August issue 2015 by AAJ Magazine

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Colonel Harjit Sajjan Sajjan Lt. Col Harjit

BORN TO SERVE

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m a g a z i n e

Reflecing today, shaping tomorrow

AAJ MAGAZINE is published by AAJ Media Group, doing business as AAJ Magazine Inc. AAJ is a magazine that is published every two months. Any reproduction of the magazine, editorial content, images or advertisements cannot be reproduced or reprinted in any form, without written permission of the Publishers. The views expressed by the writers in this publication are not the views of the Publishers or AAJ Media Group. The Publishers assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Copyright 2015 AAJ Magazine Incorporated. All rights reserved.

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Telephone (604) 604-671-1114 E-mail info@aajmag.ca

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Aaj Magazine is published 7 times per year by Aaj Magazine Incorporation, doing business as Aaj media group. Copyright 2015. All rights Reserved. One year Subscription: Rates: Canada: $20.00 plus GST, USA: $35.00 (US), International: $60.00 (Cdn) Aaj Magazine is protected by trademark registration in Canada. Please send subscription information to the

8 Lt COL Hari Sajjan Born to serve

54 Mani K Jassal

67 Backstage Pass

27 Kuljeet Kaila

72 Paradise of Bali

32 How We Fall Out of Love

ENTERTAINMENT

above address or E-mail us. The Contents of this publication may not be reproduced either in part or in whole without the consent of the copyright owner. The views expressed by the writers in this publication are not necessary the views of the publishers. All letters/submissions sent to Aaj Magazine must include full name, address and phone number and may be edited for content, clarity, and length. All submissions become the property of Aaj Magazine unless accompanied by a self-addressed envelope. Aaj Magazine is not responsible for loss or damage of unsolicited submissions.

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HEALTH

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Manjit Vinning

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Jessica Yuki, Eva Li from JE Design

Aziz Ladha

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Pauline Sidhu

Daniela Carmona

Perminder Chohan

Paul Baraich

Paul Dhillon

Harj Sajjan

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Bilal Cheema

Parmjit Dhillon

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Meet the TEAM

Suki Pangalia Suki Pangalia, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of AAJ Media Group is well known in the South Asian Community as a pioneer in the entertainment and arts scene. Founder of the internationally renowned and award winning Rangeela Dance School, Suki has ventured into many projects that bind children and their families to their culture. A strong believer of prevention over intervention, he has dedicated his life to advocating for and supporting families through a holistic approach of improving their mental health. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Child and Youth Counselling, he has been working as a Counsellor for over 20 years and is currently employed as the Aboriginal Counsellor for the Surrey School Board. He is also a commissioned officer of the Canadian Armed Forces, a qualified Captain (CIC) and was the Platoon commander in the 1990’s at Vernon Army Cadet Camp. Suki’s combined vision with his partners, staff and friends is to develop AAJ Media Group into a platform that improves the quality of life for humanity through cultivating imagination and expanding consciousness throughout the community.

Steve Sandhu After graduating from Kwantlen College with a Business Management Diploma in 1994, Steve Sandhu proceeded with general contracting and house building for six years. After that he decided to acquire a formal education in the trades, graduated with an Electrical Applications Diploma and started an Electrical Apprenticeship Program, working as an electrician until 2010. Steve enjoys being an entrepreneur, currently owning and operating Ocean Home Inspections. While running his business, he also supports causes that match his desire to make a difference in the community through creating a discussion around important overlooked issues.

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Goldy Pataria With a passion for rhythmic music and broadcasting Goldy Pataria decided to become a DJ for school dances at his high school Johnston Heights. He quickly became known as “DJ Goldy” and grew his career to include local raves, wedding receptions, private parties and night clubs. In 1995 he released his first Bhangra album and a second album in 1999, while performing as a deejay at Vancouver’s 96.1 FM Planet AAJ of AAJ Media Group. He continued working with Planet AAJ for several years, while also building a successful family trucking business that is operating to-date. Goldy is a natural entrepreneur who is always trying to get his hands on different businesses such as restaurants, while supporting charities such as Miss World Canada, for which was awarded the Master Contributor in 2014.

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COMMON

MAN by Hardeep Sidhu

t may feel intimidating to interview a multi-award winning entrepreneur and a member of Brian Tracy’s network of successful people; However, Perminder Chohan, the Managing Director at Desjardins Financial Security Independent Net work (DFSIN) in Richmond, British Columbia, was so humble and personable that we forgot we were interviewing a best-selling author.

Chohan who has never written a book before, excitedly accepted the opportunity and proceeded to venture past his comfort zone – an important habit to which Chohan attributes his success.

Chohan, a natural entrepreneur, came to Canada in 1990 and worked in numerous professions before settling at DFSIN in 2009. He worked as a plumber, owned cellular phone retail stores, and broke records selling Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs) and life insurance, achieving success at each venture. Currently, his branch of DFSIN is the strongest in Canada and he has no intention of slowing down.

After sharing his experience about working with Brian Tracy and co-authoring the book, we were excited to pick his brain for some secrets to success. A strong supporter of mentorship, he graciously offered this advice:

An advocate for leadership development, Chohan recently took on a brand new challenge – the art of writing. After appearing on Brian Tracy’s “Phoenix Seminars” in San Diego, Tracy invited Chohan to co-author a book called Uncommon. This book is a combined effort of over 20 leaders from various industries who share how they achieved their success.

“I never wrote anything before,” he told us. “So I came back to Canada from an interview with Brian Tracy’s television show, put my brain in the centre and started thinking about how I will write the book. I wrote a chapter, submitted it, and received the Editor’s Choice Award!”

“Always be supportive, honest, open, and transparent with people. If someone needs you, whether in business or in life, try to help them grow. When it comes to yourself, be disciplined. Whatever you want to do, make sure you put your effort and time into it. Trust me, it’s going to be a hard road, but it will pay off. Also, you need to do different things on an ongoing basis. Get out of your comfort zone.” “I came to Canada when I was 25 years old and I spoke very little English.” A proud Canadian, Chohan expressed that Canada is the land of opportunity. “If somebody wants to do something, nobody will stop him or her. If you are committed and focused you can achieve anything in life. But you need to start with a clear vision of where you want to go.” He left us with generous advice and words of wisdom, but to get the whole story you’ll have to read it yourself. Pick up a copy of Uncommon at your local bookstore or amazon.com and feel free to pick up the phone and call Perminder at 604.592.7550 to talk about personal development. All proceeds from the book support Entrepreneurs International, the world’s only peer-to-peer network exclusively for entrepreneurs.

Lt. COL HARJIT SAJJAN: BORN TO SERVE Humble And Always Ready To Stand Guard For Thee! “I must say that Major Sajjan (now a Lieutenant-Colonel) is one of the most remarkable people I have worked with, and his contribution to the success of the mission and the safety of Canadian soldiers is nothing short of remarkable. I rate him as one of the best…officers I have ever worked with - fearless, smart, and personable, and I would not hesitate to have him on my staff at any time in the future.” Governor General of Canada, David Fraser

The Colonel, Harjit Sajjan and Governor General of Canada 8

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ow Harjit Singh Sajjan, retired police and military veteran, is on his way to become one of the Liberal Party’s rising stars. If experience is what counts, Harjit Sajjan is ready for a challenge in Canadian politics. He is a retired Vancouver Police Department (VPD) officer, who worked in specialized units, including organized crime. He is a highly decorated retired Lieutenant-Colonel and former Commanding Officer of the British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught’s Own) who has multiple tours of duty in the Balkans and Afghanistan. He is a proven leader with the ability to connect with people from the newest recruit to senior generals.

“The best thing to do is pay attention to the indicators and identify the problem.” In Afghanistan he demonstrated the same abilities in his dealings with local villagers and government officials. This unique ability allows him to identify key issues in order to address grievances before they become problems. During his deployment to Afghanistan in 2006, as part of Task Force Aegis, Harjit Sajjan was employed as a liaison officer to the Afghan National Police. Although his job did not entail either intelligence gathering or analysis, his experience from his VPD days allowed him to identify suspicious patterns and activities. With Task Force Aegis’ main efforts to the northeast of Kandahar, if his suspicions were proven to be correct, there existed potential for a major Taliban victory. 9

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“We literally moved everything there just in time to save Kandahar city from being taken over.”

Through collaboration with the commander and his key staff, Harjit Sajjan was able to confirm the information needed in order to redirect the main effort around Kandahar City. With the confirmation of heavy Taliban presence around Kandahar City and indications of an imminent attack, Operation Medusa was launched. At its peak Operation Medusa involved personnel and equipment from Canadian, American and British Forces, along with large numbers of artillery and aircraft. According to a letter from General Fraser, Commander of Task Force Aegis 2006, Operation Medusa resulted in the defeat of the largest Taliban insurgent cell identified to date in Afghanistan with over 1500 combatants killed or captured. “It took convincing, but we were able to launch operation Medusa in the nick of time,” Harjit recalls. “We had to move the entire combat power of a brigade into the area because the Taliban had built up a secret base and they were about to launch an attack on Kandahar city. We did not have enough resources to protect Kandahar city at that time. We were spread out very thin and our combat power was in different areas. We literally moved everything there just in time [to save] Kandahar city from being taken over.” While operation Medusa remains one of Sajjan’s greatest achievements, he continues to take every opportunity to fight for justice and to do the right thing. For him, the upcoming election is simply another opportunity for him to incite change, this time from a political standpoint.

