19 minute read
Sukhminder Virk Soul Counsel
SUKMINDER VIRK
SERVICE WITH A SOUL
Agood lawyer must be a great problemsolver, encapsulating the ability to deeply connect with others and build longstanding connections that go beyond just a transactional relationship. Propelled by such a desire to help people solve their problems and advocate for others, Soul Counsel’s Founder, Sukhminder Virk, stepped foot into the field of Law after having completed his LLB program at Kingston University, London, England.
Upon completion of his studies, Virk ventured off to gain work experience in the realms of succession planning. Interestingly, his work led him to discovering a gap between clients’ truth and the work that lawyers do, as he observed that the underlying drivers often were purely transactional. Virk elaborates, “If a client needs a will, lawyers aren’t always asking questions like what the person’s legacy is. Lawyers need to understand that a strong counsel doesn’t just help leave legacies, but also helps build legacies. No matter what the situation, counsels need to create a space for conversations because, at the end of the day, there are consequences for families.” Wanting to build an organization rooted in truth and built on a basis of peaceful legacy, Soul Counsel was born.
Throughout his experiences, Virk has acknowledged that it is definitely tough trying to get to the roots of legal issues. Solutions aren’t always simple and the issues themselves may be emotional and complex, but that’s where Soul Counsel comes in. For Virk and his team, building confidence and resolving conflicts in families is of the utmost importance.
By addressing conflicts within families, Virk believes that litigation and the court system can be avoided, saving resources as well as relationships.
As a lawyer and mediator, Virk unquestionably holds relationship-building at the epicenter of his work, running a practice that emphasizes working with family enterprises. When it comes to dealing with familial cases, he approaches situations by separating the emotions from the issues. He makes an effort to dive deep into the drivers of the problem, understanding true needs and identifying issues to ensure that they get resolved. “With families, it’s really about the ‘why’ - and that can be difficult to talk about. That said, deeper conversations need to be had so that we can achieve a point of true peace for all family members, versus burying the root cause and having it surface later again in life. To attain a sense of resolution, there is a need to be proactive, and develop long-term relationships with clients so we can help see their legacy through”, explains Virk.
Touching on proactiveness, Virk also adds the importance of estate planning as a subject of significance, rather than a mere afterthought as it may be for many. He shines light on the ultimate and inevitable truth of death, while highlighting that it could happen at an unexpected time. When it comes to his clients, Virk handles the sensitive topic of estate planning with care and clarity, encouraging his clients to look at the bigger piece. Especially when clients are starting a family, or if they have considerable assets, Virk reminds them that estate planning entails looking out for someone else, and planning where assets will go in the unknown future.
Virk’s expertise in legal planning is not just limited to families. In fact, through his corporate practice, he advises both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. He has experience in succession planning, corporate governance, complex corporate reorganizations, and business mergers and acquisitions. Just like families, Virk looks at the fundamentals when helping businesses, asking noteworthy questions like which direction the business wants to go, or which direction related family members want to head in. If there is alignment between the two pillars, then all is great, but that is not always the case. In such situations, Virk takes an analytical approach, “Within the company, we dive in and map out who the players and stakeholders are. We work with professional management teams and develop succession. Handing off a business may not always be the ideal course of action; it may be in all parties’ best interest that the business gets sold, and perhaps managers buy it out, or private equity comes into play. All these pieces require different strategies.”
Of course, the implementation of such strategies and their execution comes with fragile balance, and a high level of responsibility. As such, Soul Counsel takes care of all the searching and finalizing for clients, guiding them through different professionals. The organization is committed to ensure that every client’s truth is heard and that families are able to walk away with their true wishes. Because soul counsel is not primarily a law farm, they can generally work with anyone. This means that the team shops around and handpicks the best professionals suited to each particular client.
