Sher Vancouver is a local grassroots non-profit society for LGBTQ South Asians and their friends and families. We welcome everyone. The Sher Vancouver Board of Directors are also very much committed to social justice, human rights, and the overall health and welfare of all peoples.
As we approach a new year, Sher Vancouver counts down its top ten list of highlights for 2019 whether pending, in progress, or completed!
6. Sher Vancouver wrote to Surrey City Council to advocate for the continued funding of a Diversity Department for the new Surrey City Police Force. Sher Vancouver immediately received an acknowledgment and support from one City Councillor already.
7. Sher Vancouver’s first documentary My Name Was January was screened in 11 countries, and picked up 13 awards, and garnered 57 official selections at film festivals around the world. My Name Was January entered the Leo Awards and Canadian Screen Awards for Best Short Documentary for 2020.
8. Sher Vancouver managed to bring six official sponsors on board in 2019 to fund Sher Vancouver’s second upcoming documentary film Emergence: Out of the Shadows. The sponsors are Vancity, OUTtv, Unifor Local 3000, CUPE BC, MoveUP, and the Vancouver Pride Society.
9. Sher Vancouver Founder Alex Sangha travelled to Rideau Hall in Ottawa in March 2019 to receive the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) from the Governor General of Canada, Her Excellency The Right Honourable Julie Payette. Sher President Ash Brar and Sher Vice President Kayden Bhangu and Alex’s mother also attended the ceremony.
10. Sher Vancouver partnered with YouthCO to host the popular year-end Sher Christmas Gala at Aria Banquet Hall in Surrey. YouthCO made a generous donation which allowed Sher Vancouver to provide free tickets to low-income youth and YouthCO also donated goodie bags to give as gifts at the festive gala.
That’s it for 2019. Not a bad year for Sher Vancouver after all. We look forward to seeing what 2020 will bring our members, friends, and community partners.
-Alex Sangha
Registered Clinical Social Worker and Registered Clinical Counsellor
Recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General of Canada
Imagine designing a fully functional settlement in space. A group of nine students (Aden Jabbar, Raifah Rahman, Arwaa Khan, Ritika Bhardwaj, Mehtab Brar, Saurav Kahlon, Atta Faiz, Jayden Ramlu, and Jashan Gill) from Princess Margaret Secondary School, Surrey, who are passionate about science, won the International Space Settlement Design Competition (ISSDC). This competition was held in NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre, Florida.
Working with 2 advisors, they spent 10-15 hours outside the school time to put together the proposal for space settlement. They submitted a proposal to NASA in April and found that they were accepted to the competition. “We did not expect that we will be selected,” one of the students said. They wanted to get in, but they did not expect it. It was in June when their teacher received an email that the students were selected.
Enrolling for the first time in the competition and being new to it turned out to be a challenge for the students. After returning home, they share their inspiring story of what they learned from their recent trip to Florida.
How did you motivate yourself because you only had 48 hours to create this?
As we only had 48 hours, we worked the afternoon of the first day and got a sleep for five hours in between the first and second day. Second day, we worked throughout the day. Having a timeline there and doing something that you do not normally do, motivated us. It was a fun experience.
What motivated you to come up with these ideas?
The fact that we even got accepted to go to Florida was such a big thing for us and we really wanted to make use of that opportunity. We were given this great opportunity to compete for Canada. So, that was one of the things that motivated us. You do not know how many times you will go to Florida for the actual competition. We really wanted to make the most of this trip. So, we put as much effort as we could and we thought of the most creative things we could and enjoyed as we could. Moreover, it was such a surreal experience because we got to create a bond with students all around the world.
How did you balance the NASA project and the school exams?
It was hard to balance both things but in the end, it was worth it. We had to set our priority. When we were at home, we were studying the entire night and the next day, we just took the exam. It is hard when you have a big project and that too with school. However, pre-planning your time helps. If you are really passionate about something, you can always take out time.
What was the criteria of the submission?
First submission was our original submission that was made to qualify to go to Florida. So, to get to that phase, we had to do an introductory proposal and that proposal was kind of what we did in Florida, but we had a lot more time to do it. Hence, we made a PDF document, which was around 40-42 pages and then we set that in and after that it took from November until April-May and then we submitted and got selected.
What did you have to design in 48 hours?
