, like that of a more defined ’90s denim, and the the colours of choice. Why not try legs bottoms will be rolled up. Men are out a fantastic bag by none other taking back masculinity with this look.

When it comes to pants, men are than Ela. The M.I.L.C.K. clutch looking to a Capri feel this spring time. in purple is a woman’s go-to; it Shorter pants, slightly longer than carries anything from lip gloss to the largest of smart phones. Never shorts, and in floral patterns are great.

Pair these with a dark-coloured wind breaker, an excellently-styled boat shoe, and put a light layer of gel in your hair, and you are set to go exploring on a weekend’s day.

Another thing to look out for men,

DARPAN STYLE is brightly-coloured khaki pants. Bright yellows, oranges, and pinks are coming for you, so be ready. There will be brighter versions of these pants this summer.

Last but not least, it is time to accessorize.

Accessories pull an outfit together, as you probably have read and are familiar with that advice from previous articles of mine. It is a digital age, so sport that when you are getting ready to go out.

3-D printed cufflinks are very popular right now. Mustaches, ammunition, rocket ships, and anvils are some different kinds of designs that will dress up any outfit.

However, in order to pull off a rustic looking cufflink, you must wear a French styled shirt; this means there is actually a “missing” button on

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each of your shirt’s cuffs. The French style is classic.

A final accessory to keep on hand in a good quality tie. Men’s ties are actually darker this season, chocolate browns and rusty greys; this allows them to pop against the playful colours they will be sporting with their pants.

Or, you may choose a bow tie if you are looking to be slightly dressier. This is simple, so here is your advice: a floppy, dark bow tie is your best bet. Do not be lazy by purchasing a pre-made tie, men; go to a tailor and ask which REAL bow tie style is for you.

As we have said, spring time is a new start.

Breathe new life into your wardrobe, much like that of the turning over of a new season.

Remember to shine like the sun and be strong like the newly risen flower buds you pass.

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Joseph a. Federico 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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Understand its effects and how it jUst might affect yoU.

DARPAN HEALTH – wax in the ear canal, a hole in the eardrum – and therefore treated in a way that results in a partial improvement in hearing.

“Sensorineural hearing loss is a problem with the generation and/or transmission of sound from the inner ear to the brain. That is, nerve damage,” says Dahl. The intensity of sound is reduced along with the possibility of sound distortion, making sounds more difficult to hear as well as process, despite their volume.

The reason this type of hearing loss occurs is often undetermined, inherited or found to be irreversible, making treatment difficult.

Individuals may also experience a combination of these two types, referred to as mixed hearing loss.

HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?

H AV E Y O U H E A R D A B O U T

HEARING

LOSS?

BY ASHLEY STEPHENS

W

hether or not we acknowledge the noise, each day our ears are exposed to thousands of different sounds.

Tuning people out or turning down the volume may sound like an easy solution when the noise is too much, but, for those suffering from hearing loss, the challenge instead is in wanting to hear more.

WHAT IS HEARING LOSS? Hearing loss is the inability, or decrease in ability, of the ear to detect sounds and the brain to interpret such sounds. When one or more parts of the ear encounter a problem,

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MARCH / APRIL 2016 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

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the ability to process and transmit sound to the brain is disrupted. It’s a complex concern for more than 10 percent of the world’s population with some form of hearing loss.

Hearing loss can be categorized into two types, conductive or sensorineural, based on what part of the auditory system is affected.

“You could be born with either, or you could acquire them at any time in life,” explains Marilyn O. Dahl, president of the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association – BC Chapter.

When hearing loss occurs as a result of an impediment to the outer and middle ear, it is classified as conductive. The outer ear is unable to conduct sounds to the inner ear which results in a reduction of sound intensity. The cause can often be identified TM

In its earliest stage, a loss of hearing and the need of medical intervention can be hard to gauge. Warning signs include constantly having to turn up the volume on the TV or radio, difficulty using the phone, thinking others are always mumbling, asking others to repeat themselves regularly, and confusion over the directionality of sounds. If any of these signs are a part of your everyday struggles to hear, visiting your family physician is essential.

“The front line professional providing service to someone with a hearing loss is the audiologist, who tests hearing and recommends a suitable hearing device,” says Dahl. “But before visiting an audiologist, one should see their own medical doctor, who will determine whether there seems to be a medical condition causing the hearing loss.

They will refer one to the ear specialist, who in turn sends on to the audiologist.”

A doctor will be able to classify your hearing loss by degree, ranging from mild, where background noises become hard to decipher, to profound, where the use of a hearing aid would be essential to understand speech. The correct diagnosis will allow for personalized treatment or management strategies.

WHAT CAUSES HEARING LOSS? Hearing loss doesn’t occur just because we age or attend too many rock concerts. While

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MARCH / APRIL 2016 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

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DARPAN HEALTH

hearing isn’t something we think about much until we can’t do it. while not always treatable, hearing loss can be preventable. Listen to what your body may be telling you these factors undoubtedly affect how well we interpret sounds, there are several reasons why a person may lose their hearing.

Hearing loss can be inherited, passed on through both recessive and dominant genes.

About 50 to 60 percent of hearing loss in babies is a result of genetics.

While it may seem unrelated, several diseases, including mumps, meningitis, and fetal alcohol syndrome, can contribute to hearing loss. Illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes that interfere with the blood supply of the ear can also result in a loss of hearing.

Ear infections or buildup of ear wax can cause hearing loss as a result of blocked ear canals.

“Head injury, brain tumors, anything which blocks the flow of blood to nerves serving the ear, such as a stroke, can often result in loss of hearing,” says Dahl.

Certain medications have been known to contribute to a loss of hearing due to the

so you can listen to the world around you.

irreversible damage they cause to the ear.

“There are some drugs which, given in large doses such as certain antibiotics, or for high blood pressure, may cause hearing loss or make an existing hearing loss more severe,” says Dahl. “Addictive drugs such as cocaine and heroin also result in hearing damage, from long term use or excessive dosages.”

Unfortunately for lovers of loud music or those working around heavy machinery, our environment can have a negative impact on hearing. “At present, the major cause of acquired hearing loss in our society is noise, or, in other words, loud sound,” Dahl says.

Workers in industries such as carpentry, plumbing, mining, manufacturing and transportation all report some degree of hearing loss.

“The use of headphones to transmit music played much too loud are a main culprit in the increase of hearing loss in the young,” cautions Dahl. A growing problem in the age of increased technology puts our hearing at risk as loud noise can cause enough force within our ears to damage our auditory systems.

And lastly, old age, the most common cause, can decrease our ability to hear. Why our hearing deteriorates is still not fully understood by researchers but it is often attributed to the amount of noise and other damaging factors

T

ake part in the Investors Group Walk for Alzheimer’s to support and create awareness of the disease. The walk aims to raise money for those who face dementia to connect them to a province-wide network of information, services and support, and for research for better treatment and a cure.

Walk details: diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease within that community.

Street, Surrey)

For more details:

www.walkforalzheimers.ca

Call Bal Bains @ 604-614-0736 or visit the website

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MARCH / APRIL 2016 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

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we are exposed to over our lifetime that slowly wear down the ear’s inner workings.

CAN IT BE TREATED? Hearing loss isn’t a curable condition. There are coping strategies and techniques to lessen the losses and available treatments often ease one’s ability to interact and communicate with others but rarely can the effects be reversed.

“In some cases of conductive hearing loss, such as a blockage of some sort to the passage of sound vibrations through the ear, it may be possible to remove something such as ear wax, or foreign objects. Surgical intervention may reverse a conductive hearing loss in the middle ear,” explains Dahl. “Sensorineural hearing loss cannot be reversed, but it can be treated. Great strides have been made – for example, with cochlear implants – to partially restore the ability to hear.”

“Getting a hearing device is not going to cure the hearing loss, but it can help one to hear better,” says Dahl. It simply amplifies sounds in order to aid in the hearing process.

“It requires practice, perseverance, and being educated in the use of the device, and other assistive technology, for one to become competent in its use. It also requires the use of various coping strategies and explaining to others how to communicate in a facilitative manner, in order for one to understand,” she continues.

If left unmanaged, hearing loss can have a profound impact on one’s education, employment and social interaction. It is important to have any concerns addressed as soon as possible, especially for children, so strategies can be put in place to ensure quality of life is not negatively impacted.

“To delay loss of hearing, there is lots which can be done,” Dahl says. “Lead a healthy lifestyle. Protect your hearing.” And not just by turning down the volume on your own TV but also challenging loud environments in which we’re exposed to high levels of noise.

Hearing isn’t something we think about much until we can’t do it. While not always treatable, hearing loss can be preventable. Listen to what your body may be telling you so you can listen to the world around you.

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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89

We have got the knowledge and the expertise. A lot of new pharmacies that have opened up in the last this sort of knowledge or experience,” points out Inderjit, who has a clinical pharmacy background having worked in a hospital for many years. “Doctors consult with us on the patients. We have hospital and retail experience in our background.” compounding pharmacy, Bains provides personalized, friendly and professional service at low prices.