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“I rate him (Sajjan) as one of the best intelligence officers I have ever worked with – fearless, smart, and personable, and I would not hesitate to have him on my staff at any time in the future,” General Fraser wrote to the VPD Chief of Police after the mission. “He was the best single Canadian intelligence asset in theater (battle field), and his hard work, personal bravery, and dogged determination undoubtedly saved a multitude of Coalition lives. Through his courage and dedication, Major Sajjan has single handedly changed the face of intelligence gathering and analysis in Afghanistan.” The irony however, is that Sajjan was not an intelligence officer but rather a combat arms officer in the Armoured Corps. Despite his multitude of successes, Harjit has routinely humbled himself, crediting the soldiers who fought alongside him with the true success of these missions. According to him, “the true heroes are our soldiers who never returned with us.” Given Sajjan’s role in the success of Operation Medusa in 2006, and the resurgence of the Taliban in 2008, he was requested to deploy once again in order to help define the ground truth in Kandahar. Working directly for the Canadian Commander of Task Force Kandahar he quickly established links with local and regional leaders. Sajjan identified key grievances which allowed Task Force Kandahar to devise and implement the “key village approach” strategy, thereby reducing the negative influence of the Taliban. Harjit also developed what a friend of his, a colonel in the US Special Forces, calls the Grievance Model. The Grievance Model allowed Harjit to identify subtle indicators early on, ensuring that they were dealt with before they became a massive problem. It was through the use of this model and a variety of other approaches that he employed, that Harjit very quickly developed the reputation of being

“He felt so strongly about ‘doing the right thing’ that he resigned from the VPD.” one of the people who, if you went out with him, would bring you back alive. In 2010, Harjit Sajjan was requested yet again to deploy to Afghanistan, this time as an advisor to the Commander of the 10th Mountain Division (US). Unlike with his previous deployments, Harjit was denied a leave of absence from the VPD. He felt so strongly about “doing the right thing” 13

that he resigned from the VPD in order to deploy where his experience and expertise could be gainfully employed for the benefit of Afghans and coalition forces. “People thought I was nuts to leave a good job and a very good pension but I had joined to serve. I believed that any chance that my efforts could save a coalition life or better the life of the Afghans was worth it,” Sajjan stated matter-of-factly.

As a result of his extraordinary leadership and dedication to the Canadian Armed Forces, Harjit was presented with the honour of becoming the first Sikh to command a Canadian Army regiment. Not only did this mark a historical moment in Canadian history, but it has also served as a source of inspiration for young people across the country. Harjit was also portrayed as a Canadian role model in the federal government’s last Welcome to Canada booklet for new immigrants.

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Justin Pierre James Trudeau MP is a Canadian politician and the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.

As a veteran military man, Sajjan does not agree with the approach that Prime Minister Stephen Harper has taken towards foreign conflicts. Rather, he views the Prime Minister’s approach as being detrimental to Canada’s long standing and hard earned reputation as an honest peace builder.

“Politics the best way for him to honour the sacrifices of our fallen soldiers, but it also provides an amazing opportunity “to make a difference.”

“A good leader surrounds himself with a strong team and I am very impressed with the team Mr. Trudeau has recruited.”

“We need to create a reputation for Canada where the US and other countries view us as the credible, honest opinion,” Sajjan argues. “It’s not about talking tough, it’s about solving the problem. If we do not take a proactive approach, the threat will hit us here…we have to put out the fire at the source. Why didn’t we see ISIS being formed at its infancy, where it could have been dealt with [using] a smaller intervention that would have prevented innocent minority groups from being terrorized?”

rudeau. I liked what he had to say and his vision. He has great leadership qualities. I’ve been very fortunate to work with great leaders and I think I’ve done some stuff where I could be considered a leader myself. He’s got the qualities of a leader that I would follow. A good leader surrounds himself with a strong team and I am very impressed with the team Mr. Trudeau has recruited.”

“When I was in Afghanistan I got to choose my boss and the role I played,” Harjit explains when asked about his reasons for entering politics. “I had an open and frank discussion with Mr.

In terms of what entering a life of politics means to him, Harjit said that not only is “[politics] the best way for [him] to honour the sacrifices of our fallen soldiers,” but it also provides

an amazing opportunity “to make a difference.” Something that Harjit has proven capable of time and time again. When asked about his current strategy for being elected, Harjit expressed deep gratitude towards his team, and also had the following to say: “When I go door knocking I’m asked ‘Why should I vote for you?’ I say ‘I’m not asking for your vote. I’m asking you to get to know me. Learn about me and at the same time learn about the other candidates.’” Harjit Sajjan’s success in connecting with people comes from his genuine interest to do the right thing despite the personal cost. He is a personable and caring leader who people can easily relate with. Encouraged by his faith and the personal desire to do what is best for people, Harjit Sajjan has maintained a life of service since 15

Continue on Lt. COL HARJIT SAJJAN: BORN TO SERVE

graduating from high school. A large part of this drive to serve comes from his experiences as an immigrant to Canada in 1976. A new Canadian subjected to intolerances based on his ethnic background and religion, Sajjan learned to persevere and overcome the obstacles faced by many immigrants when they first arrive in a new country. His humble start in Canada included growing up in the Moberly Park area, a tough upbringing which forced Sajjan to confront social issues such as racism, violence and gangs, from a very young age. It was this tough upbringing that steered him towards a life of service, initially with the VPD, and also helped him understand the importance and value of having strong mentors from an early age. Interestingly enough however, while it was religious and cultural diversity that proved to be a barrier for Harjit earlier in life, this same diversity proved to be quite useful later on.

“My background as a Sikh was opening doors to key Afghan officials.” “What I quickly learned was that my background as a Sikh was opening doors to key Afghan officials,” Harjit explained. “My diversity opened doors in a very big way.” As a child he accompanied his parents, in the summer, to farms to conduct menial labour and pick berries as a means of income for the family.

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“We were probably the only kids that hoped for a longer school year and wished it rained every single summer because that was the only way you’re not going to go berry picking,” Sajjan said. His humble beginnings have allowed him to relate with people and understand their basic needs. His extensive police and military experience have given Harjit Sajjan the confidence and competence to do the right thing. His personal successes are exactly why Harjit Sajjan is on his way to become one of the Liberal Party’s rising stars.

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Lt. COL HARJIT SAJJAN

Harjit Sajjan born in an Indian family.

On mission in multiple cities in Balkans and Afghanistan

Delivering soup and flour to the locals

Harjit Sajjan entered politics for greater mission

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Harjit Sajjan joined the Canadian military.

Harjit Sajjan with his armed crewmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stroop

Harjit Sajjan has earned great recognization with his success.

Working with the leader of Liberal Party, Justin Turdeau

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Things to Consider in a Motor Vehicle Accident 1. TYPE OF VEHICAL STRIKING AND STRUCK MASS RATIO The weight or mass of the striking and struck vehicle have significant influence on injury occurrence. Smaller cars have more severe crash injuries. 2. SPEED OF TRAVEL This is of absolute importance at high speeds.

5. EXTENT OF DAMAGE TO VEHICLE In general, there is a positive correlation between the extent of damage to the vehicle and the risk of injury. 6. POSITION OF HEAD Looking off to the side or down or up is more likely to produce asymmetric load to the neck. It may increase the risk of the facet to every kind of vertebrae and joint injury.

3. AWARE OF IMPENDING COLLISION Those occupants aware of the impeding rear end crash had less severe injuries.

7. SEATBELT Using your seatbelt decreases the incidence of head injury significantly.

4. INJURY TO OTHER PASSENGERS Drivers and passengers have different injuries. knee on dashboard, chest against steering wheel.

8. HEADREST AND ITS POSITION In the proper position, this reduces injury. If the head restraint is low or absent and the occupant is able to extend backward beyond anatomic limits, the soft tissues may fail to tolerate the rate of loading impact.

9. STRIKE ANY SURFACES WITHIN THE VEHICLE Commonly head visor, windshield, knee on dashboard, chest against steering wheel. 10. SITE OF IMPACT Side collisions produce more severe injuries than rear crashes. 11. DAMAGE TO THE SEAT If the seat breaks off, increases risk of injury and indicative of force imparted. 12. SYMTOMS AT THE SCENE SEVERE SYMPTOMS AT THE SCENE Severe symptoms at the scene are more likely to indicate a bone or joint or neurological injury.

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AAJ FACES A Father’s Graduation elpmaS TXET

Letter to His Daughter To My Dearest Sonali Beta, First of all, my heartfelt congrats on completing your high school education! I have been and always will be impressed with the determination, drive and hard work you demonstrate on a daily basis. Whether it is through your many activities including: dancing, acting, modelling, cheerleading, girl guides, and cadets or towards your schoolwork. I am most impressed by the fact that, regardless of your h ect i c s c h ed u l e , yo u always make time for our relationship. I wish that I could have made more time for you. As a dad, there is never enough time, lol. The love and bond between us is inseparable and I could not imagine living a life without you. The time we spent cooking, gardening, camping, and just hanging out playing silly games mean the world to me. You and Sahil made me the man I am today, both of you complete me. It is with great pride I can say that my kids have given me a life of joy, happiness, strength and direction.

