By Balwant Sanghera
RICHMOND – Recently, the question of Punjabi signage and a lack thereof has gained prominence in our community. Some questions have been raised with respect to the signage at Vancouver International Airport (YVR). With this in mind, representatives of Punjabi Language Education Association (PLEA), in co-operation with Surrey Newton MLA Harry Bains, arranged to meet with officials of YVR. The meeting was held on Thursday, August 7 in the administrative offices of the airport. Our delegation included three PLEA members- Sadhu Binning, Parvinder Dhariwal and I. In addition to that we had three representatives from Gurdwaras. They were -Sohan Deo, President,Khalsa Diwan Society Vancouver, Chain Batth ,President Gurdwara Nanak Niwas (#5 Road) Richmond, Narinder Singh Walia , President Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran and spokesperson for eight Metro Vancouver Gurdwaras. Also, part of the delegation included former World Sikh Organization President and Community Activist Prem Singh Vinning and MLA Harry Bains. The YVR was represented by Reg Krake, Director, Customer Care, and Kathy Nyfors, Manager, Customer Care (Guest Relations).
The meeting took place in a very respectful and cordial environment. Harry Bains and I conveyed our concerns regarding the status of Punjabi language signage at YVR.WE requested YVR officials to look into this matter and take appropriate measures to ensure that Punjabi, the third most spoken language in Canada and Metro Vancouver, gets its rightful place at YVR and around the province. Other members of the delegation reinforced our concerns and requested quick action in this regard.YVR reps were very receptive to our concerns and assured us to look into this carefully. As a result of these discussions, it is likely that in the next few weeks Sadhu Binning and I will be invited for a guided tour of YVR (including the secure area)and make suggestions for improved /more/better signage in Punjabi. We will wait to hear from them. In the meantime, PLEA will be pursuing with Canada Border Service Agency and Destination (Tourism) BC the issue of Punjabi signage at entry points from Alaska, Alberta and Washington State.
For quite some time PLEA has been approached about poor translation of English materials into Punjabi. This relates to all three levels of government –local, provincial and federal. It has been noticed that a number of these translations are of very poor quality. In this context, on behalf of PLEA, I would like to urge all three levels of government to enlist the services of well qualified and duly certified translators to do the translation for them. PLEA would be more than pleased to assist in this regard. Also, I would request members of our community to be on the lookout and ensure that translations from English into Punjabi are done by fully qualified persons.
Finally, on behalf of PLEA I would like to invite every well-wisher of Punjabi to act as its advocate and ambassador. Only then we can succeed in getting this great language the status it deserves. Thank you.
Balwant Sanghera is the President, Punjabi Language Education Association.
al>�@ nl�0����>According to NCB experts, a national anti- narcotic task force should be formed to tackle drugs for Punjab with a comprehensive statistical survey of addiction in the state.
“Strong enforcement action is needed against pharmaceutical units in HP with reduction in liquor costs and liberalised bhang and bhukki licenses so that Punjab youth do not move to hard drugs like heroin, cocaine, ephedrine, methamphetamine, ICE and LSD,” said a senior official.
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It was while Kristin was in university that she was diagnosed with schizophrenia. She was married and had a son, who family say was her greatest joy and the love of her life. The marriage ended after a few years, and when her son was seven he went to live with his father in B.C. Kristin moved to Vancouver and would take the bus on weekends to see him.
Kristen, who was sometimes called Sunny or Misty, died a violent death in a dark alley, leaving behind a 12-year-old son. Her family has endured 32 long years of waiting for justice. For them, the memories of the sweet little girl who filled their house with music have been forever tainted with the painful knowledge of how her life ended and the fact that no one has been held accountable.
If you have any information with respect to this incident please provide your anonymous information to Crime Stoppers, at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
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), F�0 b�0����necessary in life (Purushartha) are Dharma (religious and other duties), Artha (Material Prosperity), Kama (satisfactionof desires), and Moksha (salvation). We need to do yajna in self-dedicated work in any activity, Tapa by self-denial and self-centrol of our ahankara (ego), Dhayana (meditation) and attainment of lasting ananda of pure consciousness and connectedness of jeevatma to ultimate Divine Parmatman.
Mind should have a harmonious control over organs of perception and action. Detachment through self-restrains brings happiness. Penance is to keep your mind calm, cool, collected and controlled, and devoid of jealousy, anger and apathy. Let there be no harsh words in your speech, no vanity in your mind, no conscious sinful acts by your deeds and thoughts and no backbiting echoes in your heart. Control your mind to reach your destination; don’t let your mind be a slave to your desires. Continence of mind opens the gates for inner peace by curbing ego and illumination of the self for an everlasting bliss.
From the Vedic point of view, the only way peace can be called real is, if the essential needs of all individuals, families, and societies have been met, live fear less, and have love and respect for all in their day to day life. This state of peace should then be similar to a mother loving her children. Personal peace is dependent on the peace existent in the family
One of the main reasons for the wars is human ego. Vedas tell us to be human, full of qualities.
Those who perceive the same Supreme Being in everyone’s heart, and dwell on positivity and commonness rather than differences are not jealous. They also see that all souls are essentially children of the same god. They see unity, and are neither attached nor unhappy. Vedas tell us that everyone has equal rights to use all products derived from nature, such as air, water, etc. This basically includes everything we ever use in life. Contrary to these actions, bad conducts, selfishness, lust, ignorance, and not following the rules of nature will lead to unhappiness. We should not misuse any natural material.
I have tried to summarize the main gist of all Vedic topics and knowledge as discussed during the Mahasammlas in short.
Om Santih santih santih. May there be peace, peace, peace!