While working in corporate retail stores,

Co-owners Inderjit Hundal & Gursharan Bains

co-owners,

Gursharan

Bains, and Inderjit Hundal, recognized a need for a more personalized approach. They noticed a lack of

PHARMACY

Changing Lives: serviCe Beyond the PresCriPtion

medication advice and care. Prior to Bains Pharmacy, the Co-owners worked for corporate retail stores – Gursharan worked at Shoppers Drug Mart

and Inderjit at London

Drugs. They noticed that due to a large number of pharmacists, and a busy work atmosphere, customers, especially the elderly, were not being served properly. “Even though we were speaking Punjabi to them, we could tell that they really weren’t understanding what the medica-

W

tion was and how to use it,” recalls ith an abundance

Inderjit.

of

open their own pharmacy in Delta.

pharmacies all

The co-owners saw a need for

it

service beyond the prescription.

is hard to determine which one

A need for a pharmacy that was

is better than the other. Bains

customer care focused rather than

Pharmacy stands apart from the

sales focused.

rest, because of its established

with a personalized approach, and

name, efficient and personalized

that’s when Bains Pharmacy came

service,

into existence. “At Bains, we pro-

and

opening over

many

up

Surrey,

years

of

experience.

Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

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vide education from start to finish.

We provide knowledge not just on

first Indian pharmacies in the

the product, but on what it is, how

region,

to use it, and what not to do with it,”

providing professional

ing in 1994. A full-service clinical,

MARCH / APRIL 2016

Attention to detail

Bains Pharmacy, is one of the

medication services since open-

90

This prompted them to

says Inderjit.

Since opening, Bains has become a

BUSINESS PROFILE creams made specifically for each patient – that’s our new venture,” shares Inderjit.

There is a huge demand for antiaging creams in the market, points out Inderjit. “Once you get to a certain age, things start changing.

People want to look good forever, it’s a big industry. A lot of people in our community are into it. Hormones well-known pharmacy with a loyal

are changing, skin starts loosening a

clientele of more than 20 years.

bit, wrinkles appear – these creams

“We do things legally and ethi-

really help counteract that.” Creams

cally. There’s no cutting corners,

are made on site to commercial

the product and service is the

manufacturers standards by invest-

best you can find in the country,”

ing in high tech equipment, such as

asserts Inderjit, “And we provide

sterile hoods, and ointment mills.

it in our own language and culture

All compounding is done through

so people understand what they

a physician, where blood tests are

are using and how to use it. That’s our strength, that’s how we built this foundation.”

Bains

Pharmacy’s

strongest

feature is its experience. “We

Some of the many services offered at Bains Pharmacy include blister packing, free home deliveries, daily home services, colostomy care, wound care, daily dispensing, insulin injection

have got the knowledge and the expertise. A lot of new pharma-

and then it is manufactured- custom made based on the person’s blood work and needs. “The pricing,” says Inderjit, “is based on what the product is. We are going to be one of the

vaccination services, and medication management.

lowest cost-providers in the industry for this service.” Both the pharma-

cies that have opened up in the last couple of years don’t have

monitoring, wound care or insu-

this sort of knowledge or expe-

lin shots, the nurse will do that,”

the

rience,” points out Inderjit, who

he explains, further stating that

compounding. Bains Pharmacy

has a clinical pharmacy back-

doctors see them as preferred

has

the

with a history of personalised ser-

ground

providers for this service.

University of Florida. The team

vice and medical experience, has

is also certified in bio-identical

been doing remarkably well since it

having

worked

in

a

Besides

these

pharmacy staff

services, also

certified

does by

cies deal with preferred Canadian drug manufacturers.

Platinum Care Pharmacy, backed

hospital for many years. “Doctors

The pharmacy has made a huge

consult with us on the patients.

difference with home services.

hormone

Los

opened. An added convenient benefit

We have the hospital and retail

“We have had people whose

Angeles and Gainesville, Florida

for customers is, it is located right

experience in our background,”

blood sugar was out of control

and have received certification

beside a medical clinic, and has

he adds.

when they approached us. We

from the University of Florida.

four family doctors. “Response has

Some of the many services offered

at

Bains

include

blister

Pharmacy

packing,

free

home deliveries, daily clinical

Photo: Amrit Photography, Bassi Properties

involved, prescriptions are given,

training

from

blister packed them, and in the

Bains’ popularity is such that it

been excellent. There was an unmet

first couple of days their blood

has recently opened a second

need out here, it has served that

sugar was controlled because

location, called Platinum Care

need. We pick up a mix of patients

they finally got their pills."

Pharmacy,

out here – a lot of elderly patients

located

in

South

home services, colostomy care,

Inderjit shares a story of a

Surrey. Branded as an I.D.A.,

wound care, daily dispensing,

chronic patient. She had health

the new pharmacy will offer

insulin injection services, sea-

issues like diminished kidneys,

all

Bains

tion, to get that understanding and

sonal influenza flu shots, travel

diabetes, high blood pressure

Pharmacy does, and will be

personalized care, visit Gursharan

vaccination services, and medi-

and low iron, and was admitted

focussed on compounding and

and

cation management. Shedding

to the hospital frequently. The

anti-aging creams. “We are moving

and Platinum Care Pharmacy. Who

more light on home services,

hospital asked Bains Pharmacy

into

knows

Inderjit says it is for patients that

to take care of her. Now she is

hormones,

have problems with their medica-

well controlled, and has been

tions, especially the elderly. “We

admitted to the hospital only

blister pack daily medication for

once in the last six months. “Her

the person. Our on-staff nurse

health has improved dramatical-

will have the person consume the

ly. That’s a huge saving for the

first dose in the morning in front

health system. We are not just

of her. The next day, the nurse

talking about an elderly person’s

checks the pack to ensure that

health improving; we are talking

all the medication has been tak-

about changing and extending

en. If they need blood pressure

their lives,” highlights Inderjit.

the

services

anti-aging, and

that

bio-identical custom-made

Bains PharmaCy

and young families,” says Inderjit.

For service beyond the prescrip-

Inderjit

at

maybe

Bains they

Pharmacy

will

change

your life!

PLatinum Care PharmaCy

604.543.0911

604.385.0188

8681 120 St, Delta, BC

3-3238 King George Blvd Surrey, BC

Fax: 604-507-0988

Fax: 604-385-0189

Email: bainspharmacy@gmail.com

Email: platinumcarepharmacy@gmail.com

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MARCH / APRIL 2016 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

91

I

t might seem like it’s still early in the year, but now that spring is here it means that summer is right around the corner. That doesn’t leave you much time to start on your warm-weather beach bod.

And you do have to get started early.

Losing weight and toning up take time, and a lot of people make the mistake of waiting until summer is already upon them. But by then you’re already hoping to be outside someplace, preferably in a bathing suit.

So what can you do to get out ahead of swimsuit season?

Here are a few tips:

Make your workout harder Maybe you’ve already been exercising, but you’ve hit a plateau and you still have a long way to go before you read your fitness goals?

Break through by increasing the difficulty of your routine.

This can be as simple as adding new workouts that will challenge new muscles to your repertoire. Or increasing your weight or reps, or even just doing each set faster with less recovery time.

As long as you can find ways to make your workout more strenuous, you’ll see faster results.

Get motivated Sometimes the hardest part about reaching your health and fitness goals involves getting yourself started.

Get motivated by getting your friends in on the action. That might mean having someone who will join you, or just someone to talk to and share in your enthusiasm.

There are also a lot of great apps and online communities that help you track and share your progress.

Nothing drives results like accountability.

Get Get that that

Build your indoor workout routine

perfect

A lot of people hold off on starting their fitness endeavours until later in the year simply because it’s still too cold and rainy to head outside to run, bike, or get whatever form of exercise they prefer.

The solution is simple – bring your workout indoors. For some people that means joining a gym, but working out effectively in your own home is entirely practical.

Owning a cardio machine like a treadmill or elliptical is great, but if you’re concerned about cost or space, a jump rope or even the right series of weighted exercises will work fine. And you don’t need an expensive set of weights – a single adjustable dumbbell can provide hundreds of widely varying workouts.

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Beach Body

BY NICK HILDEN

TM

Wiring Alarms New Construction Vacuum Intercom

don’t put off healthy eating I know it can be easy to tell yourself “I’ll start eating right next week”, or that you’ll just get through the junk food that you have in your kitchen now, and then buy healthier options the next time you go to the store, but that’s the same kind of logic smokers use to convince themselves to have one more cigarette. If you’re serious about shedding pounds, you have to get motivated and start immediately. Not only does it take time, but the longer you let a habit like junk-snacking go on, the harder it is to break. So it’s time to clean out the kitchen and replace the garbage with real, healthy foods.

take up a physical activity If you’re having trouble getting active, start participating in something that will get you moving.