Outside of Soul Counsel, Virk is active in the community and volunteers with various not-for-profit organizations. He has served as Chair of the Board of Governors of the Justice Institute of BC, Director for the Fraser Valley Estate Planning Council, and Director of the South Asian Bar Association of BC. Reflecting on his time with the Justice Institute of BC, Virk recalls having framed his discussions around a focus on prevention. According to his learnings, conflict and trauma understanding can help solve core problems within families and companies, which can then help society as a whole. Be it any structure - professional or personal - conflict resolution has been a key takeaway for Virk when it comes to solving broader problems. As he simply puts it, “When I’m at peace, the world is at peace.” Currently, Virk sits on the Board of Moving Forward Family Services Society, a charity focused on supporting mental health. He is also a regular speaker on a wide range of topics including Estate Planning, Corporate Succession, and Diversity & Inclusion.
With a multitude of professional and personal adventures, Virk has had an enriching career thus far. Being able to facilitate conversations across generations and resolve conflict has been most rewarding to him. The path has not been an easy one, though. For those wanting to pursue the field of law, Virk shares some words of wisdom, “If you want to enter any professional space, including law, it needs to be your life for a number of years, especially in the beginning. Once you’re in it, make law your top priority. You may have to say no to a lot of extra curricular activities and instead devote time to mastering your craft. Go for great mentorship over anything. In the starting stages, effective mentorship can really help make your career. Choose a good mentor to work with and learn from.” Virk further stresses the inclusion of mental health and a stable personal care routine. Giving his own example, the loving father notes his commitment to spending quality time with his two young sons. Additionally, he benefits from accommodating consistent exercise and weaving meditation into his self-care regime.
Undoubtedly, Virk’s meticulous thought process and work ethics extend into all facets of his life, including his business partnerships. Part of what he is building at Soul Counsel involves bringing together professionals in the legal space that want to work together for the greater good. Having established a trustworthy and reliable platform with a proven record of success, Virk is a role-model for the legal community as he brings together collaborative professionals who are going above and beyond to contribute to families, society, and the ultimate goal of world peace.
Service Disruption
Truth Excellence Love Service Communication Chardikala Disruption Truth Excellence Love Communication Chardikala Onboarding Stakeholder Engagement 2288 Manitoba Street Vancouver, BC V5Y 4B5 www.soulcounsel.ca 604-330-7655 secretary@soulcounsel.ca
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BREAK THE BIAS Saroj Sood
Saroj Sood was one of the first residents of Guru Nanak Niwas, which she proudly Her resilience and love for life are a tonic for everyone who crosses her path. From fighting with her father to calls her home since the last 14 years. She has a teen’s zest for life and a contagiously hearty laugh. Her mind is sharp as razor wire. She is perfectly healthy except for a slight back problem, due to which she uses a walker. She could easily pass for a woman 10 years younger than her age of 91 years. PICS Society Assisted Living facility (Guru Nanak Niwas) provides a special combination of residential housing, personalized supportive services and health care maximizing independence of our residents.
Seniors Assisted Living Complex and Adult Day Center
Unit 100, 7566 – 120A Street Surrey, BC, V3W 1N3 T: 604.596.0052
International Women’s Day envisions a world free of discrimination and bias, one that’s equitable and inclusive. In marking this year’s International Women’s Day theme “Break the Bias”, we bring to you stories of extraordinary women. Feel inspired by these stories about women who stood up, spoke out, struggled through, and soared. get an education in 1940’s India; to convincing her father-in-law to let her continue her studies after marriage; to moving to Quebec, Canada with her two kids; to giving senior women a voice in Surrey, Saroj has been a trailblazer all her life. Saroj doesn’t stick to rules defined by society. Somewhere in that frail