We were given a document on how the design was supposed to be. It was like putting a city in space. If you get Las Vegas, you have to put that in space. One of the things that we learned from this episode was communications because even though we were all in different departments, we had to work together. For example- Operations. They were responsible for agriculture, food production. So, if they needed a certain amount of area for production, the structure person had to create a structure, so that it fits that. We all had to work together. All the departments get affected by one thing. If one team needs an area for farm, then automation will have to design a robot to do the farming itself because the aim is to make the whole process as automatic as possible to use the least amount of humans in the building process and the maintenance of the settlement.
Surrey, British Columbia – Sher Vancouver founder and local film producer, Alex Sangha, was interviewed by Vancouver Film School students regarding his award-winning local indie documentary, My Name Was January, and his upcoming film, Emergence: Out of the Shadows.
Vishal Joshi directed the short video interview (8 minutes 55 seconds). Vishal is originally from Mumbai, India and arrived in Canada in 2018 to study at the Vancouver Film School.
Tejbir Singh Kambo was the videographer. He is a Canadian citizen and has lived in Canada for 11 years. He is originally from Moga, Punjab, India and is also a student at the Vancouver Film School.
In the video, Alex talks about his passion for his two films My Name Was January and Emergence: Out of the Shadows and provides some valuable advice for the new up and coming local film students.
When a trans sister, January Marie Lapuz, is brutally murdered in her own home in New Westminster, BC, her community reacts and her friends and other trans women of colour come to share and voice their issues, concerns, and challenges. January was seen as a bright light in the lives of many. This is the story of January, a friend, a daughter, a person. This film will not only bring justice to January, but to all the women who have lost their lives. January had a beautiful soul, and now part of her soul rests in each and every one of us.
Explore the taboo topic of being gay or lesbian in the South Asian community of Metro Vancouver and abroad. Kayden tells a poignant story of family rejection and self-discovery while embracing his newfound family and life. Parents and their children discuss the struggles they have endured and overcome to preserve the family through generations to come. Success often means setting aside long-established culture and tradition for compassion, love, and acceptance.
In a follow-up note after the interview, Vishal stated “Thank you Alex for giving us this opportunity . . . we really enjoyed working with you.”
“It’s always wonderful to mentor and provide guidance to bright young students like Vishal and Tejbir. They are both studying at a top notch institution at the Vancouver Film School and Vancouver could not be a better place for them to break into the film industry. I am confident they will both have a meaningful and successful career in the film industry based on what I have seen of their professionalism and hard work so far,” states Alex Sangha.
For more information on My Name Was January check out: https://januarylapuz.net/
For more information on Emergence: Out of the Shadows check out: https://emergencefilm.net/
AAJ MEDIA GROUP, Suki Pangalia, Karen Dosanjh and the AAJ Legacy Initiative team are working tirelessly to bring South Asian pioneer history to light by introducing the new book Untold Stories: The South Asian Pioneer Experience in B.C. This essential publication aims to document and preserve the forgotten voices of the first wave of South Asians who immigrated to Canada in the early 1900s from India. Their meaningful stories are relatively untold and are a critical yet lost piece of the Canadian record. Our goal is to leave a lasting legacy to help educate future generations about the challenges faced by the South Asian pioneers, as well as the significant contributions they made to the rich fabric of our country. Join us for the pre-launch event for our book on Dec. 8 where we will honour pioneer family legacies. Click on the link below for ticket and event information.
EVENT DETAILS:
-Introducing the AAJ Legacy -Project
-Insights from Community Leaders
-Pioneer Family Awards
-South Asian Fashion Through the Years (Armaan DBG)
-Classic Vocal Artist & Live DJ
For tickets and sponsorships, please call or email
For more information about this project, visit aajlegacy.com
DATE: Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019 TIME: 6:00 p.m
Ticket Price: $75 each OTHER: Dinner, Door Prizes, No Host Bar
In an exclusive interview with AAJ Magazine, the desired celebrity couple Karanvir Bohra and Teejay share their adorable family journey and life plans.
Karanvir Bohra is an Indian television and film actor, producer and designer. He starred in several Hindi Movies Kismat Konnection , Mumbai 125 KM ; Television dramas Yeh Hai Aashiqui , Naagin 2 , Dil Se Di Dua… Saubhagyavati Bhava?, Shararat and Qubool Hai and in famous Television shows like Bigg Boss12 , Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6, Khatron Ke Khiladi Darr Ka Blockbuster. Bohra also owns a local clothing brand ‘Pegasus’.
Karanvir is the third generation descendent of a cinematic family (Bohra Family) that fostered his creative and artistic intentions. While, Karan’s grandfather Ramkumar Bohra was an actor and producer, his father Mahendra Bohra is an Indian Producer / Director / Writer.