This can be anything from a sport to yoga to hiking, or even simply doing some landscaping work around the yard. Not only does every bit of physical activity help, but group endeavours will help you find more motivation.

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You don’t know where you’re heading unless you set a destination. Give yourself a goal to go after.

That can mean losing a certain amount of weight, setting a lifting target, or shooting for a particular run time or distance. And as you work toward that goal, track your results.

Be realistic

I know that as summer approaches, the hope that you can melt off 10 pounds a week might be strong.

But if you set unattainable goals you’re just going to lose motivation when you don’t realize them, then potentially give up altogether.

Keep in mind that losing too much weight too fast isn’t healthy in the first place. Anything more than roughly 1 percent of your bodyweight per week is both unsafe and unrealistic. And that’s the point of getting started on your fitness endeavours early – so that you have plenty of time to sculpt your bod before summer hits.

So set a realistic goal, find your motivation, and get going on eating right and working out. The results you’re hoping for are just around the corner, and so is swimsuit season.

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DARPAN HOME

By aShley StephenS

An Eco-Friendly

Environment it’s easy being green when designing a stylish space.

G

oing green has been a theme for businesses, homeowners, and even cities for the past several years.

With talk of reducing waste, limiting our footprint, and making environmentallyfriendly decisions, living a green life is easier than ever.

What exactly is eco-friendly living? Eco-friendly simply means something is not harmful to the environment.

It’s a term plastered on products so often it’s hard to know how green our efforts actually are. Making decisions for your home that contribute

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MARCH / APRIL 2016 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

to a healthier environment, help to conserve our natural resources, or prevent pollution to land, water and air will help you live an eco-friendly life.

For some, this might mean potting plants or repurposing wherever possible while for others it may mean updating all floors, faucets or furniture with sustainable materials or energy-efficient appliances.

But is eco-friendly budgetfriendly as well? Jared Kress, founder and owner of The Eco Floor Store, clears up why homeowners might hesitate to make green choices: “I think the challenge is not selection

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in the market place because there’s an overwhelming selection of environmentallyfriendly products,” he says.

“The challenge is typically that media portray environmentallyfriendly as being a more costly option and that’s just not true.”

While certain options may be less expensive or comparable to their competition, consumers can also save money while saving the environment by reusing what they already have.

Repurposing reduces waste or unnecessary purchases and often produces visuallyappealing pieces. Determine what you actually need in your space and consider investing in pieces that double as both decorative and functional.

Buying locally made

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MARCH / APRIL 2016 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

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DARPAN HOME Pictures for representation only

96

products can reduce the negative environmental impact associated with importing while supporting designers who make responsible decisions. Being conscious of both the production and distribution methods of products you purchase can reduce waste and force companies to consider more eco-conscious options for manufacturing and delivering their goods.

Consider sustainable plants such as bamboo or rattan, use textiles made of organic materials or free of toxins or irritants, and ask for fair-trade products.

Designers these days are thinking beyond just beauty and function with the use of materials such as recycled tires and water-based ink to create environmentallyfriendly accessories.

Homes can easily be updated by switching all lights to energy-saving bulbs. If bigger changes are in your budget, eco-friendly options include cork flooring, concrete countertops, wallpaper made of recycled materials and the increasingly popular addition of reclaimed furniture.

“Reclaimed is the new black,” Kress says without hesitation. “It seems to be the trend for things right now. Anything and everything reclaimed.”

And while that might sound MARCH / APRIL 2016 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

like another budget-friendly option, it highly depends on the availability. “Some of the unfortunate part of the reclaimed aspect of it is the amount available of it. Our pricing would be dictated on the availability of stock and sometimes reclaimed items are harder to get a hold of than something massmanufactured,” he says.

“It depends on what the consumer is after.”

If you’re looking for inspiration, many commercial spaces and new developments will offer a glimpse into what is up and coming in the ecofriendly market. In an effort to reduce their environmental impact and create long lasting and beautiful spaces, designers are leaning heavily towards open and airy spaces that incorporate sustainable

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materials along with repurposed pieces.

“You’ll come in to an office building or a doctor’s office and see a really cool looking floor or a feature wall and that’s what intrigues homeowners to say, ‘oh wow, that would be a really cool option’. The architects, designers, and builders on the commercial side seem to lead and influence the residential home market.”

Eco-friendly updates to a home don’t have to be overwhelming or all happen at once. “Start small scale and see how that integrates with your home,” says Kress.

He suggests starting with a design scheme and knowing what products and finishes are available for what you are trying to accomplish. “Once you know the design concept and the elements within it, then it becomes a very simple process of shopping.”

Creating an environmentallyfriendly home can bring

benefits beyond a greener world. Lower quality and older surfaces are often made with harmful chemicals that can affect your home’s air quality.

Ensure you’re not harming your health by investing in high quality products that are also eco-conscious.

“There are indirectly related savings,” to homeowners, Kress explains. “Some environmentally-friendly products we carry would be, for example, mold and mildew resistant or asthma and allergy friendly, where they would filter carcinogens out of the air. Although they may not necessarily be financially beneficial, they have more of an impact on your surroundings.”

Taking care of the environment doesn’t have to be costly or time-consuming.

Making design decisions with the environment in mind can clear your conscience as well as your living space. Going green doesn’t just sound good; it looks good, too.

Celebrating 30 Years!

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Family Hub Refrigerator Samsung’s latest in line of refrigerators is a revolutionary smart appliance making you appreciate technology even more. The Family Hub Refrigerator features a Wi-Fi touchscreen, disposing you from the regular clutter of stickies, notes and calendars. With this new-generation refrigerator, you can now order groceries while streaming live music or watching your favourite drama online.

Samsung’s Family Hub Refrigerator will be available in Spring 2016.

By GARIMA GOSWAMI

GADGET TRENDS

iKettle This smart kettle might seem nonessential until you start using it. You can turn it on from an app and schedule timers to warm up water accordingly – no more waiting in the kitchen early morning! The app also informs you when its needs to be refilled and if you have a toddler, just get on the formula mode and iKettle will automatically boil to the required set temperature.

To purchase this product, order online.

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MARCH / APRIL 2016 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

SCiO Here is a gadget empowering you to identify chemical makeup of a variety of products including food, medication and oil. Simply scan items around you and receive an analysis on the SCiO mobile app. It’s a tiny spectrometer that easily fits in the palm of your hands.

The team will be magnifying the ambit of SCiO by extending it to other everyday products such as cosmetics, clothes and soil. The gadget is currently in the pre-order phase but will start getting shipped July 2016 onwards.

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LG Styler Refresh your wardrobe with LG’s Styler. Simply leave your garments inside – suits, knitwear or dresses, and the Styler will deodorize and steam them for a fresh revitalized look. Some of the many exciting features include a moving hanger which slides right and left 220 times per minute to smoothen wrinkles and get rid of odour; true steam penetrates fabric for a sanitized finish; and pants press which adds a neat and precise crease to trousers. LG Styler can be located at a store near you or ordered online.

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DARPAN Weddings

t e e r p & n k a e e M Ramn rey, r u S

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Our wedding hall was decorated gathering of 800-1,000 people.

I was feeling nervous as it was so hard to face such a huge crowd.

husband and wife. Our parents met, families liked each other, and gave us their blessing for the marriage.

Q: How did you meet?

Ramneek: We attended the same school since Grade 11. We used to share class notes with each other; we became friends then onwards.

Q: Describe your wedding day. What was your favourite moment?

Ramneek: I was so excited that the day we were planning for

“Remember Q: What do you love most about one another?

Ramneek: We have a great sense of understanding for each other. There is simplicity in our relationship.

Q: Could you share your proposal story?

Ramneek: We knew each other as friends for seven years. Three years back, in 2013, Manpreet proposed me for marriage. We told our parents that we wanted to be together our whole life as

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that everything you do together has twice as much power as compared to what you do alone.”

My best moment at the wedding ceremony was when we were sitting in the Gurdwara in front of Sri Guru Granth Sahib for Anand Karaj and my father handed the palla (wedding scarf) from Manpreet’s shoulder in my hands.

Q: Could you tell us about your reception?

Ramneek: The reception was a day after the wedding ceremony.

Manpreet and I were very relaxed.

We met all our relatives from both sides. We danced a lot.

Q: Can you describe Ramneek: For the wedding ceremony, I wore a red lehenga with beautiful diamond embroidery work on it. The lehenga had a dash of blue on it. The chunni was of orange and red colour. Manpreet was wearing a cream-coloured sherwani with a red turban and palla that matched my lehenga.

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DARPAN Weddings For our wedding reception, I wore a cream and navy blue-coloured lehenga with artistic embroidery on it. The chunni was of pink and cream colour. Manpreet wore a dark purple suit. I chose blue as it is Manpreetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite colour.

Q: Where did you honeymoon?

Ramneek: We went to Kerala in South India.

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Q: What are your goals as a couple?

Ramneek: To make each other happy and to please our families.

Q: What are the strengths of your marriage?

