Dear Editor,
Canada’s 150th birth anniversary celebrations are coming to a close.
In this very uncertain and unpredictable world environment, Canada shines like a beacon of hope and optimism. Often, we take things for granted and don’t appreciate as to how fortunate we are to call Canada our home.
Recently, India Cultural Centre of Canada Gurdwara Nanak Niwas, situated on No. 5 Road, aka our Highway to Heaven (H2H), hosted 11 UN Ambassadors.
This was as part of their visit to attend the Conference on Peacekeeping and Defence in Vancouver.
These diplomats, led by Canadian Ambassador to the UN, Mr. Marc-Andre Blanchard had expressed an interest in meeting and talking to some members of the H2H Association and the Gurdwara (Sikh Temple) Management Committee.
All of them were appreciative of the Canadian policy of inclusion and celebration of diversity as one of this country’s major strengths and commended the work being done in Richmond and our H2H in promoting inter-cultural and inter-religious harmony.
This feeling was reinforced again when I had the privilege of attending the Volunteer Appreciation function of SUCCESS: 2017 Champions of Success.
One of the SUCCESS volunteers, a recent immigrant to Canada, shared her own experience here and felt very proud to be a part of the Canadian family. Testimonials like these — by the UN Ambassadors and by a recent immigrant to Canada — go a long way in bringing home the feeling that we are very fortunate to live in one of the best, if not the best, countries in the world.
Balwant Sanghera
Richmond