Remember the special heart-shaped flower garden we built while living in the basement? That’s one of my favourite memories together. I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to watch you grow from an adorable child into a beautiful young woman. It seems like only yesterday you were a short, bouncy, inquisitive little girl. Now you’re graduating high school and heading off to university to purse your dream of helping others. Though it may seem to you that it’s taken forever to reach this point, it happened all too quickly for me. Beta, never lose sight of those dreams and never compromise anything to reach them. Remember that life is made up of a lot of small journeys and you want to strive to make them as enjoyable, interesting and as rewarding as possible. When you embark on a journey you never know what will happen along the way and where it will end up. Regardless of the path you choose I know you’ll strive. Pursue something you really want even though it is not always easy to know what that might be. I have seen you become a strong leader within your peer group, n the community, and school. Your demonstration of priorities has meant more to me than any of the awards you’ve received over the years! I don’t want to see you go to Victoria, but I know you need new challenges and you will succeed at them. So remember, if you’re feeling stressed out or upset, just listen to our song, Oceans Apart. The spiritual energy will unite us. Congratulations Sonali. I Love You, “The Dad” ;) 21

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DANIELA

Carmona

elpmaS TXET

Daniela Carmona is a singer, actress, and journalist born on September 28, 1991 Manizales, Colombia. She currently resides in Vancouver, B.C. where she actively works for the Latin American community. At the age of 6, she left her native land with her family after being affected by the political conflict in Colombia. Since then, Daniela has carried along her Latin roots all across North America. Although her passion for music and art began in the streets of New York, where she lived for 7 years, Canada is the place she now calls home. After overcoming difficult life situations as an immigrant, Daniela felt an immense urge to be the voice for the Latin American community i n V a n c o u v e r, w h i c h s h e b e l i e v e s i s underrepresented in television and radio broadcasting. Consequently, she decided to get her journalism degree at Kwantlen and since 2012 she began working with the Hispanic radio and television programs in Vancouver. Daniela is passionate about keeping the Latino community informed about new immigration laws and potential changes that affect our way of living in Canada. Furthermore, she has been submerged in the entertainment industry for many years now and has been culturally driven to host Latin non-profitable events to help people in Colombia in need. Through music, dancing, acting, and journalism Daniela is able to express herself in a deeper level. She has placed herself in a position where people follow her activities and in turn is able to guide them through informed decisions that allow the Latin American community to grow stronger together in Vancouver. 25

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE With R. Paul Dhillon

Kuljeet Kaila Claim To Fame: Media Queen

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Tell us about the exciting journey you’ve had so far in the world of mainstream radio and showbiz? It’s a journey that has taught me everything happens for a reason and every part of the journey is simply a piece of a puzzle that will eventually make sense and fit together perfectly - the best of times and the worst of times. I’VE BEEN THROUGH several highs and lows and it was always through the not so greatest of times that I was forced to try other things and realize how much I like taking risks. Two of them included DJing events and starting a promotions consulting firm. This took me to Hollywood and New York where I ended up learning even more about the radio and TV world. No matter which path I ended up on, it always brought me back to my first passion of radio and TV hosting. Did you always want to do this? How did it all start? I was always fascinated by the voices and music coming out of a radio as a kid. Be it the country music from the tiny radio station in Mackenzie BC where I grew up or listening to Shushma Datt on chip/satelite radio from Vancouver. I dropped out of getting a “real education” and went to radio and journalism schools instead. The hardest part was getting a start but I was also very annoying in sending in resumes and demos. News 1130 and the Province newspaper both gave me first big breaks or gave up answering all my calls and emails. And oh this magazine called Aaj also let me write for them once a upon a time. I went on to work on some of the most amazing stories around the world and be on some of the highest rated shows with very talented icons and meet a number of role models, athletes, movie stars and musicians over the years too.

“Being able to reinvent myself and grow with the times and realizing nothing is really more important than family and friends.”

Tell us about your biggest success so far and how has it inspired you to continue in the game? MY BIGGEST SUCCESSES so far – surviving in this industry for more than 10 years; being able to reinvent myself and grow with the times and realizing nothing is really more important than family and friends. Becoming an Aunt has been my biggest success and most joyful experience in life. It’s my favorite job too. No matter how great or not so great you might be doing career wise, kids love you the same and without judgement. How tough is it to be radio DJ? Nothing is tough when it’s your passion. Being in radio and TV is a dream come true especially right now in my life getting to work at the stations I am with - 93.7 JRFM and the 102.7 the Peak and CTV B C. Not a day goes by where I don’t feel like the luckiest person ever. It’s easy when you get to live out your dream and work with great people in radio, TV and even the companies I do promotions for. I feel grateful to be able to wear so many different hats because I love all of them. How do you overcome the struggle, the failures and how do you deal with success?

During one of the most trying times, a life coach taught me the power of doing an evidence journal. Basically pick a point in your life (like when you finished high school) and go backwards to that time. What things happened that led to other things good and bad. You quickly realize to be grateful even for the tough times - they all happened for a reason. I also really had to work on reducing stress and fear of failure - it was when I realized they were the most negative emotions we could put out there and actually blocked things from coming to us that I learned to really be more positive. Having a supportive circle of friends and family has made my journey much easier too. And when things are going amazing - take time to give back. My parents always made sure the forcus was on growing your heart not your ego. They have always inspired me to volunteer - be it the local women’s shelter or families in third world countries. I watched them change so many lives growing up in a mill town to travelling with them to see first-hand how they have used their success to make other people’s lives better. Nothing is more grounding when you can change someone’s life - no matter who you are. What is the one thing that keeps you going? The people in my life. Tell us about the exciting things that are happening in your life now? I am working on producing and hosting a new online series with my best friend Rhona Raskin. It’s called “What’s your problem?” It includes topics from relationship issues to consumer complaints. I am the reporter, she is the expert providing the psychology behind it all. We look at everything from our addiction to technology and 29

what the inside of our fridge really say about us. Feel free to let me know if you would like to sponsor the show (had to sneak that in there) Tell us about a major crush you have on a celebrity or someone from the entertainment world you have interviewed. Would you go all the way if you ever found yourself in a one-night romance by some freaky magic? My list is embarrassing weird. It includes names like Matthew McConaughy to Will Ferrall ( I know don’t ask, something about his Anchorman movies) And the second part of the question.... never kiss and tell! 30

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What are you hopes and dreams for the future in your profession? That I am healthy and happy to continue to be part of awesome work families. Also landing a dream job at a radio or TV station in Hawaii or Mexico is totally acceptable too.

“The one thing this industry has taught me is it’s all about how you treat other people.” What kind of mark do you want to leave with your profession on the local media landscape? I’m not sure that is for me to decide

but the one thing this industry has taught me is it’s all about how you treat other people - even one’s who don’t wish you well. In an industry where intentions may be misunderstood and perceptions are made without ever finding out the real truth - one can only hope to be given a chance to build an honest reputation that no one can taint. We each have control over our actions and have our own karma’s to face at the end of the day. Be kind to one another and spend less time putting out bad energy like hate, greed and envy and replace it with love, caring and giving. Life is not a dress rehearsal. It’s your very own show, no scripts, no timing - it’s all you. aajmag.ca

LOVE IS UNIVERSAL, OR AT LEAST IT SEEMS TO BE. Every society has a

romantic tradition, and the desire to form a long and (hopefully) lasting love with another human being is apparently an intrinsic part of being human. But while monogamy seems to be the ideal for most people, attaining that ideal is easier said than done. Like it or not, humans aren’t likely to stay with one romantic partner for their entire lives. No matter how a society chooses to define marriage, nearly half of all such partnerships end in divorce. This is hardly unique to modern society: According to David Buss, (link is external) hunter-gatherer societies seem particularly prone to divorce. For example, members of the Ache society of Paraguay can report as many as 11 marriages by the time they reach adulthood. For whatever reason, most romantic relationships are going to 32

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come to an end, whether harmoniously or not. Though we recognize that love is often fragile, it can be difficult to understand exactly why a romantic relationship comes to an end. For most people, this can be a traumatic experience, especially for the one who is caught unaware that a relationship is over. The shock and anger that can result from a bad breakup can take years to work through; learning to move on can be extremely difficult.

“Even with casual re l a t i o n s h i p s t h a t d o n’ t involve any formal declarations, moving on from one partner to the next one can still be tricky.”

While there has been extensive research into the psychology of romantic love, is it possible to learn what can cause people to fall out of love with a significant other?

For that matter, how is it possible to move on after such a relationship comes to an end? A new article published in Review of General Psychology suggests that humans may actually have a mental mechanism in place for severing the emotional bond between romantic partners. Authors Brian Boutwell of Saint Louis University, J.C. Barnes of the University of Cincinnati, and Kevin Beaver of Florida State University suggest in their article that their c o n c e p t o f a “m a t e r e j e c t i o n module” is hardly new. Evolutionary psychologists have long argued that the ability to end a relationship and prepare for a new one can have def inite advantages in terms of improving the ability to reproduce successfully. W hile some species can mate for life, humans typically don’t. Admittedly, there are enormous differences across cultures—and at aajmag.ca

HOW WE FALL OUT OF LOVE Do we have a built-in mechanism for ending romantic relationships? by Romeo Vitelli Ph.D

different periods in history—which makes it difficult to pin down how the mate rejection module actually works. Not only have some cultures allowed multiple marriages, but ending a marriage has been extremely difficult in many times and places. Even with casual relationships that don’t involve any formal declarations, moving on from one partner to the next one can still be tricky. In their review, Boutwell and his co-authors suggest that there are can be separate mechanisms at work: • First is what they called primary mate ejection, or the active decision to reject a mate. • Secondary mate ejection involves coming to terms with being rejected and reaching the point at which a new romantic pairing becomes possible.

ImageSource: lightwavemedia/Shutterstock

Not surprisingly, there appear to be significant differences between males and females in terms of where and when their mate ejection modules are activated. When dealing with infidelity, for example, men and women may react very differently, depending in part on how serious the infidelity is considered to be.

