Welcoming Reception for Dr. Arvind Gupta
Community welcomes new UBC President Dr. Arvind Gupta
The incoming President of the University of British Columbia, Dr. Arvind Gupta, was welcomed at an intimate reception hosted by Barj S. Dhahan on Thursday, April 17.
The reception introduced the university’s new president to key business and community leaders who gathered at Seasons Restaurant in Queen Elizabeth Park. Barj S. Dhahan, a well-established local entrepreneur and UBC Alumni, has led a partnership between Canada India Education Society and UBC Nursing to support nursing programs in Punjab.
Dr. Arvind Gupta was named the 13th president and vice chancellor of the University of British Columbia earlier this year and will become president on July 1 for a five-year term, while retaining his position at UBC as professor of computer science.
Arpen Thandi, a UBC alumni who has used her Liberal Arts degree to become a Senior Account Executive at Edelman (the world’s largest public relations firm) stated “we as alumni are committed to working with the University of British Columbia to continue to advance our education system, be involved in the community and provide future generations with opportunity, especially that of innovation and experience in the global marketplaces in developing countries such as India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.” This statement embodied the essence of the evening.
The feedback from those who attended was uplifting and supportive of the evening of building community.
Jeanette Lee, Dr. Michelle Periera, Dr. Arvind Gupta, Barj Dhahan
“Thank-you again so much for inviting me to this special evening – I was most inspired by many of the stories (liked those thoughts of your fathers and others) and also by the global thinking towards collaborative innovation projects. I think that Dr. Arvind Gupta is also the right choice and am looking forward to see what changes he is able to facilitate and accomplish….You are quite the powerhouse….I am quite honored to be in your company!” – Jeanette Lee
Barj Dhahan, Zeala Cortes, Dr. Arvind Gupta and His Excellency Shuja Alam, Consul General of Pakistan
Arran Stephens, Barj Dhahan, Dr. Arvind Gupta, Ratana Stephens, Todd Shuffle
“Thanks so much, Barj. You put on a great show! And, made the community proud.” – Arran and Ratana Stephens
Isa Solacito, Dr. Michelle Periera, Dr. Arvind Gupta and Jojo Solacito
“First of all, Thank You very much for having us at the reception for Dr. Arvind Gupta. It was truly a very inspirational evening, and we admire you for your commitment to higher education for young people not only in BC but many other parts of the world. We are also grateful for the various community work and support you and your many business partners bring to the city and the province. Again, thank you for giving us an opportunity to meet to Dr. Gupta.” – Jojo and Isa Solacito
Dr. Sally Thorne, Barj Dhahan, Rita Dhahan, Dr. Michelle Periera and Dr. Arvind Gupta
“And what a delightful event it was. I hope that everyone felt it was a valuable time of connection as Dr. Gupta embarks on this incredible new adventure. He has stepped up to a major responsibility that will affect the lives of so many, and I am sure that knowing he has a community around him will be a real strength of his presidency. I am very much looking forward to working with him over the coming years. And it was an absolute delight to catch up on so many of your amazing family members. Incredible people all of them.” – Dr. Sally Thorne
Celebrating Vaisakhi in Vancouver
April 12th, 2014 was a beautiful day to celebrate Vaisakhi in Vancouver.
My wife Rita and I had the pleasure of spending time with family, as well as meeting new and old friends.
Enjoy these photographs from the Vaisakhi parade:
Barj Dhahan and Justin Trudeau
Barj, Justin Trudeau, and Joyce Murray serving the community in Vancouver.
Barj with young Liberal volunteers at the parade
Justin Trudeau, Harinder Dhahan, and Rita Dhahan
Barj, Rita, family, and friends with Justin Trudeau
Sarup Mann, Justin Trudeau, Karnail Nagra, Barj Dhahan, and Gulzar Cheema
Thinking about Human Rights and Memory
I was recently invited by Mr. David Choi to join the launch of the naming contest for the “Breaking the Silence” gallery at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg. Mr. David W. Choi is the Chair for the Chinese Canadian Community Campaign for the “Breaking the Silence” Gallery at the museum and their goal is to raise $2 million for gallery.
The Canadian Museum of Human Rights is the first of its kind in Canada. This new facility opens in September 2014 and will serve as a centre for learning, reflection and inspiration about the history, progress and continued struggle for human rights.
Barj with Ms. Cady Xu, Event Chair, and Mr. David W. Choi, Chair for the Chinese Canadian Community Campaign for the “Breaking the Silence” Gallery
The museum is being built at the Forks in Winnipeg, Manitoba, near the very centre of Canada. For over 5,000 years, this area has been an historic meeting place and starting point for journeys in North America. It will be a home for Canada’s stories, exploring human rights events and heroes that defined us as a nation, including Nellie McClung, Louis Riel, Viola Desmond, Mary Two-Ase Early, Lem Wong, the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and much more.
The “Breaking the Silence” gallery will concentrate on the human rights practice of breaking silence, using our hard-won freedom of speech to create a climate of accountability for gross violations of human rights. The Breaking the Silence Gallery will invite visitors to participate in breaking silence over a cross-section of 16 large scale examples of human rights violations, including:
- The 19th century slave trade
- The so-called “Comfort Women” system of sexual slavery in the Second World War in Asia
- The violence that erupted during India’s partition
- Violations committed against Indigenous Peoples in Canada through Indian Residential Schools
- And many more
I am happy to join with the Chinese community and other friends across our great country in contributing funds towards the completion of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.