Karanvir married Teejay Sidhu, a Canadian actress, television host and radio personality. She had acted in movies like ‘Love Yoou Soniye’, ‘Tera Mera Ki Rishta’, ‘Patel Ki Punjabi Shaadi’, and famous Indian television shows including ‘Kinna Sohna Tennu Rab Ne Banaya’, ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 5’, ‘Santoshi Maa’, and ‘Bigg Boss 12’.
Both are now enjoying their life as doting parents to their twin babies – Vienna Bohra and Raya Bella Bohra. Teejay was born and raised in Vancouver and started her career with Vancouver Television, a leading entertainment programming in British Columbia. She used to work as a VJ for Channel V, where she hosted the popular shows ‘Channel V Workouts’, ‘Get Gorgeous’, and as a radio host at 93.5 Red FM, anchoring the Breakfast Show.
Currently, she is a content creator and handles one of the successful social media pages on the internet on children blogging (@twinbabydiaries), dedicated to her twin daughters Bella and Vienna.
Teejay: The good thing is that sometimes when Karanvir is busy with his projects, I usually do not have work happening. So, I will be taking care of the kids and make visits to the shooting location. Karanvir is also an amazing father and does the babysitting while I am working on projects. Being content creators, both of us are doing a lot of stuff together in Vancouver and shooting videos for our YouTube channel as well as Instagram Page called Twin Baby Diaries. Since we are both in the same field, it helps us stay connected and parenting vlog opened an exciting avenue where both of us can spend more time with babies.
Teejay: Thank you for your compliment that we are great parents. As every other parent, we want to do the best for our children, and they came as a surprise to us. As a couple, we are always up for an adventure and when we found out that we are having a baby, we thought it is going to be fun. Now as parents, for our twin babies, it is double the fun.
We like to look at things in a different way and have never felt that our life must be adjusted as Bella and Vienna came into our lives. We were here before them and they must adjust with us, and they blended in so beautifully. We travel with the kids and take them wherever we are. They love meeting new people while we are at various events and they just become a wonderful addition to what we already have. So, our parenting journey has enriched our lives and made it even more meaningful.
Teejay: As a child, I was very shy, quiet and this is not something I would have seen myself doing at all. I thought I was going to make a conventional career choice like to be a doctor or a teacher where you receive monthly paycheck and you are set into a more organized kind of life. But then I just realized that my life has more purpose than just to earn money or fame or success.
I am here to serve in this world and one thing that I liked about my trips to India is that I got to do a lot of Seva (Service) at Mandirs (Hindu Temple), Gurudwaras (Sikh Temple), and Ashrams (Monasteries). I have also stayed up with the monks in Dharamshala and lucky to be one among the audience few times when Dalai Lama made his visits on behalf of his teaching tour. That has been the most enriching experience which helped me to grow spiritually and brought me to where I am today.
Karanvir: The movie is psychological romantic thriller, which released on the July 5th. With God’s grace, the movie received amazing reviews and a lot of my fans loved it. The movie did well at the box office and I am very lucky to have a team who brought this whole film together. I want to thank my director Lalit Mohan, my co-star Priya Banerjee, who is also an Indo-Canadian from Calgary, Alberta, co-actor Samir Kochhar. I enjoyed working with every cast in the movie. And of course, the movie promises amazing tracks and music composition by Raaj Aashoo (Music Director).
The film has an eponymous song from 1981 film Kudrat ‘Hume Tumse Pyaar Kitna’, which was originally sung by Kishore Kumar on composition of RD Burman and lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri. In this movie, the song was recreated by Raaj Aashoo with additional lyrics by Shabbir Ahmed and sung by Shreya Ghoshal and Sonu Nigam. We also had other great music composers working in this movie like Jeet Gannguli, Mika Singh, Tony Kakkar, Shabbir Ahmed, DJ EMENES (MIB), Shaarib-Toshi, Background score by Amar Mohile. All these efforts put forward by a great team made the movie successful.
Karanvir: Unfortunately, this movie will not be releasing in Canada, but we will be having a digital premiere soon and everybody will be able to watch it on a digital platform. Canadian cities are also home to lots of aspiring Bollywood actors and my wife Teejay was more than happy to cast a South Asian Talent to be my heroine in the movie. But we are looking forward to having a worldwide release for my next movie.
