Create at-home spa experience

5 tips to creAte At-home spA

eXperience

A visit to the spa might not be an option for many of us, so here are fi ve quick tips to create a spa-like experience in the comfort and safety of your own home. Atmosphere

Lighting, scent and calming music are all key elements associated with a visit to the spa. Candles are quick and easy mood-enhancing items that not only add softness to lighting, but can also be used to introduce aromatherapy. Lavender is a great aromatherapy option because it promotes a sense of wellness and calm.

Get steamy

While a warm bath is a go-to ritual for many, you can also dial up your in-home spa game by converting your shower into a mini steam room. Turn your shower on with high heat to steam up your bathroom, grab an exfoliating scrub or loofah to remove dead skin cells and fi nish with a shower.

DIY facial

Consider turning your bedroom into a treatment room. When trying a new or trusted facial mask, remember to choose one that targets your skin-care concerns — such as dry skin, clogged pores, or anti aging. You can also add a foot mask, hand mask, undereye mask or lip mask for an extra-targeted boost of hydration. Try new tools

explore adding a new and affordable skin tool to your at-home spa. Depending on your skin’s needs, choose from a variety of devices such as sonic cleansers to remove impurities and minimize pores, or microdermabrasion tools to reduce the appearance of acne scars and age spots.

You can also try an online skin analysis tool, which uses new technology to provide a customized summary of your skin health. “The virtual skin tool from Shoppers Drug Mart is the next step in learning more about your skin and having personalized products recommended,” said Chanel Cruz, a Shoppers beauty pro.

Mani and Pedi time

Complete your spa experience with a manicure or pedicure. After your skin is prepped and hydrated, fi nish by trimming and shaping your nails and pushing down your cuticles. Top with nail colour and topcoat if desired.

“On a daily basis I see fellow members of society slip through the cracks. The wide range of services offered by SACH will make a real difference in our community.”

LArry JHAJ

“everyone deserve supports and resources that are easily accessible, culturally sensitive, and centered in love and healing. SACH offers that hope.”

AnITA LAL

SACH COMMUNITY HUB For the community, By the community

Alocal collective of community health advocates have come together to form the SACH Community Hub to support Surrey’s diverse communities impacted by acute and emerging health challenges.

SACH will bring together support services for communities most impacted by socioeconomic factors, mental health challenges, and addiction, in the Newton region of Surrey.

Fraser Health Authority’s recent Chief Medical Health Offi cer’s Report stated that South Asian men represented 77% of the overdose cases in 2017. Although South Asians have high proportions of representation in Surrey (33%), Abbotsford (25%), and Delta (20%), this statistic is shockingly high.

“Many of the available supports lack a tailored response that meet the specifi c needs of every single member of our community,”

“Programming provided through SACH will help reduce barriers to accessing health and social services and improve the overall well-being of our communities.”

ALLySHA rAm

“With SACH we fi nally have a tailored response that meets the unique needs of every single member of our community.”

UPKAr SInGH TATLAy

“I had started to see the emerging needs that were going unmet by existing services. I am proud of the work of the team at SACH and the impact our services have.”

JASSy PAndHer

“Cultural, linguistic and systemic barriers are preventing people from accessing lifechanging services. I see SACH being a place of healing and hope.”

HArmAn PAndHer

says SACH Director Upkar Singh Tatlay.

“SACH follows a unique model aimed at reducing barriers faced by diverse communities in accessing health and social services. We envision that SACH will provide a one-stop solution with relevant services available in culturally and linguistically appropriate formats, while using client-centered and family-focused approaches,” says SACH Director Allysha Ram.

Drug toxicity deaths in the South Asian population increased by 255% between 2015 and 2018 compared to 138% among other residents in the Fraser Health Region. The number increased from 20 fatalities a year to 80.

“SACH plans to offer a variety of health and social supports, including connecting clients to services related to substance use treatment and harm reduction, counselling, medical services, income assistance, employment, food security, housing, personal hygiene, immigration, recreation, and victim services; while also providing opportunities for social connection and volunteering,” says SACH Director Jassy Pandher. The services will be available to individuals as well as their families.