Ramneek: Strong communication skills,

Q: If you could provide any advice to other married couples, what would it be?

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Ramneek: Remember that everything you do together has twice as much power as compared to what you do alone. Creating goals as a couple or a family is not only healthy for your relationship, but fun as well.

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DARPAN ACTIVITIES

Your k i d g uide t o -f r ie ndly ac t i Va nc ou v it ies in ve r sp r ing b this re ak.

MONKIDO ADVEN TURE COURSE The adventurous, outdoorsy type will love this aerial obstacle course.

Located in Maple Ridge, BC, Monkido Adventure course involves a lot of climbing, zip lining and swinging! The best part is that they offer three different levels of experience: Classic, Extreme and one for kids aged 5-12. Book your experience at wildplay.com

BY TARANA RANA

P

arents, if you and the kids are planning to spend the spring break in Vancouver, consider yourself lucky! From educational to entertaining to downright unforgettable, Vancouver offers a horde of activities to choose from. Here are five fun activities to get the spring holiday started!

THINGS TO DO THIS

GET YOUR HANDS DIRT Y AT MAPLEWOOD FARM

BEAT Y BIODI VERSI T Y MUSEUM For an educational (yet fun) day, pay a visit to the Beaty Biodiversity Museum in Vancouver. Located at the University of British Columbia, this natural history museum has a number of truly unforgettable exhibits that are sure to thrill any science or biology fans. Besides their famous giant blue whale skeleton, this museum also has thousands of animal and plant fossils, shells and other ancient wonders. The museum is open on Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm and tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for children or youth. Visit beatymuseum.ubc. ca for more information.

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If your child canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get enough of animals, a day at Maplewood Farm is a must â&#x20AC;&#x201C; where they have over 200 friendly farm animals and birds. Located in North Vancouver, this working farm offers a truly rural experience. Children can visit farm animals, feed the chickens, ducks and rabbits and go for rides. Pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it! The farm is open on Tuesdays through Sundays, between 10 am and 4 pm.

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ADVEN TURE CAMP AT GROUSE MOUN TAIN Day camps make for a memorable and enriching spring break. The Grouse Mountain Spring Break Adventure Camps offer a fun and educational experience in a winter wonderland.

With activities like snowshoeing, ice-skating, outdoor survival skills, and wildlife biology, there’ll never be a dull moment. Grouse Mountain offers camps for juniors (ages 5-7), kids (ages 8-12), and youth (ages 13-16).

Visit grousemountain.com/camps to register.

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GET CREATI VE AT THE VANCOU VER ART GALLERY Get those creative juices flowing. Head out to the Vancouver Art Gallery from March 14 to 18 for a range of family-friendly artsy activities.

Every day between 12 noon to 4 pm, children and their families can enjoy a variety of activities from sketching, art hunts, games and much more. These activities are free with gallery admission and free for children 12 and under.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tarana rana Tarana is a freelance writer in Vancouver BC. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring the city and discovering some of its lesserknown haunts.

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tow n. in this historic er v co is d to of things the beginning Bourbon is just

BY Benjamin Yong

I

t may seem straightforward, but do you know the proper pronunciation of Louisville, as in Louisville, Kentucky?

If you said “Loo-ey-ville,” then you’re correct. Well, you’re actually about one-fifth correct.

Displayed prominently in the window of the Louisville Visitor Centre, in rainbow neon-lit wording, are five different ways Kentucky’s largest city is enunciated: other than Looeyville, there’s also Looavul, Luhvul, Loueville and Looaville (and sometimes, even Lewisville, although probably not by a local). This fun fact is indicative of just how much more there is to the 30th most populous urban area in the United States besides bourbon, which is what most outsiders associate it with.

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To be fair, Kentucky does produce 95 percent of the global supply, but as DARPAN found out, bourbon is just the beginning of things to discover in this historic town. Here are six ways to soak up as much as possible from the “Gateway to the South.”

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Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory Sporting the world’s biggest baseball bat leaning against the side of a five-story building, it’s pretty hard to miss the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory (LSMAF). Residing on West Main Street since 1996, the company’s roots go way back to the late 1800s when it first started producing bats for professional players, something that is still done today.

Visitors to LSMAF are treated to fact-filled exhibits, a tour of the back part of the facility where 1.8 million bats are made each year, and their own miniature wooden Louisville Slugger souvenir on the way out.

DARPAN TRAVEL

Actors Theatre of Louisville Churchill Downs Racetrack If the name of this attraction doesn’t ring a bell, perhaps you’ve heard of its other alias – Home of the Kentucky Derby? The legendary horserace at Churchill Downs draws some 1.5 million well-dressed people over the two weeks leading up to the May spectacle. Live racing takes place in the spring and fall, and in the off-season there are other things to do on site including dining at the upscale Turf Club (membership required) and wandering through the Kentucky Derby Museum.

Be sure to take in the signature film The Greatest Race, which tells the tale of the nearly century-and-a-half-old event shown on a 360-degree high-definition display.

Located in the renovated Bank of Louisville, a National Historic Landmark, in the heart of the city’s cultural district, the Actors Theatre holds almost 500 shows annually. Performances range from classic to contemporary, including seasonal-themed plays such as Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and John L. Balderston’s frightening Dracula. The theatre incorporates strobe lights, fog effects, and other immersive technology in its productions for added realism – for instance during the latter, mist filled the room as the antagonist eerily rose from inside the floor for his entrance. Before finding your seats, grab a bite downstairs at Milkwood, where southern cuisine is prepared using Asian ingredients. Try the MW Ramen with shiitake mushrooms, scallions, pork belly and country ham.

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It may seem straightforward, but do you know the proper pronunciation of Louisville, as in Louisville, Kentucky? If you said “Loo-ey-ville,” then you’re correct. Well, you’re actually about one-fifth correct.

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TRAVEL

RECIPES

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AUTOLIFESTYLE EVENTS

BEAUTY

Bourbon is popular for a reason in Kentucky, as its roots date back 300 years when the first settlers began making the popular drink.

The Stitzel-Weller Distillery, a short drive from downtown Louisville, is part of that history, the first distillery to open after Prohibition in the early 19th century. No longer in operation, it has been renovated and is

now the home of the Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Experience, a celebration of the American whiskey industry and the brand specializing in high-rye whiskey.

For $10, a knowledgeable guide spends an hour taking guests through several of the restored buildings talking about the distilling process past and present, how Bulleit came to be, and concludes the session by pouring tasters of the various house bourbons.

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DARPAN TRAVEL

21c Museum Hotel Louisville Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

www.chimneyhilldental.com New Patients & Emergencies Are Welcome Evening & Weekend Appointments Available

Various Dental Services Provided: White Fillings Comprehensive Dental Care Hygiene, Root Canal Treatments Porcelain Veneers Crowns Bridges Teeth Whitening Children’s Dentistry Extractions, Sealants Preventive Dentistry Dentures

Email: info@chimneyhilldental.com www.chimneyhilldental.com

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Boutique hotels usually offer something a little different than a conventional franchise stay, like modern architecture or funkier décor. The 90-room 21c in downtown Louisville, on the other hand, has a built-in art museum. There are two floors of both permanent and rotating exhibits, featuring everything from an installation inset into the courtyard that shoots rings of fog skyward, to abstract sculptures constructed from recycled plastic objects. The rooms are equally unique with interesting furniture choices and black lights and toy ducks in the bathrooms.

If you’re lucky, you might witness the hotel’s iconic Red Penguins that mysteriously move about the property. Joined to 21c is Proof On Main, an award-winning bar and restaurant serving up farm-to-table dishes and cocktails utilizing locally made bourbon, of course.

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Original SWEET SHOP & RESTAURANT

Photo: BENJAMIN YoNG, IStoCKPhoto, JEff KuBINA/flICKr (DErBY )

Ghyslain on Market Originally launching a store in nearby Indiana in 1998, Ghyslain Chocolatier expanded to Louisville’s East Market neighbourhood in 2011 in the form of an upscale bistro. Breakfast, sandwich, soups and other café fare is served throughout the day, like roasted pecan chicken salad in-between a freshly baked croissant, or white chili made with ground turkey, diced chicken breast, onions, chipotle, cilantro and more. Ghyslain is known for their selection of fine artisan chocolates, macarons and other European desserts, many of which can be purchased at the store.

A larger third location has since opened up in the Westport Village section of town adding additional items such as gelato and wine.

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 AutoFEATURE

CHEVROLET BOLT making a stop at the Consumer electronics Show in Las Vegas before arriving in Detroit, the Chevrolet Bolt is gm’s latest stab at the electric vehicle. The two biggest draws of this particular eV are the relatively low price point and the range, said to be in the neighbourhood of 320 kilometres on a single charge.

The battery is nestled underneath the floor, opening up the cabin space so five adults can sit comfortably. The Bolt is no slouch, either, and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in less than seven seconds.

BY BENJAMIN YONG

DETROIT

AUTO SHOW

2016

ACURA PRECISION CONCEPT although there’s little chance acura’s latest concept debut will actually be made, that doesn’t detract from its significance. Known as a “vision car,” the Precision signals a future design and engineering direction for the automaker.

