SOUTH VANCOUVER – Jay Jagpal, whose family immigrated to South Vancouver from Punjab, India, in 1971, is seeking the Vancouver Parks Board post with the Non Partisan Association.
Jagpal, who attended John Henderson Elementary and John Oliver Secondary School, spent much time at Sunset Community Centre. There, he built life-long friendships, interacted with seniors, and joined many programs. After high school graduation, he attended BCIT where he began studies in Mechanical Engineering. After completing his diploma he completed his engineering degree at UBC, becoming the first in his family to ever obtain a university degree.
During his time at UBC, he worked in Singapore, where he helped the transit authority optimize bus service, and in Germany, where he worked in research and development at a national laser-technology development center. He co-founded a technology start-up company that went on to win awards both locally, and nationally.
Today, he is involved in business and commercial construction in the Lower Mainland. He works as a mechanical engineer at Olympic International Sales, where he sources and provides technologies from around the world for large private and public projects in BC, including hospitals, universities, schools and residential towers.
Jagpal has also spent the last five years as an Ambassador for the Vancouver Board of Trade and as a member of its advisory committee for the Company of Young Professionals. He also sits on the Board with the local chapter of a global engineering association (ASHRAE).
As a Commissioner, Jagpal says he would make it his priority to revitalize the Punjabi Market, restore strong relationships with community associations, develop additional Senior Centres, and increase the standards of sporting fields in the city.
