“I was approached a number of times in the past by many political parties to run for office but the time was not right as her priorities were with her family,” said Sal Bhullar, who is running for Council with the Richmond Community Coalition team.
RICHMOND – Sal Bhullar, a natural leader and strong believer in family values, has finally taken the leap to follow her passion and dream of public service to the next level. She is running for Council with the Richmond Community Coalition team.
Bhullar, who’s world famous son is Arjan Bhullar, the Olympian and Commonwealth Gold Medalist, has decided to run for counsel with the Richmond Community Coalition.
“I was approached a number of times in the past by many political parties to run for office but the time was not right as her priorities were with her family,” Bhullar said
After growing up and graduating from High School in Vancouver she obtained her BA degree in Hospitality Management. Then she married an up and coming wrestler from Richmond, Avtar Bhullar, who reached international recognition. She worked for Air Canada and supported her husband’s ambitions fully. After the wrestling peak, the couple went into full time cranberry farming in Richmond and focussed on raising their family. They had three children.
“I knew that if I could raiseleaders, who could think for themselves, then I can say that I contributed to the world and made it a better place for the future generations”, she stated.
Her eldest son Jora became a lawyer, the youngest, Jasmin, a yoga teacher and of course her middle Arjan Bhullar needs no introduction. Arjan Bhullar, the five- time Canadian Heavyweight Champion, was blessed to have his mom travel to his many events since he was a young boy. She literally watched her son grow up on the mats, “from losing and learning to win and then teaching. It’s been a journey from home, to SFU, to the Commonwealth Games Gold medal and finally the Olympics”. The Olympian proudly describes his mother as “the best mom in world”.
Sal Bhullar, also a certified yoga teacher, has represented many small businessman and individuals in need at the city level along with various community volunteer efforts. She is not afraid of new challenges and describes herself as a “long-time activist in equality for all, a seasoned businesswoman who is a natural leader and is passionate about bringing people together by educating and empowering them” and believes it’s her responsibility to “make sure that everyone is supported”.
She is running for counsel for the first time but is confident and aware of the community issues such as taxes and the need to deal with them “directly and responsibly”. “The need to have more affordable housing and better paying jobs for our children. I want to let everyone know that I stand with the coalition because they care enough to educate our children, our future. The coalition knows we are in trouble when the number one answer from youngsters as to why they don’t vote is, ‘what difference does it make, they will do what they want anyway’. That is someone telling us that no one is listening and someone is disengaged. If we don’t show them that what concerns them also concerns us, then we have failed and we don’t have a democratic society any longer. We are all about our children and we must re-engage them. The coalition holds town hall meetings to inform, engage, and discuss with the community. We are a concerned, diverse group of citizens that are representing all of Richmond”.
The Richmond Coalition includes incumbents Ken Johnston and Chak Au, along with Kirby Graeme, Helen Quan and Dan Baxter all running as council candidates, along with School Trustee’s Jonathan Ho, Matt Pitcairn and Moushtak Estepho.
Sal is committed to and supports“critical funding for social programs, sports, and new senior’s centres while keeping our streets safe and community strong. With my farming background, I will make sure we preserve our ALR Land and teach the next generation how vital it is. The majority of farmers are now over the age of 55 years. I commit to working with the different levels of government and within the whole of lower mainland to find solutions on how to make the next generation look at farming as a career choice. I will also find solutions on how to make sure that all farmable acreage is farmed and not left sitting”.
The long wait is over. Her job as a parent is done as all of her children have grown. Now it’s time for her to pursue her dream of community service and take it to the next level, “I couldn’t put off my political life on hold any longer I knew I must step up to serve at the higher level”.
Once elected, she intends to honour her family values and commitment to “ finding more options for all our children to afford a home and build a future in Richmond, work hard to ensure that Richmond remains family oriented and not just a place for the elite”.