There is a clear styling influence carried over from the nSX supercar launching at the same show a year ago. The Precision Concept is very low, very wide and boasts a stretched out wheelbase and huge wheels. The signature jewel eye headlights found on the TLX and others have been reimagined resulting in a constellation pattern LeD configuration.

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THE MOTOR CITY’S ANNUAL EVENT SHOWCASED LOTS OF SPORTY GOODNESS AS WELL AS PRACTICAL AND EFFICIENT VEHICLES FROM THE LIKES OF LEXUS, BUICK, HONDA AND MORE.

o

nce the countdown to the new Year is over, a countdown of another sort begins almost immediately: to the north american international auto Show (naiaS) in Detroit. This year, the motor City’s annual event showcased lots of sporty goodness as well as practical and efficient vehicles from the likes of Lexus, Buick, Honda and more. Let’s have a look at a few standouts from the show.

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LEXUS LC 500 The global debut of the LC 500 luxury coupe at naiaS is a “dawn of a new era,” according to Lexus. This rear-wheel drive flagship is clearly inspired by the LF-LC Concept unveiled in 2012, and is a two-plus-two seater housing a 5.0-litre V8 engine with 467 horsepower and 389 lb-ft of torque under the hood, similar to the one found in both the RC F and gS F. Power is transferred using a unique 10-speed automatic transmission, which is smaller and lighter than some eight-speeds found on the market, and is said to help propel the LC 500 from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds.

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HONDA RIDGELINE if it’s one thing we know on this side of the globe, it’s trucks. That’s why Honda’s new 2017 Ridgeline mid-size pickup truck was designed by Honda R&D americas and is being built at their manufacturing plant in alabama.

The bed is 5.4 inches wider and 4 inches longer than the outgoing pickup, and includes an in-Bed Trunk allowing for valuables to be stored securely without taking up extra space. The Ridgeline runs off a 3.5 L VTeC V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, and both front-wheel and all-wheel drive will be available.

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DARPAN AutoFEATURE

BUICK AVISTA CONCEPT ok, so the Buick avista Concept car might be a Chevrolet Camaro wearing a clever disguise. But is there really anything wrong with that? Built on the same platform, underneath this two-plus-two, rear-wheel drive coupe’s curvy exterior lays a twin-turbocharged V6 motor pumping out 400 horsepower. at first glance, most people probably even wouldn’t be able to identify the avista as a Buick. But there are clues, like the newly revised coloured Tri-Shield emblem in the middle of the big mouth mesh grille.

INFINITI Q60 You might have noticed that the popular g Coupes have disappeared from infiniti’s lineup – don’t worry, because they’re not gone, just renamed. The japanese luxury brand introduced to the world the third-generation version at the big show, which is now called the Q60.

There are two V6 options for the 2017 model, driving either 400 or 300 horsepower to the rear wheels, and infiniti has developed an upgraded form of the Direct adaptive Steering system with customizable steering feedback.

VOLVO S90 Hot off the heels of the successful release of their top-of-the-line 2016 XC90 luxury crossover SUV, the Chinese-owned Swedish manufacturer has now come out with the sedan equivalent: the S90. Both share the same Volvo Scalable Product architecture underpinnings, and a 2.0 L engine that is turbocharged and supercharged at the same time in the T6. output is rated at 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. not only can the Volvo City Safety System automatically brake the S90 if it detects an impending collision with another vehicle or pedestrian, for the first time it can do so if it senses a large animal ahead, too. This is yet another step in Volvo’s mission to create a fully autonomous vehicle by 2020.

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LINCOLN CONTINENTAL Previously seen in conceptual form only, the productionready 2017 Lincoln Continental made an appearance at naiaS showing off the company’s new design language, also shared with the mKZ. The upscale sedan utilizes a 3 L V6 powerplant making 400 horsepower, and features neat additions like electronic door handles operated by touch. a grade-topping Black Label trim will cater to the luxury crowd offering enhanced interior options.

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L E XUS

IS 350 F SPORT

BY Benjamin Yong

The luxury sport sedan now looks better than it ever has before, even if it’s still biased more towards spirited cruising on highways and byways than time attacks at the local track.

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T

he Lexus iS (innovative Sedan) 350 has been around for more than a decade, but i think of it as being reborn when it experienced a grille-to-taillights, as the company puts it, redesign for the 2014. The luxury sport sedan now looks better than it ever has before, even if it’s still biased more towards spirited cruising on highways and byways than time attacks at the local track.

The vehicle’s makeover in 2013 gave the iS a much more aggressive TM

HIGHLIGHTS

2016

DARPAN AutoREVIEW

mSrP: $53,250 motor: 3.5-litre V6 Horsepower: 306 @ 6,400 rpm Torque (lb-ft): 277 @ 4,800 rpm gearbox: Six-speed automatic Layout: Front engine, all-wheel drive Fuel economy: 15.7 L/100 km mixed city/highway (observed)

version of the gaping Lexus Spindle grille, new signature “checkmark” LeD daytime running lights built right into the front bumper cover, and sportier body flourishes. most notable, though, was the introduction of 10 different F SPoRT packages adding appearance, safety and mild performance enhancements inspired by the LFa supercar and F lineup of high-output models.

By comparison, 2016 sees few changes save for the debut of an entry-level rear-wheel drive 200t grade, powered by the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder found in the nX subcompact crossover.

DaRPan’s tester was the quicker and grippier 3.5 L six-cylinder all-wheel drive (aWD) iS 350, painted in a stunning Ultrasonic Blue mica 2.0 paint colour.

Right off the bat, i’m going to say the car is absolutely gorgeous – particularly ours wearing the F SPoRT Series 2 option providing 18-inch alloy wheels,

DARPAN AutoREVIEW

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full body aero, a menacing black mesh grille and LeD headlights with adaptive high beams. The upgrades spill into the cabin in the form of a meaty three-spoke leather steering wheel, sport seats, sill plates, slick LFa-style motorized instrument cluster and more.

The one gray spot in the interior is the Lexus Remote Touch interface, which the manufacturer seems reluctant to abandon.

Users manipulate a joystick or mouse-like device on the centre console to execute various infotainment commands, but the problem lies in its oversensitivity. Whenever you move past a clickable function, the mouse emits a vibration, often lagging behind what you’re really trying to do.

Underneath the hood lies a smooth V6 producing 306 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Tipping the scales at 1,695 kilograms, the 350 is no lightweight, and that shows through the lacklustre acceleration when you mash the gas pedal.

Compared to the BmW 3 Series i drove the week prior, the excitement factor just didn’t measure up.

The news is better in the handling department, however. F SPoRT 2 includes Lexus’ adaptive Variable Suspension that measures road conditions, driver inputs and vehicle speed, adjusting the damping force accordingly. For instance, if you’re flying over smooth terrain, the shock absorbers automatically firm up providing better response. in the end, the 2016 Lexus iS 350 can certainly walk the walk with its sleek appearance and racy interior, but does it talk the talk? if you want a sexy, capable street cruiser with the security of aWD, this may serve you well (enthusiasts, also check out the 200t available in RWD [rear-wheel drive] and with an eight-speed auto gearbox).

E: mo@haleywholesale.com | F: (604) 510-8227

MAHMOOD (MO),MAWJI GENERAL MANAGER

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

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2016

BY Benjamin Yong

AUDI Q7 The luxury crossover receives a redesign for the first time since the vehicle’s introduction in 2006, and it’s a major overhaul.

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T

he second generation audi Q7 will soon be finding its way into local dealerships.

The luxury crossover receives a redesign for the first time since the vehicle’s introduction in 2006, and it’s a major overhaul.

“What has changed about the audi Q7? absolutely everything,” says Brad Beckett, general manager at openRoad audi Vancouver where a launch event was held in December 2015 to give Vancouverites a sneak peak of what’s to come.

“This is revolutionary change,” says Beckett, adding the manufacturer, through learning gained from the nine years of producing the previous model, has developed an SUV that is more than 320 kilograms lighter than before.

The enormous weight

savings is a big talking point of the new Q7 due to the fact that shedding mass increases performance on every level, lowers fuel consumption, and simply because accomplishing such a task is no easy feat – especially on a luxury vehicle chock full of creature comforts – given today’s stringent safety regulations. So how did they do it?

For starters, the underlying platform is no longer shared with the chunky Volkswagen Touareg and Porsche Cayenne, designed for off-roading rather than city commuting. Then, like Ford has heavily advertised on their revised F-150, gratuitous amounts of aluminum have been used to make up the fenders, doors hood, tailgate, suspension, and other areas. in addition, audi has utilized

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smarter and more efficient engineering processes in building the transmission and electronic systems. aside from the weight loss, Beckett also talked about the Q7’s “progressive design.”