“While there is no simple solution to these complex issues, this group has the experience, and most importantly the drive, to advocate for and support populations that all too often fall through the gaps,” says SACH Director Gary Thandi.

For the past several months, SACH has been actively engaging with stakeholders in the community, including the various levels of government.

“The need for a hub that can provide much needed meaningful support and recovery is there and has been there for years in our community. I’m thankful and grateful that this diverse group of caring people have come together to offer a solution,” says Aman Singh, civil rights lawyer and MLA for RichmondQueensborough, who is also active in the recovery community.

Other members of the SACH Board of Directors include Harman Singh Pandher, Anita Lal, and Larry Jhaj.

SACH is raising funds for an outreach office that would be open to anyone who identifies a need, especially those who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness, struggling with addiction, mental health or socioeconomic challenges.

To learn more about SACH Community Hub, visit www.sachbc.ca and social media pages at @sach_bc. For general inquiries, to donate or to be a sponsor, contact info@ sachbc.ca.

“I joined this group as I believe the solutions to major social health and welfare issues lies in collaborative, cross-sectoral collaboration.”

GAry THAndI

“The need for a hub that can provide much needed meaningful support and recovery is there and has been there for years in our community.”

AmAn SInGH

Nav Bhatia: FROM Superfan TO super human

Toronto Raptors’ Superfan Nav Bhatia turned down Global Indian Award in support of Indian farmers

I stay away from politics to be honest. But I am a proud Sikh. And that is fi rst and foremost. As a result, my heart cannot accept this award at this time. Not while my brothers and sisters across India are in pain. I stand with all of the farmers of India. I pray for a safe and peaceful resolve.

Nav Bhatia, Toronto Raptors’ Superfan who is offi cially the Raptors’ South Asian Community Ambassador, turned down the $50,000 Global Indian Award a day after accepting it.

The Canada India Foundation had conferred the award on Bhatia at its virtual gala.

Accepting the award, Bhatia said in his pre-recorded speech that he was greatly honoured to join the company of previous awardees – Ratan Tata, Deepak Chopra, Narayana Murthy, and Montek Singh Ahluwalia. As each past honouree donated the award money to charities, Bhatia too

pledged it to his ‘Daughters of India Initiative’ to build school washrooms for rural girls in Punjab and Rajasthan.

The Canada India Foundation, the Toronto-based Indo-Canadian advocacy group, has honoured an outstanding Indian each year with its Global Indian Award since 2009.

But a day later, Bhatia refused to accept the award, in support of the farmers’ agitation in India.

The World Sikh Organization had tweeted: “superfan_nav, as someone we have recognized in the past as an advocate that raises awareness on the 1984 Sikh Genocide, we ask you decline the @Cif_Offi cial1 award. The CIF have been steadfast Sikh Genocide deniers and have a history of being Indian state violence apologists.”

Bhatia said, “I watched my pre-recorded acceptance speech and the show for the fi rst time like many. The past 24 hours were supposed to be a celebration for all those little girls in Rajasthan but it has been far from that. I was made privy at this point to a lot of new information…I even visited the CIF (Canada India Foundation) offi ces to understand their exact stance on many issues.”

He said, “I stay away from politics to be honest. But I am a proud Sikh. And that is fi rst and foremost. As a result, my heart cannot accept this award at this time. Not while my brothers and sisters across India are in pain. I stand with all of the farmers of India. I pray for a safe and peaceful resolve.”

Bhatia said if the Canada India Foundation “would like to continue with their donation then great, if not then I will personally donate the $50,000 needed to begin phase Iv,” of his project in Alwar.

The WSO later tweeted: “@superfan_nav, by declining @Cif_Offi cial1‘s Global Indian of the Year Award you have done the right thing. Attempts to marginalize Sikh Canadians, minimize #DelhiChalo, and deny the Sikh Genocide will never succeed.”