“Like it or not, humans aren’t likely to stay with one romantic partner for their entire lives” Since, in evolutionary terms, men are more sensitive to the possibility of raising someone else’s child, they may be less prone to forgive sexual infidelity than women. On the other hand, women seem less prone to forgiving emotional infidelity—such as when a partner falls in love with another woman, rendering him no longer a “safe bet” in terms of

supporting her children (or her). Studies examining how willing men and women are to forgive infidelity appear to support this gender difference. The kind of resources that a woman has, and the opportunities within the culture in which she lives, can also affect how willing she is to eject a mate. If she is able to support herself, the decision to leave is often easier than if she might be left destitute following a split. But is it possible to use neuroscience to understand how mate ejection works for men and women? In the article, Boutwell and his colleagues examined the neurological underpinnings of romantic love, including fMRI studies showing that the brain pathways linked to being in love show strong similarities with pathways linked to addiction. (Didn’t you always suspect that?) 33

men may become more sexually promiscuous as a side effect of using these medications, but it can also be help understand how biochemical changes could lead to relationship problems.)

Source: lightwavemedia/Shutterstock

These pathways include the orbitofrontal and prefrontal cortex, right ventral tegmental area, and the ventral striatum, all of which involve reward or pleasure areas of the brain. The love-addiction link also helps explain the acute distress people feel when rejected by a romantic partner, as well as why stalkers have so much trouble letting go of their romantic feelings. While the feeling associated with mate ejection can resemble drug withdrawal in many ways, both primary and secondary mate ejection take place after a gradual process of overcoming these old feelings and preparing the brain for bonding to a new partner. Once mate ejection occurs (whether primary or secondary), parts of the prefrontal cortex begin the process of “learning” to prepare for a new romantic interest. (An intriguing example of how brain biochemistry can affect mate ejection involves research looking at selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) anti-depressants. By suppressing serotonin levels, the brain’s dopamine and norepinephrine levels are affected as well. Not only does this lower testosterone levels, but it may also suppress romantic feelings. For men, this might trigger a preference for sexual variety and, as a result, increase the risk of infidelity. For now, Boutwell et al. simply raise this as a possible explanation for why

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A n d w h at a b o u t c a s e s of obsessive love, such a s e r o t o m a n i a? C o u l d understanding more about mate ejection help with treatment of stalkers?

There remain numerous unanswered questions about mate ejection:

Is it the same for both homosexual and heterosexual relationships? While early studies suggest that it is, this is still largely open to debate.

Then there is the question of how mate ejection can be measured. Can the same brain pathways that seem to be involved in romantic love be linked to the decision to end a relationship?

All of these questions are potential areas for future research. “Til death do us part” pairings do exist, of course, but for whatever reason, most romantic relationships will eventually come to an end. Whether the breakup that ends a love affair is mutual or one-sided, we all have the capacity to move on to someone else, even if coping with heartache and disappointment can be overwhelming at times. In many ways, ending a love affair is a lot like overcoming a drug addiction—and brain research seems to bear this out. However we first evolved the capacity for mate ejection, it seems to have become an important part of the human condition. Learning more about mate ejection may also provide the key to understanding how to keep love alive for as long as humanly possible.

Source: lightwavemedia/Shutterstock

aajmag.ca

Destination weddings are becoming increasingly popular worldwide. However, when it comes to an Indian wedding, we often hear about issues over the positive notes. It’s too expensive! How are we going to get the gurdwara set up? I want all 600 people to be there!

Luckily, the experts at Blue Petal Destination Weddings can take care of all of that and then some. Pam Gosal, the founder of Blue Petal has worked in the travel industry for 25 years. Her success started when she purchased her own travel agency. Specializing in leisure travel and honeymoons for over ten years, she became known as the “Sandals” Queen (after the popular resort), and her agency became an award-winning Sandals agency in western Canada. Today, this BC entrepreneur runs Blue Petal Destination Weddings with a team of four in Canada and the United Kingdom. Over the last three years of running her company, she has built solid relationships with all of the right vendors in Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico to bring your dream wedding to life on your favourite island paradise. Not only is Blue Petal cheaper than the average Surrey wedding, it is truly a onestop shop with its team of Granthis & Pundits, beautiful décor, Indian catering, hair and make-up artists, photographers/videographers and more! With UK artist H-Dhami as an official Blue Petal ambassador and popular deejays on the roster your special day will be a party for history books.

With a beautiful new office in South Sur-

The resorts can accommodate up to 500 guests who can eat, drink, and lay by the

rey the Blue Petal Girls are fully equipped

beach to their heart’s content. “They get a beautiful event for four to seven days,

to take care of your special day. For details

they get a vacation out of it, and get to enjoy the beautiful weather”!

about their services just give the team a

by Hardeep Sidhu

call at 604.899.1227 and visit bluepetalweddings.com

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aajmag.ca

Health tips to prevent the summer blues!

by Dr. Parmjit Bhui

Welcome to planet Earth! Your amazing journey began when you were born and will terminate with your last breath. You have been provided with an extraordinary vehicle for this trip---your body! Were you aware that your brain that only makes up 2% of your body mass consumes 20% of the oxygen that enters your blood stream? Its function is impaired when you are dehydrated. When you touch a hot plate, you pull your hand before it gets burnt ---you have to be thankful to the nervous system that delivers the message to your brain at super speed. You may believe that the pain you incur is a nuisance, but it is a blessing in disguise. The pain of sun burn also protects your skin from further damage. Your body renews itself---your stomach lining replaces itself every three to four daysâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;you shed about 7-8 pounds of skin per year. Your skin cells are replaced once a month! Would you not want to take care of such an amazing vehicle? We do not need an oil change every three months. We are on auto pilot for most of our life. Do you tell your heart to beat or your lungs to breathe or your brain to think? We are blessed with this marvellous body that can

withstand years and years of abuse and still respond once you take care of it. With summer approaching, the ongoing debate continues -- the sun -- is it your friend or foe? The benefits of sunlight cannot be discounted. Vitamin D synthesis is a major benefit. This vitamin has been gaining increasing popularity as its benefits have been identified. In addition to its role in normal bone growth, it is believed to promote immune function and may have a role in inhibiting the multiplication of some kinds of cancer cell. Regular exposure to sunlight can prevent seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Some believe that this may be related to increase in the serotonin levels in your body. Some studies have documented a role in lowering high blood pressure. The rays of the sun can cause skin damage and cancer. There are three kinds of ultraviolet rays of different wavelengths: ultraviolet A (UVA) ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet C (UVC).Skin damage is primarily due to UVA and UVB. The damage t o your skin is not only o n the surface but also deeper. It can not only result in sunburn, but longer term damage to

the DNA resulting in skin cancer. Your skin normally makes melanin (the pigment that gives the skin its colour). In addition to contributing to your good looks, it serves to protect the deeper layers of the skin from damage. The longer you are exposed to the rays of the sun there is an increase in the melanin to protect your skin. Prolonged exposure can lead to sunstroke which can be lethal. The question therefore arises how do I protect my skin from sun damage? Dress for the sun - cover yourself as much as you can - with a wide brim hat and long sleeved shirt and pants. Do not forget to cover your eyes with ultraviolet blocking sunglasses. Seek shade whenever you can. The rays are strongest between 10 am and 2 pm. Use a broad spectrum (protection from both UVA and UVB rays) sunscreen-with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or more. Apply liberally to the exposed areas at least 15 to 30 minutes before you go out. Apply even on cloudy days. Water, sand and snow reflect the rays of the sun. If you are in the water, reapply every 2 hours and keep well hydrated.

HEALTH

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POWER OF GARLIC! Garlic Is The Real Deal When It Comes Do Wonders

ake garlic your friend: In Ayurveda, garlic has been held out as a cure for ailments for long. It constitutes of allicin that protects from bacterial, fungal and viral attacks. It also boasts of flavonoids that promises anti-oxidative properties. Consuming a clove or two of garlic every day can do wonders for you! Greek scientist and the father of western medicine Hippocrates once said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Traditionally, garlic is referred to as the stinking rose, and people often avoid eating it as it’s considered tamasic. (In Ayurveda, food items that are thought to promote laziness and criminal tendencies are considered tamasic). But the truth is that garlic is more than just a spicy, pungent condiment. It is loaded with medicinal and nutritional properties.

So, what are the benefits of garlic?

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Helps Reduce Weight: Don’t have the time to hit the gym? Eating a few cloves of garlic may help. It stimulates the digestive enzymes that contribute to weight loss. The fat in the ingested foods can be efficiently processed and eliminated from the body. Also, eating garlic reduces hunger pangs as it’s an appetite suppressant. It also improves your body’s metabolism rate by stimulating the nervous system to release more adrenalin, which, in turn, helps you burn more calories.

Greek scientist and the father of western medicine Hippocrates once said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Good for the Blood

Protects the Skin If acne, pimples or blemishes trouble you, or you want glowing skin, crush two cloves of raw garlic and gulp them down every day with warm water early in the morning. Garlic is a blood cleanser and cleans the body internally. Also, if you have wrinkles, using three cloves of garlic can help protect your body against hazardous free radicals.

Antibacterial, Antiviral Research suggests that fresh garlic juice helps fight bacterial infections as it exhibits antibiotic properties. Garlic also helps control viral and fungal infections. Its daily consumption might also reduce the frequency of colds while its antibacterial properties help treat throat irritations and respiratory tract infections. Garlic is also considered an important medicine to treat bronchitis.

