Profiles

PARM HARI – RESILIENCE & PERSEVERANCE: NEVER LOSE WHO YOU ARE

Whether working in a small town, spearheading international corporate expansion, or being involved in the largest-ever vaccination campaign in B.C., Parm Hari has always focused on making a difference. That focus has built a 20-plus year career in human resources, change management and international business optimization that has led her to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority serving as vice-president of people, process, and performance.

BHARATHI SANDHU – WHEN YOU FALL, ALWAYS TRY AGAIN

Bharathi was very much pushed into leadership roles in her early 20s when others saw her potential, but she could only see her flaws and inexperience. What she considered to be inexperience at that time allowed her to problem solve out of the box and develop strategies to move organizations forward where she held leadership positions. 

JESSIE KAUR LEHAIL – DON’T BE AFRAID TO TAKE RISKS

Jessie Kaur Lehail, founder of Kaur Collective, and a member of the Board of Directors for Fraser Health, was born and raised in Kamloops, BC. Her parents set the tone to work hard, remain humble, and do good. They encouraged their children to speak up against injustice, value education, and do their best with every opportunity that comes their way.

MANINDER GREWAL – SHINING THROUGH RESILIENCE

Maninder Grewal came to Canada at 19 from her hometown Chandigarh. “My first few years were challenging without close family and minimal support,” she confesses. “When my first child, my beautiful daughter, was born, I felt that I finally had a sense of purpose and belonging.” 

MANJIT GILL – A DREAMER WITH A HELPING HAND

Manjit Gill has always been a partner in effecting positive change in her communities. Over fifty years ago, Manjit immigrated to Langley from India, where she was working on completing her Master’s in History at Punjab University. She immigrated to join her husband, Darcy Gill and the family business at Cloverdale Fuel Ltd. Manjit and her husband are still running it. It has been based in Langley since 1945 and has since expanded to three more businesses— Darman Recycling Canada, Darman Recycling USA, and Jasmine Real Assets.

SHARANJIT KAUR SANDHRA – OVERCOMING RACISM THROUGH SISTERHOOD

Sharanjit Kaur Sandhra was born in the UK but has lived almost her entire life in Abbotsford/Fraser Valley in BC. She went to school here, earned her undergrad, Master’s, and just this week, became the first Sikh to graduate from the Ph.D. program at UBC History. She has been working as a coordinator at the South Asian Studies Institute, UFV, for 12 years, a co-curator of exhibits at the Sikh Heritage Museum during that time, and has become a community leader and advocate around issues of anti-racism and anti-oppression. She has constantly called out organizations and institutions to do better and work better towards forging meaningful anti-racist practices. This includes the museum and educational sector. She is also a mother to 10 and 12- year-olds. 

PAULINE STEVENSON – CARVING A PATH OF HER OWN

Pauline, at 18, grew up in a small community, being told that having a ‘good job’ for a lifetime of security represented success. She knew her path would be one she would have to carve herself. Though encouraged by her mother to become a strong and self-sufficient woman, this did not include dreaming beyond working at the local sawmill.