Karanvir: People like watching good movies regardless of the fan base. I am lucky and blessed to have wider audience who have really helped to spread the word effectively and the movie opened great weekend run at the box office. Thanks to all my fans for extending their love by supporting my movies, TV shows and our social media contents.
Teejay: I would love to work with Zoya Akhtar one day. I think she’s got some girl power. I love her energy; her way of storytelling and I like how she doesn’t sideline women in her films. She makes everybody pivotal to the story and I would definitely like to work with her.
Teejay: Star quality is something you have in you, despite of your marital status. But when you are married, it helps because you get that emotional support. Being in entertainment industry, there are a lot of ups and downs and having someone to come home to who can help you get through the rough days and cheer you as well as keep you grounded during the good days is definitely an added advantage.
As a couple, we started getting a lot of work together. We were in lot of television shows together like Khatron Ke Khiladi which was the most fun project we have ever done. Even though we could not win but it was once in a lifetime opportunity and we had terrific experience. We also had good experience being part of an amazing dance show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6 and after the show, both of us took a break to learn more and get professional training on traditional Indian dance form Kathak.
Karanvir: It is a very fantastic phase for me, and everybody loves Bollywood movies. Acting is not new to me as I have been doing that for almost 15-16 years of my life, but still this movie is like another feather in my cap. I wish to have more feathers because production has been in my blood and I am the third generation in the film industry. My grandfather Ramkumar Bohra produced around 40-45 Hindi movies and he was the one who brought Dara Singh back from Punjab for his film Hercules (1964). My grandfather went back to Punjab, convinced him to come back and produced blockbuster movies like Hercules (1964) and followed by Thief of Baghdad (1969). Dara Singh also joined the production and made amazing Gujarati movies. So, the production company was really big in the regional aspect as well.
Being the third generation, it is a big responsibility moving ahead, and we are looking forward to doing couple more projects by 2020. Presently, everything seems all hunky dory and beautiful and hope it remains the same with God’s grace.
Karanvir: When you are acting for the love of it, the platform does not matter whether it is a movie or television. Even though Bollywood is everyone’s dream, I always love doing television dramas and I would never ever leave the television industry. Moreover, I cannot deny the fact that TV Show is where I got my fan base and all the recognition, I have received so far is from the Indian TV audience. It is like bread-and-butter income stemming over past several years and I am going to be dabbling with my television projects and movies. So, for me, television is as special as Bollywood.
Teejay: Absolutely. These days nobody wants to wait through advertising. Streaming over TV is much easier and more convenient. In this busy world, you get to choose what you want to watch, for when you want to watch it and that is a huge benefit of TV streaming. I think some TV shows are going to become obsolete like the TV cable system because nobody is going to need subscriptions anymore and your TV has already become a monitor just to hook up your Netflix.
Having said that I think that if we had to choose right now over TV or digital, we would both love to do more shows on the digital platform like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Reliance Jio.
Teejay: There is a big percentage of Indo-Canadian artists in Vancouver and we would love to build a bigger connection here. We have also had some good discussion and meetings about upcoming film projects and in fact, we would love to do more acting assignments, movies and television projects during our visit to Vancouver.
Pictures from #Notmysecret art exhibition and campaign speaks out against sexual abuse and aims to create global awareness of the silence that lies behind sexual abuse.
Childhood sexual abuse is a topic that people are now becoming familiar with and we have many survivors to thank for this. Through the stories shared, we know and perhaps are able to comprehend what the survivor may have experienced in overcoming the abuse, the struggles they may have experienced. This sharing is incredible for those who have not found their voice yet. It may even be ground breaking for a survivor who has never had the courage to share what has happened only to hear that they are not alone and this has happened to someone else as well.
However, with all of this empowerment and sharing for survivors, you will hear people question; “How come they didn’t say anything to anyone, at the time or when they were older”? How come the parents couldn’t tell what was happening? Or you often here, “Where were the parents?”
Often when a survivor reaches adulthood and reflects on their past and their trauma, they will question themselves and often think: “I knew it was wrong, why didn’t I say anything? “Maybe if I had said something my life would’ve been different”. Survivors often stay trapped in these types of thoughts and also question why the adults around them didn’t realize what was happening. These are questions that not only go through a survivor’s mind but they are also questions which plague the parents or family members. The reason that victims of abuse and their parents/guardians don’t realize what was happening is because they were groomed for the abuse to occur.