The red blood cells in your body convert the sulphides in garlic into a gas known as hydrogen sulphide. This gas helps control blood pressure. Experts say consuming 200 mg to 400 mg of garlic extract thrice a day for a month, keeps the blood pressure level in check. aajmag.ca

Helps the Liver

Reduces Blood Sugar

The allicin and selenium chemicals in garlic enhance the production of bile (a fluid produced by the liver, which aids digestion) that helps treat the Fatty Liver Disease (FLD). Also, garlic has antioxidant properties that keep the toxic substances that are filtered by your liver from reaching other organs. Research suggests that fresh garlic contains amino acids and proteins that help protect the liver from natural and environmental toxins.

A study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food suggests that garlic increases the amount of insulin released in the body and improves glucose tolerance. Crush two pods of garlic and swallow them with a glass of warm water.

Garlic is a blood cleanser and cleans the body internally.

Reduces Cholesterol

Pain Relief

Protects Your Heart

Garlic has an anti-arthritic property that helps reduce pain in the body. Though it is irritating to the gums, it is known to help relieve toothaches due to its antibacterial and analgesic properties.

Eating garlic regularly will keep you protected against cardiovascular problems. Garlic’s anti-clotting properties help prevent the formation of blood clots in the body, keeping heart problems at bay. So, if you can’t consume it raw, include it in your meals.

Research suggests that eating garlic can help reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) in the body by 6 to 10%. The chemicals present in garlic have the ability to reduce arterial plaque formation.

Good for Your Sex Life Not many know that garlic has aphrodisiac properties. It normalises the blood flow to sexual organs, thus resulting in a better erection for men. It’s also known to intensify an orgasm. 39

Facebook: Armaan DBG / Instagram: armaandbg

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JULY/AUG 2015 Photography: Snapshot Obsessions Photography

Hair & Makeup: Blue Ruby Artistry

Models: Ikjot Sandhu & Ericka Filmy Virk

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Facebook: Armaan DBG / Instagram: armaandbg

Photography: Snapshot Obsessions Photography

Hair & Makeup: Blue Ruby Artistry

Models: Ikjot Sandhu & Ericka Filmy Virk

DBG

J Snapshot 42 JULY/AUG 2015 Photography Photography: Obsessions ma gazine

Hair & Makeup: Blue Ruby Artistry

Models: Ikjot Sandhu & Ericka Filmy Virk

Flowers: Surrey aajmag.ca Flower Shop

Photography: Snapshot Obsessions Photography

Hair & Makeup: Blue Ruby Artistry

Models: Ikjot Sandhu & Ericka Filmy Virk

43 Flowers: Surrey Flower Shop

Facebook: Armaan DBG / Instagram: armaandbg

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JULY/AUG 2015 Photography: Snapshot Obsessions Photography

Hair & Makeup: Blue Ruby Artistry

Models: Ikjot Sandhu & Ericka Filmy Virk

aajmag.ca

Facebook: Armaan DBG / Instagram: armaandbg

Photography: Snapshot Obsessions Photography

Hair & Makeup: Blue Ruby Artistry

Models: Ikjot Sandhu & Ericka Filmy Virk

DBG

Weddings, parties

and summer fun anyone? Summer is around the corner and that means we’ll all be finding ways to get outside to enjoy everything that B.C. has to offer. Our highways will be busier than ever as more people travel throughout the province for day trips, weekend getaways or longer vacations by the water. Here at home, many of us will be soaking up the sun at local beaches, patio restaurants and outdoor festivals, and enjoying alcohol to celebrate summer. Whether you’re heading to a fun destination or kicking back in town, we hope you’ll enjoy your summer and keep road safety top of mind by always planning a safe ride home before you start drinking. Even though we’ve seen vast reductions in the number of impaired driving crashes in B.C., there are still people who take chances or make excuses for drinking and driving. On average, 86 people are killed in impaired-related crashes every year in B.C. T h e s e c ra s h e s c o u l d b e prevented by simply planning ahead and making the smart choice to not drive if you’ve been drinking. Share the responsibility of being the

designated driver and take your turn getting your friends and family home safely this summer. With the summer weather many people will be attending and hosting outdoor parties like wedding and family reunions. If you’re hosting and serving alcohol, you need to be mindful of your guests’ safety and make sure your guests have a plan to get home safely. For large-scale events with alcohol, here are some options to help you keep it safe and fun for everyone: Before the event: • Apply for a special occasion licence from any BC Liquor Store outlet. • Hire security as well as a certified Serving it Right bartender. • Borrow a “designated driver” banner by calling ICBC at 604-982-4612 (Lower Mainland) or 250-729-3505 (elsewhere in B.C.).

• Remind your guests to arrange a designated driver or suggest they take a cab or transit, or stay overnight. You can also order one of our free special occasion support kits to use at your event. Each kit contains posters, tent cards, alcohol-free drink tickets and tips to help remind your guests to get home safely. So for all of the fun activities you take part in that involve alcohol this summer, make sure you and everyone involved has a designated driver or another safe way home. If you find yourself without a safe ride home, remember it’s never too late to call a taxi, take transit or call a friend. Get out there and enjoy your summer by making it a safe and memorable one.

At the event: • Cordon off the licensed area and have controlled entrances. • ID anyone who looks under 19. • Of fer food, snacks and nonalcoholic drinks or mocktails. Provide designated drivers with free, nonalcoholic drinks.

North American bhangra fusion pioneer Luv Randhawa is at it again with another hit song by R. Paul Dhillon

“

I always wanted to entertain p e o p l e .” A n d s o b e g a n L u v Randhawa’s music career.

13 years ago, Luv Randhawa set out to follow his passion for singing and entertaining. And persistence pays off. After releasing four hit songs that reached #1 on the iTunes World Music Charts on the day of their release, Randhawa is at it again with another song release Khichaay Selfie Kudi. Produced by the chart topper Harj Nagra, this track is poised to become the summer bhangra hit at South Asian

keep the dance floor packed! His inspiration he attributes to his t wo children. “ They keep me grounded and motivated,” shares Randhawa with a smile that lights up the room. “I really want to be able to show them that they can follow their dreams, whatever they may be, despite the hardships. Thinking positive and focusing on their debuting as a playback singer for a film starring heartthrob John Abraham, set to release in 2016. “I am truly blessed to have shared the same stage with Malkit Singh MBE, Raghav, H Dhami, Jazzy B, Shah Rukh Khan, and so many more. And now, I feel as if my dream is being realized with getting into a film soundtrack. It really is an exciting time in my career!”

parties worldwide. EDM inspired with a mandatory ‘fun’ component that inspires listeners to take action by posing for a selfie, dj’s will no-doubt be spinning this new catchy tune to 48

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passions is what I want them to learn from this experience that I call life.”

Known as a pioneer in the bhangra fusion movement in North America, Randhawa is sure to have #KichaaySelfieKudi as another chart topper with summer weddings and parties in full effect.

Randhawa’s talent has reached Bollywood as well, where he will be

With a coy smile, Randhawa asks, “So, shall we take a selfie?” aajmag.ca

Racism Continues To Rear Its Ugly Head But We Must Fight Against It!

STRAIGHT TALK With Rita Athwal Sonia Gandhi’s race and colour generated outrage in India, at least commentary on it did. On April 1st, 2015, Giriraj Singh, Union Minister from the Bharatiya Janata Party said, “If Rajiv (Gandhi) had married a Nigerian woman, would congress have accepted her? If Sonia had not been white, would the party have accepted her?” This statement generated both chuckles and furor, as they were broadcast on every Indian channel. The sad reality is that Singh’s comment reveals a culture of xenophobia in India against people of African origins, Mississippi Masala anyone? It was just a matter of time that this xenophobia would enter the mainstream political narrative of the country.

“Skin colour and race should not matter at all since all people are beautiful and created equally.” There’s the ideal: Skin colour and race should not matter at all since all people are beautiful and created equally. There’s the reality: Among many Indians, skin colour and background do matter. I’ve seen ladies here avoiding the sun so their skin doesn’t darken. I’ve seen parents impose restrictions on who their children cannot marry. For North Indians even a South Indian is out of question as a prospective match, even if the South Indian is of a higher caste. Even a dark-skinned

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Miss USA, Nina Davuluri, who faced racist comments in the States, was rejected by Bollywood due to her dark skin. So where does Africa fit in with these bolly folk? The politically correct: You may think whatever you want but never say it or publicly act upon it. So essentially, you’re racist but it’s hidden. You may also come up with rules to limit immigration from certain countries or have them leave, aka Quebec’s flirtation with the Charter of Rights, where any head covering would have been banned. Or in Parliament you ensure there’s at least one turban bearing MP in the background when you give a speech, so that the point of inclusion is made home. high profile would actually say such a thing openly. Is it transparency or a lack of sophistication?

“Unfortunately, such labels generate self fulfilling prophesies.” Controversial, correlation studies between race and intelligence have been done by psychologists all over the world and continue to generate nothing but outrage as they mostly seem to indicate that people of African origins have the lowest IQ while Oriental Asians have the highest. I am unable to understand why they conduct such studies especially since they’ve never been able to understand the cause of these differences. Have

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they not considered that these differences could be as a result of socioeconomic status, access, and level of education? Yet conclusions are drawn. Unfortunately, such labels generate self fulfilling prophesies. Even the people with the best intent draw these conclusions. For example, a woman visiting Florida was in the elevator with two African-American men who asked her to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hit the floor!â&#x20AC;? As she hurriedly rolled down to the floor of the elevator cube, they laughed. They had meant for her to press the elevator button. PM Narendra Modi, who is the best person to make a positive difference in complicated India, is being misjudged in a similar manner. He made an honest effort to reach out to Sikhs in Canada and most people were delighted with his visit. However, the media chose to focus on the few protesters standing by the Gurdwara, some perhaps not related to the protest but wanting to catch a glimpse of the two PMs the crowd was expecting. While Giriraj had to apologize for his comments, especially given the protest from the Nigerian High Commission, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disturbing that a person of such a high profile would actually say such a thing openly. Is it transparency or a lack of sophistication?