body is solid steel. Get talking to Saroj and you’ll hear all about a life of adventures. After her husband’s death, she decided to move to Canada with her two sons. She was 43 years old then. YEARS “I won’t say it was easy. Moving to a new country in the hope of a better future for your children is quite frightening. And doing it all alone was tough. When we first landed in Quebec, the language, culture, everything seemed foreign. But time passed and we settled in. I started a boutique with my brother-inlaw’s (late husband’s brother) help, SURREY | VANCOUVERexpanded and added one more. In the meanwhile, my elder son got “Zindagi married, had children and we all decided to move to Surrey. One of Khoobsurat hai, aao my favorite memory is driving from Quebec to Surrey with my family in Mauj Manaye. our Caravan. We listened to old songs, Maut be haseen talked for hours, sometimes stopped at random places, while other times hogi haskar gale sat in complete silence. We took 10 days to finish this trip. It was quite lagaye something”. After having worked all her life, Parmatma kre Saroj couldn’t sit idle at home. Her daughter in-law took her to the sbki zindagi Indo-Canadian Senior’s Centre in Surrey. That moment changed the Saukhi saukhi course of many lives, all for the better. nikl jaye” Earlier, ladies would get together every Tuesday for a couple of hours to recite some religious hymns. Saroj wanted the ladies to have more. She spoke to a few people, and after countless discussions, the ladies decided to meet every Thursday too. Saroj felt that the women were not sharing anything, and in fact were just there for mere tokenism. She started meeting smaller groups, in order to get them to open up and share. A trick that worked – having these talks over hot ‘chai’ and some snacks. “I firmly believe that women are phenomenal. And maybe outspoken and eccentric women like me are needed so that the world hears the voice of those who otherwise would not be heard. These women may not be formally educated, but they have rich experiences, intelligence, and loads of creative ideas but unfortunately, they never got the chance to prove themselves.” Coming to PICS Society’s Guru Nanak Niwas was her own wish. She wanted to go someplace where she could live independently, but in a community setting with others like her. “I like being here and felt attached to this place at the very first time I stepped foot here. My sons were initially resistant to this idea, but I asked them to accept my decision with grace. They relented and helped me move in too.”
Saroj set up the first informal social committee that meets every month to discuss concerns, problems, celebrate festivals, birthdays and other social occasions. “It’s very hard for some newcomers. There are many reasons. Our job is to be their friend and make this part of their life memorable and happy. I remember this one time we were celebrating the birthday of a senior gentleman. He tearfully cut the cake and said ‘Bhenji this is first time I am cutting a cake on my birthday. No one ever did this for me before.’ Everyone had a moist eye that day. We laugh, we cry, we sing songs, we play games, we exercise if possible. But most importantly, we are there for each other. We live by “One for all, and all for one”.
Elena
Elena moved to Canada from Russia. She has five children. “It was pure luck that I saw an Ad for a course supported by PICS Society. I saw the Ad and thought countless times before clicking on it. I felt so unsure. But it may be my resolve to make things better for myself and my children, that made me reach out to PICS. I am so glad I did. Life has taken an interesting turn, and I have a feeling it’s going to be great”.
Elena had an abusive past and believed the only way for her to change her story was through education. She was fascinated by this skills training program, and after a lengthy discussion with the program team, she decided to go for the First-Aid and Food Safe training with Pro Safe and Occupational Skills Training from Western Community College.
Shakun Singla
Kawther Ejmal
“Very pleased, that I chose to go with FCR program at PICS Society. As a recent independent skilled immigrant from a regulated profession, starting a new life in Canada was always a big concern for me, especially with limited financial source. All I knew was my journey won’t be easy! I am a registered architect in my home country and initial stepping stone for finding a job in Canada in a regulated profession was foreign credential recognition.
While exploring my other career options in architecture and planning industry to get started, I came across ASTTBC and by the support of my case manager at Work BC, I got in touch with a program advisor from ASTTBC. It just took one meeting to reassure me and give me confidence to apply for my certification. The next, but most critical step for me was figuring out the funds required for the same. So, my case manager introduced me to FCR program at PICS. Rest they say is history. The staff at FCR program took care of everything, right from the micro loan to my application with an expedite approach and in mere 4 weeks, I was able to apply for the long-awaited certification.
The program has definitely taken care of not just the financial burden, but has made the transition in Canada much easier. All I want to do is convey my genuine appreciation and gratitude to these advisors and staff of FCR Program. I can assure my program sponsors and coordinators that they have made a rightful investment. Thank you for seeing in me, a certified architectural technologist in no time, who is ready to give back to community through her skills and support. I would definitely recommend every new immigrant to BC, to check out the FCR program.”
Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Loans Program is for Internationally Trained Professionals who want to get back into their professional field or alternative related career. The FCR loans program offers multiple loan amounts up to $15,000, depending on the process, to cover the cost of credentialing along with a flexible repayment schedule.
