1960-1970 Settlers

This is the story of Krishna Virdi, who led a uniquely set life in India because of her father Haem Singh’s work in the railways. Haem Singh used to transfer to different stations and eventually placed Krishna in a boarding school to enable her to stay in one stable place. As a result Krishna attended a boarding school in Jaipur, Rajasthan in a remote area located in the deserts of Rajasthan. To read more about Krishna’s unique life journey and her eventual migration to Canada in the 1960’s, please click here.

This is the story of Mota Singh Jheeta, who spent much of his young life in Nairobi, Kenya and immigrated to Canada in the year 1962 soon after Kenya gained independence from British colonial rule in 1962. To read more about Mote Singh Jheeta, please click here.

This is the story of Piara Singh Bassan who first immigrated to Canada on January 30, 1970 after being sponsored by his bhua (dad’s sister) and fufar (dad’s sister’s husband). Piara Singh’s family connections to Canada began over a century ago however when his uncle, Giani Naranjan Singh first came to Canada and worked in the farms in 1906. To read more about Piara Singh Bassan please click here.

This is the story of Gian Singh Sandhu who migrated to Canada in December, 1970. Gian Singh served with the Indian Air Force where he received his Bachelor of Commerce. Though he felt forced to cut his beard and hair because he was unable to earn a management position in Williams Lake in the 1970’s, he soon decided this was not true to his identity and would later keep his hair and turban. To read more about Gian Singh Sandhu, please click here.