The Canada India Foundation said in a statement: “CIF regrets the decision and circumstances under which Nav Bhatia chose to return the Global Indian of the Year Award. Canadians of all walks of life treasure his nonpolitical enthusiasm for sport and for Canada & India.

“The true spirit of this Award is recognizing and celebrating the role, success and contribution of an outstanding global Indian every year. To be drawn into India’s current politics or to pronounce on historical debates is not in the spirit of the Award.

“We will continue the hard and important work of pursuing genuine reconciliation between communities, and of strengthening ties between two great democracies.”

I am a proud Sikh. I made a promise to my mom I would not cut my hair, I would not remove my turban and I would not drink alcohol. May her soul rest in peace but every morning I wake up with that promise kept.

Nav Bhatia’s full statement on his ‘Superfan Page’ Facebook

I am Sikh.

Actually.

I am a proud Sikh.

I came to Canada in 1984 after the Sikh genocide.

Many Sikhs lost their lives. My own father was almost dragged out of a car and a burning tire was almost placed over his head. He was moments from death. He was lucky. We were lucky. Many were not as lucky.

Canada is my haven. It is my heaven on earth.

Many see the glamour of the cars, the celebrity friends, the expensive watch but very few witnessed me cleaning washrooms when I fi rst arrived to put food on the table for my family.

I am a proud Sikh.

We do things with pride and passion; my washrooms were the cleanest washrooms in the city. I then became a car salesman. My story is well known from that point. The dealerships, the discrimination, the Raptors, adopting my beautiful little girl and now doing everything I can to give back to as many kids as I can.

I have but one mission. To bring people together.

I am a proud Sikh.

I made a promise to my mom I would not cut my hair, I would not remove my turban and I would not drink alcohol. May her soul rest in peace but every morning I wake up with that promise kept.

I am a proud Sikh.

Now currently in my life I want to give back to as many kids as possible. Over the years I have accepted many awards, including a few from well known Sikh organizations, each award was encouragement to keep working for our youth. each award inspired me to do more because to me an award is about a group of people who are acknowledging your service and showing their support for your cause.

This award was to be that also.

Pre-covid In March, I accepted this award from the Canada India Foundation. Coupled with it was a donation in the amount of $50,000 to my passion project – World vision Canada’s Daughters of India Initiative. Building washrooms for girls in rural parts of India so they can safely continue their education.

I am so proud of my entire team. We completed three phases in Faridkot, Punjab – over 180 washrooms were built or renovated across 36 schools. Over 4000 girls have been impacted. We are now beginning Phase Iv focusing on Alwar, in the state of Rajasthan. One hundred washrooms and 2 basketball courts will be built. I get goosebumps thinking about this initiative. This is everything to me.

This is what the award meant to me. A step closer to fi nishing 100 washrooms.

On Sunday evening I watched my prerecorded acceptance speech and the show for the fi rst time like many. The past 24 hours were supposed to be a celebration for all those little girls in Rajasthan but it has been far from that.

I was made privy at this point to a lot of new information. I have been quiet. Not because I did not know what to say. I wanted to do my own due diligence. I made countless phone calls. I spoke to many prominent fi gures. I even visited the CIF (Canada India Foundation) offi ces to understand their exact stance on many issue. See I am not a political person, I stay away from politics to be honest.

But I am a proud Sikh. And that is fi rst and foremost.

As a result, my heart cannot accept this award at this time.

Not while my brothers and sisters across India are in pain.

I stand with all of the farmers of India. I pray for a safe and peaceful resolve.

As for the girls of Rajasthan, If the Canada India Foundation would like to continue with their donation then great if not then I will personally donate the $50,000 needed to begin Phase Iv.

My life has been about changing perceptions and prejudice. I hope we all come together and share in each others pain just as we celebrate in each others happiness.

When one of us is hurting we are all hurting.

All that matters to me is our youth and the examples we set for them.

Keep me in your prayers.

I am a proud Indian,

I am a proud Canadian and

I am a proud Sikh.

Love,

Superfan, Nav Bhatia