With its exaggerated iconic Quattro-inspired wheel arch flares, the full-size CUV has a dominating physical presence and looks every bit as large as the outgoing vehicle, yet is actually shorter by 37 millimetres and 15 mm narrower. Rejigging the interior layout has allowed the retention of the same amount, if not slightly more, interior space.

Taking inspiration from the TT, arrowshaped LeD daytime running lights give the front end an instantly recognizable signature look, and inside, the audi Virtual Cockpit gives drivers access to an array of customizable information.

Power is provided via two 3.0-litre sixcylinder engine choices: a 333-horsepower TFSi gasoline engine and a 272 hp diesel pumping out 443 lb-ft of torque, handled by an eight-speed automatic gearbox and Quattro all-wheel drive. Thanks to better aerodynamics and the lighter body, fuel economy has improved in the neighbourhood of 28 percent and the TFSi-equipped Q7s are said to be able to dash from 0 to 100 km/h in less than six seconds.

While the new audi Q7 may no longer be a Porsche Cayenne in disguise, there is still available equipment that can give it some off-roading pretensions. an optional air suspension can lower the ride height up to 30 mm when cruising along the highway, or raise the height up to 60 mm when traversing large puddles or rock-covered surfaces.

Canadian mSRP has not yet been announced. Check www.audi.ca for more information.

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BY Benjamin Yong

TOYOTA

VENZA A

s people go through a major milestone in life, transitioning from couple-dom into becoming a family unit, a shift in car ownership usually follows.

Suddenly, the two-seater convertible or even compact sedan is no longer viable, and a vehicle capable of easily and safely carrying lots of stuff is required. it’s tough for some to accept the sobering reality of a mini-van, but fortunately, there are alternatives – and Toyota happens to produce a great one in the Venza.

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not quite an SUV or a wagon, the Venza is a neat take on the practical people-mover first introduced at the Detroit auto Show six years ago. if you took a hatchback and kind of made it longer, taller and threw on big wheels, this is probably what you’d end up with. a more stylish “Redwood edition” is new for 2016, sporting a unique interior colour scheme that complements the luxury of the existing technology-laden XLe trim. as you might have already

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gathered, Toyota’s creation looks good in a non-conformist kind of way. at the front, the headlights are both angular and rounded at the same time, fully integrated into the large singleslat polished grille. The roofline gently slopes towards the rear giving off an almost athletic air, finishing with a subtle spoiler above the rear window. aside from a Redwood badge installed on the exterior, the special edition’s true charm isn’t obvious until you climb inside. as i mentioned earlier, it’s basically an XLe – bundling navigation, a 6.1-inch multi-informational screen, power rear liftgate, and huge panoramic moonroof – with leather seating dyed in a warm shade of redwood that reminds you of the mighty west coast tree by the same name. one gripe about the interior (it’s not about the space, of which there is plenty including 870 litres behind the rear seats) is that although the lag-free infotainment and gPS system is refreshingly easy to operate, the centre stack is oddly angled slightly towards the passenger side. Usability isn’t really affected, but it does appear awkward.

Two different engines are available to customers: a 2.7-litre four-cylinder with 182 horse-

HIGHLIGHTS

2016 mSrP: $38,305 motor: 3.5-litre V6 Horsepower: 268 @ 6,200 rpm Torque (lb-ft): 246 @ 4,700 rpm gearbox: Six-speed automatic Layout: Front engine, all-wheel drive Fuel economy: 11.4 L/100 km mixed city/highway (observed)

power, or a significantly beefier 3.5-litre V6 making 268 horsepower, both paired to a six-speed automatic transmission. The former is offered in front-wheel drive only, while the latter also has the option of all-wheel drive (aWD) and Toyota’s active Torque Control System capable of sending power to individual slipping wheels.

The handling ability in my aWDequipped V6 press car was impressive, especially when encountering a barrel rolling around on the highway during a stormy fall drive.

Some emergency manoeuvring was required to avoid barrel-to-bumper contact, and the vehicle held its composure through all of it. acceleration is more than adequate as well, proven when i had to get back up to speed quickly.

Like all other models across the company’s lineup, the Venza benefits from the Toyota Star Safety System made up of vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist and smart stop technology.

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FAN

Releasing: April 15 Directed by: Maneesh Sharma Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Waluscha De Sousa, Shriya Pilgaonkar

B

WS PREVIE

Helmed by Maneesh Sharma, Fan will showcase Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) in a double role, where he will be seen playing his own fan in the film. The story revolves around Gaurav (SRK) who is a huge fan of the superstar Aryan Khanna (SRK). Interestingly, Fan is not just about the love of the fan for his favourite superstar. “In the film, eventually Gaurav and Aryan are pitted against each other and it’s the superstar who plays the nemesis to the fan,” revealed film’s director Maneesh. SRK, who is extremely excited about the film, said, “What I do in Fan is what the film is about. Gaurav is 25 years old in the film and it’s not because I want to play or look like a 25-year-old in my film. It’s a story about a 25-year-old fan and a 45-year-old superstar. It’s a different kind of film, not a blockbuster. If you’re looking for novelty, then you should watch out for Fan.”

ON-SCREEN

DIARY

By Shweta KulKarni

KAPOOR & SONS Releasing: March 18

Directed by: Shakun Batra Starring: Rishi Kapoor, Sidharth Malhotra, Fawad Khan, Alia Bhatt, Rajat Kapoor, Ratna Pathak Shah

Family dramas are undoubtedly taking the center stage in Bollywood of late, and adding to the list is the multistarrer Kapoor & Sons from the house of Dharma Productions. A story about a slightly dysfunctional family, the film stars rumored couple Alia Bhatt and Sidharth Malhotra, and Pakistani actor Fawad Khan.

Talking about the film, Sidharth said, “It is not a proper love story. It is a love story, but it is about a family. It is about parents, brothers, grandparents and all; it is about this slightly dysfunctional family.” Directed by Shakun Batra, the highlight of the film is Rishi Kapoor’s character, which is bound to surprise everyone.

Rishi is playing the grandfather in the film and is completely unrecognizable, thanks to his make-up which apparently has amounted up to Rs 2 crore (over $400,000 CAD). If not for anything this film is a TM MARCH APRIL Daddu.

2016 must-see for this/ Kapoor

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omance, action, comedy, drama – almost all flavours of cinema are in store in the coming months. The cute B-town couple Alia-Sidharth will bring some light moments to the screen with their dysfunctional family in Kapoor & Sons. Kareena Kapoor Khan and Arjun Kapoor are sure to surprise you with their twisted romantic comedy Ki & Ka, followed by the action-packed Baaghi: Rebels In Love. Finally, there is the superstar himself doubling the entertainment quotient in Fan.

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Kia is a career-oriented woman who is working to run the house, while Kabir, her partner, takes care of the house. “It is an intimate movie, just like all other Balki films and it has a certain vibe to it. It’s a film about relationships and is quite romantic and in a happy space. The thought of the film is far ahead of its time,” revealed the film’s leading lady Kareena. The interesting first time pairing of Kareena and Arjun is something to look forward to indeed.

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Directed by: Sabbir Khan Starring: Tiger Shroff, Shraddha Kapoor, Paras Arora

A remake of the Telugu film Varsham (2014), Baaghi: Rebels In Love is a romantic-action film, directed by Sabbir Khan and starring Tiger Shroff and Shraddha Kapoor. The film, apart from being a love story also boasts about extensive action sequences. “You will see never-seen-before action in Baaghi. The film as the title suggest is about rebels in love and is loaded with action. It’s intense and I am sure people will like it,” said Tiger Shroff. Apparently, the cast and crew of the film have gone to great lengths while shooting for the film. In fact, Shraddha and Tiger were drenched for over 10 to 12 hours throughout the day for one particular sequence, which is a crucial part of the film.

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The Jungle Book Releasing: April 15

More a live-action adaptation of the Disney classic than a reimagining of the Rudyard Kipling novel, The Jungle Book drafted A-list talent for the voice cast: Ben Kingsley as paternal panther Bagheera, Idris Elba as the treacherous tiger Shere Khan and Bill Murray as party-loving bear Baloo.

THE KIDS WILL BE ALRIGHT

In case you need a refresher, The Jungle Book tells the story of Mowgli, a young orphan raised by wolves. The arrival of a man-eating Bengal tiger suggests that it’s time for Mowgli to re-join civilization, but the boy is reluctant to do so. Top-notch special effects and the guidance of Iron-Man (2008) director Jon Favreau are promising signs.

Appropriate age: 10 and up. It can get fairly intense.

Will parents enjoy it?

Definitely. The nostalgia factor cannot be underestimated.

By Jorge ignacio caStillo

T

here will be plenty of alternatives at the multiplex for the young ones the next couple of months. The question is if parents will be able to tolerate them. It’s a well-known fact Hollywood doesn’t make movies 12 year-olds wouldn’t understand. When the target audience is even younger, the task of taking the kids to the movies may become a chore for discerning parents. Here is what to expect from this season’s offerings.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Releasing: March 25 Following the controversial Man of Steel (2013), in which the son of Krypton caused hundreds of deaths and snapped the villain’s neck, Batman v Superman will address the carnage, with Gotham’s hero standing up for mankind against this godlike creature earthlings know little about.