When we hear the terms grooming or sexual grooming, we often don’t understand what that is or what it entails. Sexual grooming refers to the behaviors that a child molester employs in preparation for committing sexual abuse against a child. (Psychology Today, Jan 16, 2019, Article by Elizabeth Jeglic PhD). Grooming is a technique that perpetrators use to manipulate not only the child they are wanting to abuse but they are also grooming the parents and the community at large. Perpetrators that use grooming often seem to be kind, caring and charming individuals.
There are a few stages that a perpetrator will take their victim and family through in order to do what they want:
Targeting a Victim: This is the fist step where a predator is choosing their victim. They will target their victim by examining a child’s vulnerabilities. Traits that they seek out are: children who seem to have low self-esteem/self confidence, children who are trusting and/or naïve and children with parents who are busy or not as involved.
Gaining Access/victims trust: This is the stage where the perpetrator is looking to gain access to the child by separating them physically and emotionally from their parents/guardians. In cases where the perpetrator is a family member, they have easier access to the child and the abuse often takes place in the house with others close by. When the perpetrator is not a family member access to a child is a little more difficult so they may take trusted positions in the community such as a coach.
Trust Development/Filling a need: This is the stage that is the most important to understand. When the perpetrators purpose is to gain the trust of their victim, their parents/guardians and the community so they can conduct the abuse without anyone noticing or being able to identify that it’s happening. The child then feels that they are special, and the child often believes that the perpetrator cares about them. (Psychology Today, Jan 16, 2019, Article by Elizabeth Jeglic PhD).
Isolating the child: The perpetrator here is attempting to build a relationship with the child and then looking to be able to create situations where they are alone together. For example: if the parents are working, offering to babysit or take them to their soccer game.
Desensitization to touch: This is where the perpetrator begins to sexualize the relationship. The perpetrator may start touching the child in non-sexual ways so there is some comfort that is built between the child and the perpetrator. This is often why and how the child doesn’t even realize what’s happening.
Maintaining Control: Once the abuse begins to take place the perpetrator will use secrecy, blame, the child’s guilt and other fear tactics to maintain the child’s participation.
Pictures from #Notmysecret art exhibition and campaign speaks out against sexual abuse and aims to create global awareness of the silence that lies behind sexual abuse.
Children often feel very entangled in the relationship with the perpetrator and don’t know how to distance themselves or end the relationship. Children are most often manipulated to believe that if they do tell someone, no one would believe them or that somehow this is their fault, or even that they deserve what’s happening to them; children continue to comply out of guilt.
The trust of the child and the parents/guardians is typically taken, manipulated and then shattered when, or if they ever learn that their child or someone close to them was abused while they were present. This is something that is so difficult to overcome. Relationships are damaged and take years to rebuild. Instead of placing blame and heightening someone’s guilt, show love and become their ally. Help change this narrative.
Nimi Chauhan is a mediator and a community activist. She has been working in the field of domestic violence, sexual assault and suicide for the last 18 years. Nimi has served various positions with community agencies and has served on numerous boards varying from community policing, national parole board, addictions and recovery, youth gang violence as well as political bodies. She is also the founder of Sahara Services.
Nimi Chauhan
778-877-1310
Nikhat Qureshi
https://www.instagram.com/nikhat_iq/
Sophie Vandenbiggelaar
October appears synonymous to celebration. The month has just started, and people are already in a festive mood. Houses are being decorated with colourful lights, beautiful candles, and decorative items. Festive season is here with celebrations like Thanksgiving, Diwali, Dussehra, and Durga Puja. The idea of meeting the loved ones on these special occasions is what keeps the excitement alive. The upcoming festival, Diwali, is the most awaited festival for Indians all around the world.
Waking up to the spirit of cleaning house and workplace to decorate them with fancy lights, flowers, and rangolis is what Diwali means to Indians. Exchanging gifts, variety of sweets and delicious food are an integral part of the celebrations. Diwali calls for maddening crowd, illuminated streets, and scent of incense.
Celebrated by people belonging to all religions, it holds different significance in every religion. In Hinduism, it marks the return of Lord Rama from Ayodhaya. In Sikhism, it is a historic event where Guru Hargobind Singh Ji freed 52 Hindu kings from the prison of Mughal Emperor Jahangir. In Jainism, it marks the liberation of Mahavir’s soul. Even though, the significance of a day is different, the way of celebrating is the same. Diwali is considered as the celebration of new beginnings. But, how does it feel to commence new beginnings without your near and dear ones?