Photo by Rajarshi MITRA

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FASHION

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MANI K JASSAL When Indian Glamour Meets Streetwear

by Hardeep Sidhu

Dark Moon Resort 2015 Collection

Photographer: Ovyian Photography | MUA: Arushi Lakhanpal | Stylist: Nav Bajwa

Photographer: Little Black Sari 55

F or the last two years, festival-wear

has been dominating store-shelves, and printed sarees and heavy anarkalis have been flooding my Instagram feed. Like

life, fashion has its highs and lows and 2013/2014 was a less-than-inspiring period for mainstream fashion. That is until Mani Jassal jumped into the scene. Dark Moon Resort 2015 Collection Photographer: Irvin Sidhu

Haven’t heard of Mani Jassal? It won’t be that way for long. In an industry that innovates at a glacial pace, this Torontofashion designer is a breath of fresh air. With dreams of designing since she was 12 years old, Mani applied to Ryerson University and completed her Bachelor’s in Fashion Design. For her final project she thought about creating a western to something traditionally Indian with a western twist. He r c o l l e c t i o n wa s re c e i v e d exceptionally well, she realized that people want more unique fusion-wear than what is currently in the market, and since graduating in 2013, a has been working on her self-titled fashion line. Highly inspired by hip-hop, Mani has created versatile pieces that can be worn to a night-on-the-town with your girlfriends or to a wedding reception. Mani’s pieces are investments that add depth to the wardrobe, so you can mix and match them to create a diversity of looks. “I’m tired of seeing all of the bling everywhere. Every time you go to a boutique you see all of the same stuff. I want to break away from that”. That’s exactly what she did with her Dark Moon Resort 2015 Collection. The collection is minimal and effortless, but

Published in 1968 MAGAZINE

she used a bronze brocade to keep the

Photographer: Denis Duquette | Stylist: Mani Jassal Model: Kaitie Lindner | Makeup By Kestra

Indian glamour. The fresh structure and less-traditional colours in each piece give it the modern feel today’s South Asian woman needs in her wardrobe. Creating all of her pieces in Canada, Mani Jassal is sure to be a household name very soon. Keep your eyes peeled for Mani at a trunk show near you and follow her on Instagram @manikjassal to order your custom Mani Jassal pieces. 56

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AAJ MAGAZINE

Back

HEALTH

es wi v a W r i A e on th

J A A t e Plan

o re t h a n a d e c a d e h a s passed since the Indian Lion, AKA Michael Sunner, last ruled the airwaves. The Indian Lion, a popular deejay with a radio show called Planet AAJ (which kicked off in September 1997 at 96.1 FM), is roaring louder than ever before. Let’s get know, Lion, shall we? Lion’s journey began back in his hometown of Birmingham, England, where his family ran the successful Foods stores. He moved to Vancouver in 1987 with his family after selling the grocer y stores back home and re-opening them in the lower mainland. “It all started back in merry old England where I developed a love for Bob Marley and Reggae music. It sealed my fate that I would give up the family grocery business and go for all the marbles in my passion for music,” Lion recollects. In 1991 Lion was signed to major label BMG where he released his first album, Undercover in 1994 in Europe and North America. “When Undercover was released, it was a strange experience because I was an unknown artist being signed to major label BMG, especially being Punjabi, Indian touring the world. But the public never related to it as much as I had hoped. It did, however, hit mainstream radio and television.”

Eventually there was a fall out with BMG, and Lion decided to set up Mash Up Records, releasing three more albums worldwide riding the fame waves for well over one year. “For a guy, who had never sang a song on a microphone, to go into a studio and cut an album and then get a record deal as a newcomer, it’s just unbelievable and a very happy feeling that the public can hear your music,” Lion remembers fondly. “I learned a lot about the music business from Undercover and it really helped me with my other business ventures in the music industry”. He also became involved in a variety of mainstream ventures including a cameo in Bollywood film Neil N Nikki, and a track called “Your Kinda Sexy” on Hollywood film soundtrack Love Crimes. Before that, in 1997, he joined Deejay Goldy and Suki Pangalia of AAJ Media Group to hit Vancouver’s media scene in 1997. AAJ Media Group created Planet AAJ with Lion giving him an outlet to nurture his passion for Bhangra and Reggae music. “There had been dramatic changes from the time we began with Planet AAJ,” he says. “We went from twohours a week to nine-hours a day. It was a massive operation and I had so many people involved in helping me produce a solid nine-hours a day.”

Planet AAJ was a mix of Bhangra, Bollywood masala, Indian pop, reggae, dance and hip hop. Since starting, Lion and his team of deejays developed Planet A A J into one the most popular radio stations for 15 years straight. “Radio will be the corner s t o n e of media for a long time and that’s why I’m back at MyFM 106.9 in Surrey with Planet AAJ hittin’ the airwaves again. Midnight to 1 AM. It’s gonna be bigger and better than before, so tune in if you want to listen to something original”. Look out for Indian Lion Roadshow in your town or country, listen for his upcoming soundtracks, and keep your eyes peeled for more of Lion on the silverscreen.

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Road To Being Published In Chicken Soup For The Soul By Manpreet Dhillon

To me this is still unreal. It doesn’t really feel like a big deal even though it is one of most known books in the world. To me, I am using this opportunity as a way to raise awareness of topics that we don’t really talk about in the South Asian culture like depression, grief and how to support others when they are dealing with situations as well as how we can live our passion, our purpose and contribute to this world in the biggest way. The story is about my journey after my brother suddenly left us at the young age of 32. We weren’t expecting it as he was a personal trainer and took care of himself but it was his time to go. I was devastated to say the least. In my year of grieving, I travelled quite a bit as a way to find peace within myself. Inside I was hurting, I couldn’t handle being around the house or around people as I felt like no one could understand me. In my travels I met individuals who knew I was dealing with something but I would be happy too. It was as though I wore masks that some people could see through. The author of this edition of the Chicken Soup for the Soul: Time to Thrive, Loren Slocum pulled me aside at an event one day to ask me my story. She said that she sees that there is something that I have gone through and she wanted to know what it was. I told her the story I wrote in

the book. I told her about the passing, my emotions and also how I was reaching and exceeding all my goals in the last year. I was saying yes to opportunities that I was pausing with before. I said yes to doing international work, to traveling for two and half months where I barely paid for anything, I said yes to working on amazing projects, giving media interviews and giving talks as a way to empower other people. I also re-launched my own coaching business right after the oneyear anniversary of his passing. She just looked at me and told me that you need to tell others your story so that they too will take action in their lives and do the things that they know that their heart wants them to do. I still hesitated to write the story. In my mind I was just getting through each day. Loren then emailed me the requirements. So after much resistance, I finally wrote the story as a way to heal myself. I didn’t think it would get published. It is funny how we don’t believe in ourselves sometimes and others believe in us way more than we do. These are times we should listen to others as it will allow us to live the life we want. Receiving the announcement of the story being published was very eye-opening for me. It reminded me to always listen to my heart, my intuition and look for the signs of what to do next and how to go about doing it.

image source: books.simonandschuster.ca 61

CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL Thriving While Grieving I remember that morning when we found out. I was standing with my parents and it felt like his spirit was standing beside me telling me that we have a greater purpose here and not to grieve him too much. By Manpreet Dhillon

On the day he passed, my world came crashing down. Just four days prior, I was excitedly telling a friend about how completely happy I was for the first time ever. My parents were also strong emotionally and ready to conquer the world. We had just gotten news that my brother, Taranveer had gotten a new job; one he had been on the search for the last year.

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A part of me felt guilty for thriving when there was still sadness in my heart but a part of me knew that I knew I needed to honor my brother by moving forward with my life purpose. I never expected to be launching a new business and a personal development seminar one year after my younger brother passed away suddenly.