PICS has been providing free services under the Settlement and Integration Program since 2002. Over this time, we have acquired an expertise in dealing with settlement and integration issues and engaging with the community through funding by federal government and the province of BC. Our settlement team has over 60 years of combined experience in the field and we pride ourselves in being able to serve clients in English, Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi, Dari, Farsi, Arabic and Pashto.
A specialized team of staff at PICS Society manage the Skills Training for Employment Programs designed for survivors of violence and/or abuse. The team supports clients to address barriers to participation in skills training and employment. Support provided includes; counselling, mentoring, child care, transportation, disability supports, work experience, wage subsidies and equipment.
While it’s not at all smooth sailing for Elena and many others in similar situations, she is leaving her past firmly back where it belongs; in the PAST. Elena became a participant of the first cohort of Skills Training for Employment program at PICS Society. To make sure she was well-supported during the program as well as after it, her case manager also connected her with counselors at Moving Forward Family Services.
With utter determination, positive attitude and hard work Elena completed her program successfully and is now working as a Medical Office Assistant with River District Medical clinic in Vancouver. Kawther Eljmal is starting off this year with a full heart. With her husband and four daughters by her side, she is settling in beautifully in Surrey, Canada. Kawther and her family lived in Qatar before coming to Canada. Her husband had a work permit, but as soon as his work permit ended, they had to make a hard choice- go back to their home country – Palestine or emigrate to Canada. Because it was extremely unsafe for them and their daughters in Palestine, they moved to Canada as refugees. “I was very unsure about getting a job myself. I wanted to help my husband, but didn’t know how. I didn’t have the right qualifications, experience and felt very unsure about where to start from. Someone mentioned PICS and their Settlement Programs for Refugees. I got in touch with them, spoke to a lovely lady – Eva, who became my friend, my mentor and confidante in this new country. Eva guided us all the way. She helped me figure out a career path, helped with certifications and networking. She helped me practice my English, assisted us with getting our healthcare setup, getting my children admitted in a good school”.
Kawther’s daughters go to Fleetwood High School and the youngest attends daycare. Kawther, is working as a receptionist in HR block. She is very hopeful about the future and feels that her daughters will do very well in Canada.
MEET DR. WALINDER DHOL
Your Neighbourhood Orthodontist - Six BC Locations
I would like to introduce myself! My name is Dr. Walinder Dhol and I have been practicing as an Orthodontic Specialist for over 18 years in the beautiful city of Calgary. The myORTHODONTIST team and I have treated thousands of patients in Alberta over the years, providing healthy smiles for kids, teens and adults. I have always wanted to spend more time in BC and in fall of 2021, my family and I had the opportunity to make the move and call the city of Surrey our home. I am the new clinical director at all six myORTHODONTIST practices, and I am so excited to instill our enriched values and the myORTHODONTIST philosophy here in BC - which includes seeing children no later than age seven!
My ultimate goal for myORTHODONTIST is to make orthodontic treatment more accessible to families and individuals in all walks of life. That is why I firmly believe in offering flexible payment plans that include financing options and direct billing to insurance. “
In addition to our clinical expertise and focus on positive patient experiences, you have a lot to look forward to at myORTHODONTIST:
• We see children early on - you don’t have to wait until they are teenagers! • Flexible booking and extended hours of service • $0 down and easy payment plans • Direct billing to insurance • lnvisalign® and braces along with early treatment • Virtual at-home monitoring options • No referrals from your dentist required • A fun, safe and caring atmosphere
Our family looks forward to welcoming your family to myORTHODONTIST!
Sincerely, Dr. Walinder Dhol
DDS, MSc, FRCD(C) Certified Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
Surrey 604-337-2153 surrey@myortho.ca 10203 152A St #200 DARPAN TMMARCH | APRIL 2022 Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle Langley 604-900-6547 langley@myortho.ca 19978 72 Ave #201 Visit www.myortho.ca for information on all of our locations
Surrey • Langley • Coquitlam • Maple Ridge • Downtown Vancouver • West Vancouver