Desperate to catch up with Marvel on the creation of a

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cinematic universe, DC Comics and Warner Bros. plan to use Batman v Superman as a launch platform for the entire Justice League, including Wonder Woman and Aquaman.

Also, expect the nefarious Lex Luthor to establish himself as the superheroes main threat.

Appropriate age: 12 and up, although younger kids may also appear interested (don’t give in, this superhero franchise has a penchant for going dark).

Will parents enjoy it? Possibly, as long as it’s better than Man of Steel (not really hard).

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Releasing: April 29 Based on the videogame series, this animated adaptation tells the origin story of the resourceful Lombax (don’t ask), and his trusty sidekick robot.

In line with the original game, Ratchet and Clank must save the galaxy from a villain bent on destroying every planet in the area. Assorted friends and foes pop up.

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Will parents enjoy it? Unlikely. It could be as entertaining as watching somebody else play videogames.

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Releasing: April 22 A rather inexplicable sequel to the mildly successful Snow White and the Huntsman (2012), Winter’s War brings everybody back but Snow White herself, Kristen Stewart, who left the franchise in less than savoury circumstances.

Heck, even the dwarves return. Now in the spotlight, Eric the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) must battle Freya (Emily Blunt), the ice queen, who can harness the power to resurrect her dead sister, the evil queen (Charlize Theron).

At least Eric has a feisty wildling fighting at his side (Jessica Chastain). Sure, the cast looks impressive, but this franchise doesn’t seem all that sustainable.

Appropriate age: 12 and up, but they won’t be particularly excited about it.

Will parents enjoy it? Doubtful. Why watch a Lord of the Rings (2001) wannabe when you can watch Lord of the Rings?

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i n t ro D u C i n G

KANWAL REKHI

By Petrina D'Souza

K

anwal Rekhi is an Indian-American businessman, investor and entrepreneur, currently serving as the managing director at Inventus Capital Partners. Inventus Capital Partners, co-founded by Rekhi, is a US-India Venture capital firm that invests primarily in technologybased startups.

“It has been an incredible journey,” shares Rekhi, “Starting as a refugee family from Pakistan and growing up in a lower middle class family in Kanpur, one could not have imagined the heights I scaled. To a very large extent, I attribute this to getting into IIT Bombay for my undergraduate education.” With Inventus, Kanwal works closely with entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley and India, as he has since 1995, to apply his full time and energy

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helping them accomplish great result.

Rekhi was the first Indo-American Founder and CEO to take a venture-backed company public on the NASDAQ. He had worked as an engineer, systems analyst, and manager before venturing into business. He then co-founded Excelan in Silicon Valley to commercialize ethernet and TCP/ IP – standards which became the basis of the Internet. “I was first to take a Silicon Valley company public in 1987. Excelan was a pioneering company in the computer networking,” says Rekhi of this proud moment.

Despite his success at present, the 70-year-old has had his share of weaknesses and obstacles along the way. “Nothing came easy to me.

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I had an awkward personality and a speech impairment. People always underestimated me because of my introvert personality,” he reveals, “I overcame my low self esteem to achieve what I did. I was always very good at what I did, even in the areas where I had no background.”

His biggest achievement – becoming a CEO. “I was good technically but my biggest achievement was in marketing. I turned out to be a very good marketing and sales person.

To the surprise of all, including my own, I was a natural leader and CEO,” says Rekhi, who has also been active in Indian public policy related to venture and has advised the Indian government policy makers in reforming venture regulations in the past.

He also successfully advised the Indian Prime Minister and his government on their aggressive deregulation of telecom, leading to the explosive growth of mobile telephony in India, and laying the foundation for the country’s impressive IT expansion.

The hard-working businessman loves working with young entrepreneurs, and gives them credit for his success. “I have only done well investing in young entrepreneurs.

Investing in young people requires a lot of patience and mentoring. It is an act of faith in a person, but it is very satisfying to see one of your mentees succeed.”

Ask him what values should a CEO or founder of a company practise, and Rekhi says, “Humility, fair play, intellectual honesty, and giving credit to others when it is due.”

Rekhi also co-founded The IndUS Entrepreneurs (TiE) to promote Indian entrepreneurship and was TiE President through the late 90’s presiding over its growth into a global organization with over 10,000 members who have been behind Silicon Valley and India start-ups. “TiE initiative was a logical outcome of an incredibly lonely journey that I had as an entrepreneur. There were no role models and no mentors or sounding boards. There were no believers in us, who encouraged us along. I felt later that we need to be the role models, mentors and believ-

Q&a You have been presented with many awards for your work and achievements. What do you have to say about this honour bestowed upon you?

I have had too many of these to remember which I enjoyed most.

Getting honorary doctorates in Engineering and Business from Michigan Tech probably rank up there.

Which are your most memorable moments till date?

The day I and my wife Ann were married on March 26, 1967. The day of our IPO in 1987 is another day that I will never forget. My naturalization as an American citizen in May, 1975 also is a day I remember. The birth of our children are also memorable days.

What is your advice for future immigrants?

One should learn the ways of locals very quickly and be an active part of the new environment. I see many people who have been here a while and still have no American friends, do not like local sports and food. To succeed one has to become a 100 percent American, without losing your Indianness.

Indians around the world have to their immigrated countries, what do you think of this accomplishment?

Indians are natural everywhere because they are accustomed to diversity from the very start. Indian set values with emphasis on the knowledge-seeking, hard work, and family orientation are a winning formula every where. To win economically in an open competitive world helps everybody. ers to the next generation,” says he, explaining why he started TiE. Beyond work, Rekhi has interests that keep him physically and mentally active. “I hike, bike and do work-outs in the gym. I travel a lot for both business and pleasure. I have been to all seven continents. I love to play chess and do Sudokus.”

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By Kelly BensoN

M A RCH-A PR I L 2 016

HOROSCOPE ALL SIGNS:

The chilly mornings start to ease off and the weather warms up. It’s time to spring clean our homes, our bodies, and our hearts. Closet purges, detoxifying diets, and taking out the emotional trash are purifying tasks. Home renovations and DIY projects give us a renewed focus.

We’re making social connections with others more and this brings a bounce to our step. New beginnings are all around and we’re excited to embark on interesting projects. The New Moon in Aries on April 7 is powerful to set your intentions and shape your goals. What do you want to grow this season?

Aries (MArch 21-April 19) This is a hot time of year for you, Aries! Not only is your birthday around the corner, but Mars sits in fellow fire sign Sagittarius boosting your optimism and exuberance for life. Opportunities to explore, travel, learn, and research get you jazzed. Your work scene gets a juicy boost this spring too, perhaps through new job opportunities or friendly workmates. You’re more at ease in leadership positions and taking on new responsibilities. This is also a wonderful time for romantic relationships to blossom and take shape. Existing relationships will enjoy more laughter, play and a general sense of connectedness. New relationships will be exciting, passionate and spontaneous. Someone from another culture or a different background might catch your eye.

Rewarding Days: March 10, 11 April 6, 7 Challenging Days: March 23, 24, 25 April 19, 20, 21

TAurus (April 20-MAy 20) Some reflective time is necessary now, Taurus. Your birthday season approaches and you’re thinking a lot about where you’re going with life. Concerns around your earnings, savings, shared property, and jointly-held resources might be keeping you up at night. This pressure will ease off soon (don’t let the stress get to you). Put aside the time to get all your ducks in a row and create some action items. You’re bound to find new ways to use the resources at your fingertips. Out-of-the-box thinking gets the ideas humming. Your moneymaking ideas will take form.

As the spring moves to summer, your earning power vamps up, so get ready. Business ventures or career advancements that come together near your birthday season are blessed.

Rewarding Days: March 12, 13 April 8, 9 Challenging Days: March 26, 27 April 22, 23

GeMini (MAy 21-June 20) You can get a tremendous amount accomplished this spring, Gemini! You’re buzzing with anticipation and you’re ready for action. Others are looking to you for insight, guidance, and support; it’s time to show the world what you know. You might find yourself in a mentorship or teaching role soon.

Welcome these opportunities as they will help shape your career in the coming years. You’re taking on more challenges at work and the higher-ups are noticing, good on ya! Over the next season you’ll get energized being around like-minded souls and meeting new people. Any time lending support to social causes, teams, and community projects will be extremely rewarding. Romantic commitments are more important now; you don’t want to waste your time on fair-weather connections.

Rewarding Days: March 14, 15 April 10, 11 Challenging Days: March 1, 2, 28, 29, 30 April 24, 25, 26

cAncer (June 21-July 22) If you should experience conflicts in your work environments, look for solutions instead of looking for someone to blame.