As the festival is at the doorstep, it is the time to call the family, relatives, and friends. Booking the tickets to go back home and meet everyone may not be a reality for everyone. The idea of being alone at this special occasion turns the excitement into tears for missing out a lot. The happiness of physically seeing the loved ones is replaced by virtual meetings, social media posts, and long well-wishing messages. The absence of home-made delicacies soaked in desi ghee (clarified butter) brings the realization of what a person has left behind. Be it, Diwali Puja, lighting candles, or choosing gifts for family and friends, the concept of being with family members is something that no other materialistic thing can replace.
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Office parties, hanging out with friends, and online world (WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram) somehow tries to fill the void, but what about burning crackers, worshipping at the temple and lighting diyas with family? Nothing can substitute the merrier times with family. Attending a slew of events around the city, registering for the rangoli, music, and dance competition can be some of the ways to struggle the isolation. The festival of lights, celebrated as the triumph of good over evil, brings together people belonging to different religions. Discovering diversity, making new connections at a new place is the perfect way to celebrate this festival of joy. Whatever be the place, celebrate the festival with a smile because festivals are meant to cheer up the people.
-Sarabjit Kaur
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Happy Diwali!
— Aaj Magazine (@AAJMediaGroup) October 25, 2019
Check out our latest article
Festival Away From Home – By Sarabjit Kaur (@sarakaur18 ) https://t.co/YujjOq6F8p#diwali #india #culture #festival #FestivalofLights #happiness #diyas #Indian #southasian #heritage pic.twitter.com/OcMo5eK9w4
Diwali Fest is an annual South Asian arts & culture festival, produced by the Diwali Celebration Society. With multiculturalism and inclusiveness as two of our organization’s core values, our slogan “Light Your Spirit” is reflective of our mandate to bring together people of all backgrounds in a celebration of “the universal light that exists in everyone”
October 26 from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm
Roundhouse Community Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver, BC V6Z2W3
Diwali Fest by Diwali Celebration Society returns for it’s 16th Annual Celebration of the Festival of Lights at Diwali Downtown Vancouver. This multicultural event features South Asian music and dance performances by local artists. Rangoli room will be back again to create a room sized mosaic artwork. For more information visit their website: www.diwalifest.ca
November 3 from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm; Ticket Price: $8
Celebrate the festival of light! India’s biggest and most important holiday. The festival marks the victory of good over evil. Listen to the story of Diwali, decorate diya clay lamps, listen and dance to traditional Indian music. Enjoy a delicious luncheon of seekh kebab, vege samosas, lamb curry, butter chicken, aloo gobhi, mattar paneer, raita, rice, naan, salad, and chai tea. Please pre-register as this event will sell out. For more information visit their website: www.diwalifest.ca
Sat, 26 October 2019 6:00 PM – 11:30 PM PDT
The Taj Park Convention Centre, 8580 132 Street Surrey, BC V3W 4N7
Indian Cultural Association of Vancouver is organizing Diwali Gala 2019– an evening full of entertainment which includes Cultural & Bollywood Performances, Delicious Indian Buffet Dinner, DJ & Dance, Activities for Kids, Prizes. It will be a good opportunity for immigrants as well as the Canadians to experience the Diwali celebration with all your friends and family. Tickets range from $0- $40 and are only available online. For more info visit www.icavancouver.ca
Location: 2690 Larch St., Vancouver, BC, V6K 4K9, Canada
November 3,2019; 5pm to 7pm; Phone: 604-257-6976 ext. 1
$10 registration is inclusive of activities and treats; All Ages
Celebrate Diwali, the Hindu celebration of light at the Kitsilano Community Centre. Activities include a Bollywood dance workshop with Karima Essa, henna tattoos from Deux Chic Esthetiques, Diya painting with West Side Family Place, photobooth from Studio A, Chai from Trudy Ann and refreshments from Handi Grill and Panago! A great event for the family! $10 per person registration is inclusive of activities and treats.
For more information visit event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/424756308227305/
Sat., Oct. 26 – Sun., Oct. 27; Vancouver Cruises, 750 Pacific Blvd– Vancouver, BC
Boarding start at: 9:00 PM; Boat Leaves at: 10.00PM; Re-Dock at: 1.00AM; Age: 21+
Kick off the biggest Indian festival Diwali party on a #BOAT! A fun- filled night on floating night club. Featuring two dance floor, 3 hours of cruising, Amazing Views of Vancouver skyline, 3 floor yacht, and much more. Welcome the festival of light over darkness with excitement than on Vancouver’s most popular party ship, The Abitibi, a 140-foot Motor Vessel that accommodates 370 passengers. Minimum
Call at 888 450 3991 or email at [email protected]. All sales are final and non-transferable. No dinner will be provided. Discounts only for big group purchases. For more info, call at 888 450 3991
Cover Photo by Anshu A on Unsplash
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Celebrate the dazzling festival of lights DIWALI 2019 in Vancouver.