Photo by Airwolfhound

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As I reflect, it almost feels like he was prepared to leave us. He had won the lottery, which had provided him the means to travel the world and do all the things he wanted to do. As adult children, we spent three months together every day as I had moved back home on a whim, knowing I needed to live with my family. He left us on his job search two days after my birthday. I remember when he left, I was mad at him for not saying happy birthday or saying happy father’s day to my dad. It was like he already knew that he would never be saying it to us again. The final moment I said good-bye to him, I hugged him and told him I loved him and wished him the best. He called me a few minutes later from the car to remind me to find his speakers but that was our relationship, we had an array of emotions but at the end of it we were really close friends, who forgave each other and went back to our dynamic relationship as siblings. I remember that morning when we found out. I was standing with my parents and it felt like his spirit was standing beside me telling me that we have a greater purpose here and not to grieve him too much. I didn’t know how that would be possible as I had almost been like a parent to him. I would be the one scolding him and pushing him to be the better person, while my parents always said he listened to my guidance more than anything. He was the one I would call when I was really upset and just wanted to know that I was loved unconditionally and now I felt so alone. I remember the week of the funeral so clearly. We decided as a family that we would celebrate him, laugh and tell his funny stories. We kept the atmosphere in our home one of love and care unlike traditional Sikh grieving households, one of pain and sorrow. We also decided not to follow the norm, we laughed at the funeral and his pictures. There were elders of the

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community who commented that the family seemed unaffected by the death but little did they know, we were crying ourselves to sleep every night, howling in pain and agony of missing an important part of our family. The next few months, certain extended family members who would come daily with food or just to make us laugh, as they knew we were in pain, supported us tremendously. I felt so alone. There is a special bond between siblings that only the two of you can understand. I felt fortunate that I was single so that I had the time to spend with him and my parents. On the other hand, I was crying myself to sleep and I just wanted someone to take care of me, hold me and be there for me while I took care of everyone else around me. The year after his passing, it became a year of travel and self-discovery for me. I finally did the international consulting work building community I had always wanted to do. My health was in the most optimal condition every. I lived each moment checking in with myself, “what is that I really want to do?” New friendships formed, old ones strengthened while others faded away. I was a changed person. I had to establish my new normal. I had to rediscover who I was now that I lost the identity of being a sister to someone. It was always a big title for me as it was a guiding force that I needed to do things a certain way so I can set an example for him to follow. I also had the new identity of being the sole caregiver for my parents, which now I had to take into consideration for all my decisions of where do I want to live, where will they live, how can I support them as they age and what emotional support do they need. They had their heart ripped out and handed to them, I knew I wanted to be there to support them while they rebuilt their life in a new way with the identity of having a child pass on before them and having only one child that would give them the grandchildren. They faced

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comments based on cultural biases of how they have nothing left because now they didn’t have a son and they fought back, telling everyone that their daughter was everything and more. The cultural insensitivities took a lot out of them, as now there was no one to carry on their lineage, which is important in Indian culture. They reframed the way they thought and recognized that being present in the moment is the most important; they learned to enjoy their lives and each moment. There was a powerful conversation with my dad, who said, we are meant to be of greater service and contribute to our community and that is why we are facing such hardships. We need to step outside ourselves and be of service as that is how we can honor him. As soon as my brother had passed, I had decided that we would do a ball hockey tournament in one year as a fun way to get everyone together, celebrate him and contribute to kids in sports. I had so much resistance to doing the tournament, as that is not how I imagined I would be celebrating him. I cried so much each day

of the tournament but in the end knew it was the right thing to do. We were able to contribute happiness and memories to those who attended the tournament and those who benefited from it. I also had decided that after the one year of his passing, I would step up my contribution in a big way so I launched my personal coaching company focusing on ethnic women aligning to their passion-message by building the career and life they love. I came forward and hosted a weekend seminar, two days after his birthday, as he was always the proudest of me when I helped change people’s lives. He would always talk about me to his friends and all the cool things I do. Stepping up in this way, I hope that he was talking about me wherever he was saying “that is my sister, the one who realized that living her life purpose is more important than her crying for my loss.” I still cry, the tears are less but I also contribute in the best way I know how by supporting people in having a better life through my coaching.

MANPREET DHILLON is a Success Coach,

and the co-founder of Be Your Own Best Friend (a South Asian Women’s network). Empowering women to reclaim their purpose-passion and move to the next level of their personal and professional lives. She is a Certified Personal and Business Coach, Certified Heal Your Money Story Coach, Certified Human Resources Professional with a Masters in Organizational Management to allow her to support women in moving forward in life.

Photo by Heather

Thinking of Buying or Selling your Home?

Ashwani

Kalia

C:604-649-2100

F: 604-439-2299 ashwanikalia@remax.net ashwanikalia.com 66

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BACKSTAGE PASS

brought to you by Aziz Ladha

Times of Canada

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Bangladesh Pop Singer

Movie Director

TIYAN MELA

Aarmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Valentine

India Republic Day

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Miss World Canada 2015

YOU KNOW HOW they say ‘If I had to be marooned on an island...’? Well, I’d like that island to be Bali, Indonesia. A 1.5 hour flight away from Jakarta, Bali lies just 3km away from Java and is truly a paradise.

The Paradise of Bali Bali isn’t all adventure and shopping; it’s also a spiritual revival, one that will always leave one wanting to come back.

There are parts of Bali that remain unexplored, like Amed – which is hardly frequented by tourists. It’s devoid of commercialism. There are temples and Ganesha statues everywhere – Bali is home to 90% Hindus, peppered with a Muslim, Christian, and Buddhist population. There are two choices: trekking up Mount Agung, a 3000-metre active volcano or diving, thanks to Bali’s famed coral reefs. Needless to say, it wouldn’t challenge my sorry levels of stamina. If, however, you’re fit, Mount Agung can be climbed in 5-7 hours in a trek that begins

Discover the paradise of Bali

Photo credit: DG MANILA

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at 11pm. The Jemuluk Bay is an excellent choice for snorkelers too, and the rocky Tulamben Bay boasts of a US military shipwreck. You can see barracuda, mantis shrimp, frog fish, and even a turtle, who was a very cool customer. Stay options are aplenty and they’re cheap and excellent. For food, there are warungs (shacks) that serve authentic Indonesian cuisine. Try Pantai for their daily catch. The next leg of the journey was Ubud in central Bali, a quaint retreat where the countryside boasts of miles of terraced rice paddies. You can take a tour and buy souvenirs on the way. Although recently- developed, Ubud is full of great restaurants, boutiques, and shops where you can get masks, vintage wooden posters, jewellery, and other knick knacks. It is also home to many art galleries that stock artworks by local artists. Make sure you catch dinner at Cafe Lotus, which also hosts a traditional Balinese dance performance with the Pura Saraswati (Saraswati temple) as the backdrop. And though there are many places where you’ll find Italian, Mexican, and even Indian food, try the local cuisine, like Nasi Goreng (a rice preparation), Mie Goreng (noodles), and Sate (skewered meat with peanut sauce). After two days in Ubud, head to Seminyak in South Bali, which lies in stark contrast to the quiet streets of Amed. Here you will find swanky hotels, restaurants, and stores. You could try surfing further down south in Kuta. Don’t miss the spectacular Tanah Lot temple in Tabanan, 20km from Denpasar. Bali isn’t all adventure and shopping; it’s also a spiritual revival, one that will always leave one wanting to come back.

ENTERTAINMENT A A j

TRIBAL

We are not Miami. We are not New York or even Portland. We are Vancouver and we keep it tribal when it comes to our nightlife. In Rain City, all you need to have a good time is well-concocted drinks (alcohol is optional of course), a bumpin’ playlist, and your crew by your side in a dope venue. We did some of the work for you. Here’s a list of five of Vancouver’s best party spots.

LAGOS PARTY Relying heavily on the rhythm and sounds of its bustling city name sake (Lagos, Nigeria), the Lagos Party presented by Afrobeats Vancouver is known for its high fashion and thumping beats that make ruckus at Republic Nightclub. The infectious beats originate from traditional Ghana and Nigeria music infused with influences of western jazz, funk, and hip-hop.

Vitals: Republic Nightclub, 778.960.7987, www.afrobeatsvancouver.ca 74

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LUCKY LADY IV For it’s third consecutive year, Lucky Lady IV continues to strike as one of the most fascinating urban festivals for college and university graduates in Vancouver. The 3-day festival begins just as the summer graduation season is ending. Day 1 is a professional networking and career day, Day 2, the festival turns into a yacht party Day 3 transforms into a concert and live painting performance in Stanley Park

Vitals: June 19th – 21st, multiple venues, http://www.luckyladyiv.ca/

Tribal Brought to you by Dereck Kankam of Tribaly.ca

Emotions For the Dynasty Boys, self-expression is an art form. Be prepared to bare your soul every last Sunday of the month at the Belmont. Tell a joke, sing your heart out or read that poem you’ve been working on for months. If you can’t get enough, go for seconds during Uptown Wednesdays when they drop those beats. Don’t miss the open mic experience. Don’t miss EMOTIONS.

Vitals: Belmont Bar, 1006 Granville Street, Vancouver, Cover $10. June 28. Last Sunday of Every Month. 7PM – LATE.

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Boat that life Boat That Life is back again for it’s 2nd Wave from the guys at Hyphy and the GoodLife. This is only one of many “summer party series” they have lined up. Trust us, these guys know a good time.

Vitals: BOAT THAT LIFE: Saturday, July 11. Early Bird Tickets $35. http://igethyphy.com/

Fvded in the park

Just coming off its success with Seasons Festival, Blueprint Events is taking it a step further with FVDED in the Park. The festival aims to create the ultimate summer festival as they combine music and other interactive features you can find only in a park. Headliners include the DeadMau5 and TheWeekend a n d a jampacked list of a hip-hop-head’s favourite artists.

Vitals: July 3rd – 4th, Holland Park – Surrey, BC. http://fvdedinthepark.com/

Music.

eastside block party

F o o d trucks. International DJs. The infamous Eastside of Vancouver is known for a lot things including their real summer party throw downs. Catch Vancouver’s best street food vendors, local and international DJs and artists every Sunday this summer.

Vitals: At The Waldorf Hotel Patio and Parking lot area, 1489 E. Hastings, Vancouver, Every Sunday May 31-Aug 30 2015, 2PM – 11PM, Tickets $10, www.eastsidebp.com. (+19 Event – ID required) 77

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AUTO

TOP 10 ICONIC TOP 10 ICONIC SPORTS CARS OF ALL TIME SPORTS CARS OF ALL TIME

As soon as the cars were invented, the manufacturers wanted to see their car winning races. As a result, the car makers’ focus was drawn towards building sports car which can run faster than any other vehicle. Some cars became world’s favorite for its dashing looks and race winning speed and soon it was the face of respective car manufacturers, reports Carophile.

