BY J.M. LEE
For nearly 50 years, Surinderpal S. Rathor has dedicated extraordinary volunteer service—over 200,000 hours—to the Williams Lake community and nearby areas. His diverse contributions include social support, public safety, cultural education, healthcare, municipal leadership, and community development.
Support for Low-Income Residents and Newcomers
Since 1975, Mr. Rathor has helped thousands of low-income residents prepare income tax returns, spending 1–4 hours on each file, depending on complexity. Beyond filing taxes, he has focused on educating individuals about their rights, responsibilities, and benefits. For more than 30 years, he coordinated the Williams Lake Volunteer Income Tax Program, making sure volunteers were trained and available to meet community needs. Since 1976, he has also supported landed immigrants seeking Canadian citizenship. He has assisted individuals in learning English, understanding Canadian culture and government systems, and preparing for citizenship exams. Over the years, this work has included group classes and personalized one-on-one support for newcomers.
Interpreter and Advocate
For over 40 years, Mr. Rathor has volunteered as an interpreter for people navigating government services. Fluent in English, Urdu, Hindi, and Punjabi, he has helped community members deal with the RCMP, state and federal courts, immigration agencies, healthcare providers, banks, and insurance companies. His support has enabled many residents to overcome language barriers and access vital services.
Fundraising and Cultural Leadership
Mr. Rathor has played a vital role in fundraising for numerous local and international causes. His contributions include support for the Cariboo Chilcotin Museum, the construction of Williams Lake’s first Guru Nanak Sikh Temple (1975), Ethiopian famine relief, the Man in Motion World Tour, the International Red Cross, support for Ukraine war victims, and many other charitable initiatives. Within the Williams Lake Sikh Temple Society, he has donated tens of thousands of volunteer hours and served as General Secretary in 1984, President in 1985, and returning officer for multiple society elections.
Public Education and Media Work
From 1980 to 1991, he produced, directed, and hosted programs on Shaw Cable’s community channel. These shows aimed to educate visible minorities—especially Indo-Canadians—about government processes, voting rights, policing, the legal system, insurance, and financial planning. He volunteered over 5,200 hours for this public education effort.
Public Safety and Justice Contributions
As a co-founder of the Williams Lake Community Policing Committee, Mr. Rathor has stayed actively involved for decades. He has contributed over 2,500 hours to crime prevention and victim support efforts. From 1976 to 1988, he volunteered as an RCMP Auxiliary Constable, dedicating at least 4,320 hours. He also served on the Williams Lake Safety Committee, Court Watch Committee, and Drug and Alcohol Prevention Steering Committee. He acted as City Liaison for the 2002 BC Winter Games. He played a key advocacy role in helping secure provincial funding for the Police-Based Victim Service Program during a critical period when funding was uncertain.
Health and Social Service Leadership
Mr. Rathor served for 5 years on the Cariboo Memorial Hospital Board, chairing several committees and serving as the sole fundraiser for the hospital morgue’s construction. He contributed approximately 4,500 hours to hospital-related work. He also supported the Central Cariboo Chilcotin Health Foundation. He spent eight years on the Williams Lake Seniors’ Housing Society Board. Since 2004, he has volunteered weekly at the Williams Lake Salvation Army soup kitchen, serving meals and assisting with cleanup.
Civic Leadership and City Council Service
From 1993 to 2014, Mr. Rathor served as a Williams Lake City Councilor. During his 21-year tenure, he was heavily involved in significant infrastructure projects, including the rebuilding of Highways 97 and 20, safety enhancements to dangerous curves leading to the airport, and the municipal purchase of Williams Lake Airport. As Chair of the Public Works Commission for 18 years, he supervised key upgrades to streets, sidewalks, and utility services in underdeveloped neighborhoods following large city annexations. He also chaired or participated in many local government committees, such as Emergency Services, Parks and Recreation, the Striking Committee, and air quality management groups. A longtime supporter of improved end-of-life services, he spent 27 years helping establish a crematorium in Williams Lake, which opened in 2002. Mr. Rathor also played a vital fundraising role in the Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion initiative, becoming Canada’s top individual fundraiser in both 2003 and 2004.
Awards and Recognition
His extensive community involvement has earned him numerous honors, including the Canada 125 Medal, the Queen’s Golden, Diamond, and Platinum Jubilee recognitions, the Sovereign Medal for Volunteers, the BC Achievement Award, and the 2009 Newsmaker of the Year Award. He was also the first person ever appointed Deputy Mayor of Williams Lake. Personal Life and Mayoral Service Born and educated in India, he completed National Cadet Corps training and undertook mountaineering courses with Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. A certified journeyman electrician, he worked for more than 46 years at Riverside Forest Products/Tolko. Married since 1975, he is the father of two children and grandfather of four. In 2022, he was elected Mayor of Williams Lake—the city’s first mayor of color. He helped secure $44 million in provincial and federal funding for the city. He contributed to the approval of a $366 million upgrade to a region
Photo Credits: Laureen Carruthers