— Aaj Magazine (@AAJMediaGroup) October 21, 2019
Check out the events list and mark your calendars: https://t.co/EO31ATCcm9#diwali #vancouver #celerbration #festivaloflights
Cover Photo by Anshu A on Unsplash pic.twitter.com/b6f5nYyft3
Our lives today are so different to what they would have been 100 years ago. Over the past century technology has advanced at exponential rates, but have we matched that same growth on an individual level? While society has advanced in many areas such as women’s rights, freedom of speech, and access to great education, we have still fallen short in many other aspects, especially in self-care.
As a society, we have also become more mindful, we meditate more, we practise yoga and are more connected with one another. Yet anxiety levels, mental health issues, body dysmorphia and the increased desire for cosmetic surgery. In fact, it’s at an all-time high.
I have struggled with accepting my own body image and constantly felt like I was not enough. Sadly, I know I’m not the only one that has felt this way. I used to mask my confidence; really struggled with my self-esteem and feeling confident in my own skin. I didn’t want people to think I was egotistical or selfish, and instead would always put myself down. I would always find something about myself that needed to be improved, and I never learned to be nice to myself.
I struggled with giving myself the same love and affection as I gave others. I struggled with seeing beauty in myself as I would see in others. I looked at other people and thought their grass was SO much greener. I knew no one was perfect, but I found their imperfections beautiful. I had never appreciated my own grass or looked at my imperfections in a positive light. How and why was I doing this to myself?
The worst part of this, is that I never thought my lack of self- confidence and low self-esteem was a problem. I actually believed this was a healthy way to continue to seek self- improvement.
I felt deflated from my negative mindset and was tired of listening to my negative thoughts. I then realised that for the rest of my life, I have one relationship that will last longer than any other. It’s the relationship I am in with myself. Through realising this, I knew I was the only one that could make the changes I so badly needed. I had to start taking care of myself first and foremost. If I didn’t start to take care of myself first, how could I expect anyone else to care for me in the same way?
I realised I should love myself, I should be confident in myself, no matter where I am along my journey. In fact, in loving myself and being more confident, I would be more productive in my life and in a better place to pursue my dreams.
I know I’m not the only one who has gone through a spell of being hard on themselves; the importance of self- love are vital lessons we all need to learn, and ones we are never taught. I knew money didn’t buy happiness, but I had not learned that happiness is a mindset. It was in my own hands to have a life full of happiness, joy and love.
You might be thinking this is selfish – well yes, it is! But being selfish isn’t always a bad thing. I’m not saying to be unfair and greedy. I’m not saying to serve yourself more than anyone else. I’m saying be kind to yourself and serve yourself as much as you would others. If you have a cake, don’t give yourself a bigger piece than others, but make sure you take a slice for yourself too. Likewise, if you see the beauty in others around you, make sure you see the beauty in yourself as well. The more love you have in your heart, the more you love yourself, and the more you have to give others.
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Check out the article by @alyshabadiani ,author of upcoming book, BeYoutiful You
— Aaj Magazine (@AAJMediaGroup) October 20, 2019
THE 20’S IS UPON US AGAIN -By Alysha Badiani https://t.co/UBpqQ01wXj pic.twitter.com/NNXSqr9Roj
Throughout my book, BeYoutiful You, I talk about the importance of building a strong mindset, building on your self-confidence and how to practise self-love. Building a strong mindset for yourself will help you build your clarity in your life. Having clarity will let you pursue your dreams and have a fulfilled life. A lack of clarity leaves space for negativity and doubt.
The largest pool of talent in the world is found at the grave. Let’s learn from history and try not to let it repeat itself. As a society, we are in a position to be able to pursue our dreams more now than ever before. Love yourself and pursue your dreams. Do something today that your tomorrow- self will be proud of.
–Alysha Badiani
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My Name Was January was released on Film Freeway which is the film festival submission platform on September 26, 2018.
Little did I know, at the time, that nearly one year later My Name Was January would have garnered an amazing fifty (50) official selections at film festivals around the world, and pick up 12 international jury awards!
