By Balwant Sanghera
The return of Hockey Night in Punjabi is great news for the Punjabi community in Canada. On behalf of Punjabi Language Education Association (PLEA) Canada, I would like to thank Chevrolet (GM Motors), CBC, our elected representatives and everyone else responsible for bringing it back. Hockey Night has become a very popular national institution in Canada. To broadcast it in Punjabi was a major development for our community. Now that it is back, three generations of Punjabi children, parents and grandparents can jointly enjoy watching the game in their homes again on digital TV and online beginning December 10.
This broadcast in Punjabi is a lot more than simple broadcast. It is recognition of our community and its language at the national level. It is also a great honour for the sixth most spoken language in Canada and our community’s 125 years in Canada. This gesture is bound to create more pride of being a Canadian where our mother tongue gets such an honour. At the same time, it is a feather in the cap of our policy of multiculturalism.
The Punjabi community owes a big vote of thanks to this event’s corporate sponsor-Chevrolet- for retrieving it at least for this season. CBC had made it quite clear that they would broadcast Hockey Night in Punjabi only if they can find a sponsor. Our community is very resourceful. Similarly, we have some fairly large business organizations. If due to some reason, Chevrolet is unable to sponsor Hockey Night next season, it is our sincere hope that some business(s) from our community would step forward so that this extremely popular program can continue.
Balwant Sanghera is the President, Punjabi Language Education Association (PLEA) Canada.