Chevrolet Corvette The iconic Chevrolet Corvette debuted in 1953 and it is one of the most popular American sports cars. The Corvette is been built ever since its debut till now and currently, there is seventh generation Corvette in the market. All these Corvettes had a unique design and personality. The front-engine/rear-wheel-drive layout, two seats, a muscular V-8 engine and fiberglass body has been constant in each generation. The Corvettes are also famous in the video game world which makes it popular among young generation as well.

Dodge Viper The raw Dodge Viper made its entry in the early 1992 which boasted a massive ten-cylinder engine. The Viper was all about speed and speed, and that’s how it took over the world. The car looks gorgeous even without side windows and exterior door handles.

Lamborghini Countach In 1974, Lamborghini introduced a sports car which became a world sensation in next six years. The Lamborghini Countach was a ‘dream car’ for every 80’s kid. This car is the most iconic exotic car of all time; no other cars from that time brought such huge amount of excitement in everyone’s minds. This Italian car was powered by V-12 engine which could give a horsepower of 447, but initially the original variant could exert a 370-bhp. The Countach was replaced by many other cars followed by its success to represent Lamborghini.

The company has made it clear to all of its customers that Viper is not meant for a comfortable joyride. Instead, it is for pure pleasure of racing as its aerodynamic body along with powerful ten-cylinder engine gives enough thrust to keep you ahead of others.

Porsche 911 The most loved Porsche 911 was introduced in 1964, since then it is the most amazing car anyone can think of. This is the car who wants to drive it into a race and to their office, as it has the luxurious interior and has a ‘boxer’ rear engine which can exert a speed of almost 270kmph. The company goes by the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” as the design and looks still resembles the original 911with today’s 911. The new 911s are much bigger, heavier and comfortable than the original 911 from 1964.

Nissan Z-Car

Ferrari Daytona The Ferrari 365 GTB/4 or better known by the unofficial name Ferrari Daytona, is a grand tourer automobile produced in 1967. It was a replacement for Ferrari’s own 275 GTB/4 which was the company’s flagship car.

The Nissan’s Z-car debuted as 240Z in 1969 and soon it became a big hit in the market for its sleek, close to Italian design and unbelievable performance at reasonable price. The 240Z was sold over 100,000 units in first three years of its launch in North America. The next generation Z-Car came out after almost a decade with 280ZX then 300ZX in 1984. The company focused their works on different set of cars. Then in 2003 they released 350Z. In 2009 the 350Z was given a mild alteration and came out as the 370Z which is available in the market today.

The Daytona had a 4.4 liter V-12 mid-engine which was capable of going up to 60mph in 5 seconds and it had a top speed over 170mph. The Daytona has a unique design as it is still loved by most car lovers and it is the most favorite classic car of today.

Toyota Supra Mark IV The Toyota Supra fits perfectly in the sports car as well as grand tourer segment and produced by Toyota Motor Corporation from 1978. The styling of the Toyota Supra was derived from the Toyota Celica, but it was both longer and wider. The Toyota sports car also featured in many movies such as ‘Fast and Furious’. The Supra Mark IV can produce 320bhp at 5,600 rpm and 315 foot-pounds of torque at 4,000 rpm.

Nissan R35 GT-R

Ferrari F40 The Ferrari F40 is a mid-engine, rearwheel drive, two-door coupé sports car built in 1987. The successor to the Ferrari 288 GTO, it was designed to celebrate Ferrari’s 40th anniversary and was the last Ferrari automobile personally approved by Enzo Ferrari. The F40 is ranked one of the most favorite collectible cars of all time. The car was the fastest, most powerful, and most expensive car that Ferrari sold to the public at that time.

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The Nissan R35 was formerly known as the “Skyline GT-R,” Nissan’s sports coupe has been a fixture in the Japanese market since the 1960s.The car is a 2-door 2+2 sports coupé produced by Nissan and first released in Japan in 2007. It is the successor to the Nissan Skyline GT-R although it is no longer part of the Skyline range.

MG MGB The MGB is not a fast car as the other cars in the list. However, it is a wonderful car with affordable price and it has a classy look which you will surely want in your garage. The car was introduced in 1962 and it is most comfortable roadster available at that price in olden time. The British sports car achieved a 0–60mph time of just over 11 seconds. The 3-bearing 1798cc B-Series engine produced 95 hp at 5,400rpm which was a lot in those times. aajmag.ca

TO GO FAR, GO TOGETHER What it takes for a driven young professional to start their own business. By Humaira Hamid – Contributor, Futurpreneur Canada

“ I want to start my own business.” IT IS A COMMON ASPIRATION among

many young professionals: to one day pivot from a more traditional career path (e.g. law; medicine; accounting; engineering) and create their own opportunities, while creating impact in the world. Yet, what does this look like for young South-Asian females aspiring to start a business in BC? As a self-identified young, female, South-Asian professional, I work with a national non-profit organization to help young entrepreneurs across BC start businesses: in all industries, of all genders and very diverse cultural backgrounds. The common denominator is: young business (0-12 months in full-time operation) with young founder(s) – 18 to 39 years of age. Many steps in small business startup are the same, regardless of gender or culture. For example, an aspiring entrepreneur is well-advised to get their idea out of head and heart, and onto paper. Writing out a plan can strengthen the overall business idea by identifying blind spots to address before launch. This crucial step of business planning helps with three main “M”s:

• Mission: Clarify the vision of the business and articulate what value is delivered. • Market: Provide a working document for business operations, customer acquisition, and marketing. • Money: Outline a viable business cash flow (e.g. startup capital needed, money generated as revenues, money required for operation, what is left over as profits). What it may not address is an important “M”, the necessary prelude to a successful business: Mindset. Personal mindset – internal characteristics like resilience, risk-tolerance, and persistence, are important to successful business operation, can apply to all entrepreneurs, and vary according to individuals. Community mindset – referring to that of friends, family, and the place in which an entrepreneur runs their business – can make or break an entrepreneur in the long run, regardless of a strong internal motivation and drive. For many ambitious young South Asians, females in particular, professional choices are heavily influenced by

familial and/or cultural community mindset. These include, and are not limited to: • Career Risk Is entrepreneurship a viable career option? Will she be able to make a living? What are the long-term professional benefits and consequences? • Cultural Tradition Is there support for a young woman to create and lead a company? Will her voice be taken seriously at the table with an older, traditional generation? What culturally-normative expectations need to be challenged or examined so she can thrive as a young business owner? • Prestige / Honour Is starting a small business as socially lucrative and admirable, when compared to a more established profession? • Personal Risk How does reputation management shift when she is in the spotlight? Possibly well-intentioned, it is easy to see how a particular community mindset toward young women in business can impact success. Luckily, the gender and cultural background 81

can help or hinder the business case – depending on the perspective we take. My outlook is informed by both lived experience and institutional perspective, and what I can confidently say is: the landscape is rich with support. The trick is first knowing what is out there, and then engaging meaningfully with those places and people that will help drive ambitions and business goals forward. My advice for young entrepreneurs: “Regardless of your background, connect with resources at all levels (global, national, regional, municipal), and take advantage of your unique position. There are many award opportunities, competitions, and tailored programs dedicated to supporting young people, women, and those of different cultural backgrounds.” That’s what Ravy Mehroke and her sister, Amy Minhas, did. The young sibling duo began realizing their vision of “making sure every single woman always looked and felt beautiful” in 2010. Bombay Brow Bar was born; now in its 5th year of operation, their business has 3 locations in Vancouver, with a fourth opening this summer. The duo sought support from various personal and public sources, includ ing Futurpreneur Canada, Women’s Enterprise Centre, Small Business BC, and Business Development Bank of

Canada. Supported further by their personal communities and their internal fire, Mehroke and Minhas have grown an idea into a coveted beauty brand and thriving business. If you are looking for a program that is a good fit for you, there are aggregate sites for: business mentorship (mentorshipBC. ca); financing for social impact enterprises (impactmoneyfinder.ca); and resources for business innovation (concierge.portal. gc.ca). Meanwhile, there are countless small business champions who have taken it upon themselves to create communities to support young South Asians. TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) is a global non-profit dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship; as two of more than 61, the Vancouver and Surrey chapters run the TiE Young Entrepreneurs program to ensure early exposure to entrepreneurship to students in Grades 9-12, with a large focus on South Asians, led in part by South Surrey resident and proud South Asian entrepreneur Rita Kim. Seeing a lack of supportive networks for professional South Asian women, Manpreet Dhillon and Sukhi Ghuman co-created North America’s first such network in 2012: Bring Your Own Best Friend (BYOBF) Network now operates throughout Metro Vancouver. It is true that cultural and gender narratives are both complex and nuanced

– and far from one-situation-fits all. The bottom line is, there are many resources available to engage in discussions that are both culturally meaningful, gender-agnostic, and economically profitable. Of course, a young entrepreneur needs to take advantage of what is available. All talk and no walk won’t get an aspiring entrepreneur very far. Questions about starting a small business? Curious about more free resources? Connect with Humaira at hhamid@futurpreneur.ca or on Twitter @FuturpreneurBC --Humaira Hamid is the Business Development Manager for Futurpreneur Canada, supporting young entrepreneurs throughout British Columbia. Futurpreneur is a national non-profit organization providing young entrepreneurs between 18–39 years of age with start-up loans (up to $45,000) and one-on-one business mentorship for two years. Futurpreneur gathers the expertise of more than 2,800 mentors nationwide, and connects entrepreneurs to and with an extensive network of more than 50 community partners in this province, including non-profits, accelerators, financial institutions, chambers of commerce, boards of trade, and media outlets.

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