My Name Was January has been screened in Canada, USA, England, India, Norway, Spain, Cyprus, Taiwan, Lebanon, the Philippines, and Russia.
Speaking of Russia, My Name Was January screened at film festivals in Sochi, St. Petersburg, and Moscow. This was really unexpected considering LGBTQ rights are under threat and LGBTQ people are at risk in the country. Perhaps, this is an indication of growing resistance within the Russian artistic community.
My Name Was January was directed by two women of colour, Elina Gress and Lenee Son, who were Journalism students at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Surrey. This was their first film project and they were both recommended to me as two of the top students in their class by their Journalism professor. The film had a shoestring budget of less than $25,000 and was designed to share the real, authentic, true to life story of the late January Marie Lapuz.
January Marie Lapuz was born on April 9, 1986, in Santiago City, Philippines and tragically and brutally passed away on September 30, 2012, in New Westminster, B.C.
January was the Social Coordinator of Sher Vancouver and the first transgender person to hold an executive position with the organization. Being the life of the party, she would make everyone laugh. A kind, caring, generous and loyal friend, January was a great singer and dancer. She was known as our very own “Beyonce.”
January had many challenges and struggles as an immigrant, as a person of colour, and as a transgender woman living in poverty. Nonetheless, she was a bright light and shining star in Sher Vancouver. She was a fabulous MC on our Pride of Bollywood float in the Vancouver Pride Parade and the Bang Bang Bollywood club nights.
Not a day goes by that January’s friends don’t miss her. I feel that she is watching over us like an “angel in heaven.”
When a trans sister, January Marie Lapuz, is brutally murdered in her own home in New Westminster, BC, her community reacts and her friends and other trans women of colour come to share and voice their issues, concerns, and challenges. January was seen as a bright light in the lives of many. This is the story of January, a friend, a daughter, a person. This film will not only bring justice to January, but to all the women who have lost their lives. January had a beautiful soul, and now part of her soul rests in each and every one of us.
Sher Vancouver Founder Alex Sangha and Sher Vancouver President Ash Brar both produced and star in the film. January’s friends Josh Soronow, Pam Hayer, Velvet Steele, and her mother Betty Lapuz, along with social activists Natasha Adsit and Kelendria Nation round out the short 26-minute documentary. There is also rare footage of January Marie Lapuz herself.
Below are some notable highlights of the film:
The official trailer for My Name Was January was screened at the huge international Women Deliver Film Festival and Conference in Vancouver.
The future is bright for My Name Was January!
DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society has come on board to be the “exclusive sponsor” of the annual January Marie Lapuz Youth Leadership Award. This award was first given out in 2015 to youth between 16 and 30 who demonstrate involvement, commitment, and leadership in the LGBTQ community. Winners receive cash prizes of $1000, $600, $400, and $200, along with a framed certificate and letter of congratulations. In the past activists from India, Albania, and Canada have won the award. Many prominent Metro Vancouver youth have won the award including Andy Holmes, Shilpa Narayan, Serene Carter, and Grace McDonell.
https://januarylapuz.net/january-marie-lapuz-youth-leadership-award/
Sher Vancouver is currently lobbying the City of New Westminster to establish a memorial for January near 6th Street and the 500 block of 3rd Avenue where January lived.
A memorial for January Marie Lapuz could become a landmark in New Westminster. There are likely not many memorials for transgender women of colour. The memorial can help educate people on violence against all vulnerable peoples. It can also reinforce New Westminster as an inclusive city where all lives matter, including January’s.
January did not come from a privileged background. She was adopted, lived in poverty, was transgender, was a person of colour, and was an immigrant. Yet she was loved by many and was a fabulous social coordinator in Sher Vancouver as illustrated in her wonderful documentary. She helped mentor and support many people. Despite her struggles, January was a bright light and uplifted many people.
If you support January’s memorial please write to His Worship Jonathan X. Cote and New Westminster City Council at: [email protected]. Please also send a copy of the letter of support to Sher Vancouver at [email protected]
If you would like to make a personal donation towards January’s memorial or her youth leadership award please send an email transfer to [email protected].
You can also donate via credit card via Go Fund Me at: https://www.gofundme.com/for-sher-vancouver039s-annual-fund
For more information on My Name Was January check out: https://januarylapuz.net/
To apply for the January Marie Lapuz Youth Leadership Award check out: http://www.shervancouver.com/youth-award.html
Thank you in advance!
Alex Sangha (Author)
Founder of Sher Vancouver
Producer of My Name Was January