You’ve got this, Cancer! Opportunities and advancements will be coming your way if you play your cards right. You might find yourself in a new position or a new job by the summer. Your confidence is increasing now as well, giving you that extra edge when taking on leadership positions or demonstrating your

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authority. You have more focus, energy and determination in all areas related to work efforts and outputs. Workplace romances can occur this spring (be sure to exercise caution, don’t jeopardize your job or someone else’s).

Spring fever might be occurring early for you.

Rewarding Days: March 16, 17 April 12, 13 Challenging Days: March 3, 4, 31 April 1, 27, 28

Leo (JuLy 23-Aug. 22) The Sun moves into your ninth house and you’re eager to learn more about life, Leo. Religious and cultural studies might draw your attention and you’ll need some friends to philosophize with. This is a wonderful time to take a class, beef-up on your training in some way, or even plan a trip. New discoveries at work and at play keep you occupied. Bookstores, art galleries, museums, and places with unusual goods will entice you. Single Leo’s may discover a romance brewing with someone from another culture or a different background than their own.

Watching movies, going to theatrical performances, or musical concerts will be fun and playful with your mate.

Set-up a date night and grab your dancing shoes!

Rewarding Days: March 21, 22 April 14, 15, 16 Challenging Days: March 5, 6, 7 April 2, 3, 29, 30

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) You might feel a financial pinch or experience a minor conflict related to jointly-held resources, Virgo. Don’t sweat it much; you’ll get through this fine. You’re keen to get to the bottom of anything involving shared property, taxes, inheritances, or family responsibilities. Issues that have been on the table for some time may finally get cleared up for good this spring.

Matters to do with emotional intimacy can feel more intense around the full moon on April 21st. Your passions are running high! Married and single Virgo’s alike are feeling more in touch with their sensual nature. This is a wonderful time to connect with a mate and let your inner tiger out to play!

Rewarding Days: March 18, 19, 20 April 17, 18 Challenging Days: March 8, 9 April 4, 5

LibrA (Sept. 23-oct. 22) You might have to go more than halfway when dealing with others, especially coworkers and colleagues, Libra. Tap into your diplomatic nature to reach mutuallybeneficial agreements. If you feel a bit tired, just take some time for yourself to recharge your batteries. Some downtime with a good book is just what the doctor ordered. Spiritual pursuits might be intriguing now as well.

You’re in a more reflective state making this an excellent time for soul work, counselling, and mediation. Quiet evenings at home cuddling with a spouse are nurturing and balancing. Single Librans are craving a meeting of the minds. Get to a book store, a coffee shop or take a class; you might meet someone who tickles your fancy.

Rewarding Days: March 23, 24, 25 April 19, 20, 21 Challenging Days: March 10, 11 April 6, 7

Scorpio (oct. 23-NoV. 21) You might encounter some tensions at your place of employment, Scorpio. As long as situations are dealt with immediately (i.e. don't let things fester) you’ll be in good shape. You’re not timid about getting out there and drumming up sales, sourcing contracts, or making cold calls. Follow your instincts now because they’ll be dead on (they usually are, aren’t they?). If you have a hunch about a possible lead, be that business or personal - know that you’re on to a good thing. As well you’re feeling much better about your health than you have in years. This is wonderful time to get your blood moving. Exercise outdoors will energize you more than usual. Your sexual nature is on fire drawing attention from prospective lovers.

Rewarding Days: March 26, 27 April 22, 23 Challenging Days: March 12, 13 April 8, 9

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SagittariuS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Relationship tensions might have been a bit draining as of late, Sagittarius. Hang in there, things pick up. Mars sits in your sign throughout the spring bringing you strength and courage.

If you have to lay your heart on the line and speak your truth, this is a good time. Career matters are important now too.

You’re in a powerful time of creating your life path, so it’s imperative you remain clear headed. Artists, entrepreneurs, and creative types get the push they need to bring something into reality. Musical events, festivals, and time spent outdoors are great places for inspiration. Those of you with children will rejoice getting down to their level and just hanging out.

You’re interested in getting to know someone better.

Rewarding Days: March 1, 2, 28, 29, 30 April 24, 25, 26 Challenging Days: March 14, 15 April 10, 11

capricorN (Dec. 22-JaN. 19) There’s a strong push-pull between the demands of home and family concerns and your professional aspirations now, Capricorn. Whatever you’re nurturing, be that children or a personal project, comes first now. The caretaker in you takes centre stage. You feel the urge to get more organized around the house and revise lifestyle routines and health matters.

This is good! You’re going to make excellent headway. You might be planning a renovation or decorating project, have fun with this. Entertaining at home is favoured. Craft or hobby nights are good for the soul. Relationships get some nurturing too. Single Capricorns may meet a romantic interest through a family or friend connection. So say yes to any invitations that come your way!

Rewarding Days: March 3, 4, 31 April 1, 27, 28 Challenging Days: March 16, 17 April 12, 13

aquariuS (JaN. 20-Feb. 18) It’s time to engage with like-minded souls and push your intellectual boundaries, Aquarius. Anything you can do to expand your knowledge base will be enticing. New research projects or educational pursuits are favoured now. Your passions are running high and you’re willing to the lead the charge. If you butt heads with a superior or authority figure, deal with the issues swiftly and everything will be fine (sometimes you have to break a few eggs to make that omelet).

You can easily quell any negative thoughts that have been bothering you by focusing on something positive, and more importantly, interesting. Short trips and weekend getaways are enjoyable this spring. You’re ready to spread your wings and make new friends. Flirtations are exciting too!

Rewarding Days: March 5, 6, 7 April 2, 3, 29, 30 Challenging Days: March 18, 19, 20 April 4, 5

piSceS (Feb. 19-March 20) Your birthday season is here and you’re feeling both powerful and sensitive, Pisces (you’re a complex sign). It’s important you give some attention to your public image. Others are looking to you to take the lead (you can do this). Opportunities to expand your career are here – you need to act on them!

Your senses will be finely tuned making all your experiences more intense and passionate. Potential lovers are attracted to you now. Ohhh la la… married Pisceans may feel less inhibited and ready to try something new with a partner.

Single Pisceans will feel more confident and outgoing, making it easy to connect to a love interest (this is a great time to buy lingerie and items for intimate play!).

Rewarding Days: March 8, 9 April 17, 18 Challenging Days: March 21, 22 April 17, 18

Kelly Benson is a lifelong student of metaphysics, astrologer. She has a rich background in reading astrological charts and doing Tarot readings. She is the daughter of well-known astrologer Georgia Nicols. Visit:

www.kellybenson.ca

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Biggest obstacle faced so far in Canada: We feel that buying a house in Vancouver is the biggest challenge. The real estate is so expensive. Also, there are limited job opportunities.

Resolutions made for yourself or family The biggest resolution is to stay connected with the family and hopefully make some good investments.

Advice for immigrants:

he t t e e M

i m a w Gos y l i m a F

Canada is a beautiful place to live. Just give yourself some time to settle down as you are moving to a new place. Things will happen but it does take some time.

Memories of Homeland: We miss our family, friends, and yummy food back home.

By Petrina D’Souza

CANADIAN IMMIGRANTS

SHARE THEIR STORIES Nikhil Goswami works at Telus Shruti Goswami is an IT Auditor Samarra is five years old

Getting Here: A job opportunity got Nikhil Goswami, his wife Shruti, and daughter Samarra to Canada in 2007. “My husband got an opportunity from work which we liked and that’s how we decided to move to Vancouver,” says Shruti. Nikhil currently works at Telus.

The Goswami family had a great first impression of the country. “Canada is full of natural beauty. There is greenery all around, beautiful parks and mountains. The people are

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friendly and social,” expresses Shruti. On arrival, they stayed in a hotel for a few days until they could find a rented accommodation.

“Moving to British Columbia wasn’t much of a challenge,” recalls Shruti, “as we moved here with a group of friends.” The weather, however, was. The family did face a harsh winter the year they shifted to the country – making it a difficult time for them. “We moved here during the winter time and it snowed a lot during that year. It was difficult to find a rented accommodation in the snowy weather as we did not know the place so well,” shares Shruti, adding, “We loved the snow though.”

Though it took some time for Nikhil and his family to get used to the snowy weather, the beautiful country and friendly atmosphere made up for the tiny discomfort and gave TM

them no chance to complain. “People here are friendly, social and very welcoming, so it did not take us much time to get used to the people and surroundings,” says Shruti, explaining how settling down was a smooth process for them.

Back in India, Nikhil worked as a Technical Manager at TechMahindra whereas Shruti worked as Senior Manager-IT Audit for Mazars. Here, being recession time back then, it was hard to find suitable job opportunities for Shruti. “Getting a full-time job based on the skill set at that time was a big challenge as the job market was not that great in 2008.

Though, I was able to get some contract opportunities,” she says. However, post recession, the market picked up and there were good opportunities.

The Gosmani family has enjoyed their stay in Canada for the last eight years. “We love the place, it’s so beautiful. Our overall journey has been great,” says Shruti, adding, “We do miss our family and friends back home.”

Photo : Goswami family

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