In a pool of over 6,000 applicants across Canada, Surrey’s Daisy Bains has emerged as one of just 36 recipients of the coveted Loran Scholarship, a $100,000 award that recognizes outstanding leadership, character, and service. A student of École Kwantlen Park Secondary, Daisy’s achievement is evidence of her sincerity, self-belief, and the power of staying rooted in values.
Punjabi names—Jaswinder, Rupinder, Sharnjeet, Harpinder, Gurparveen—carry the gravity of history and identity. Yet, sometimes, their multiple vowels leave others stumbling. So, we wring out the richness, condense them into Jas, Rup, Sharn, Harp, Gurp—names that fit neatly into mouths unaccustomed to the syllables of the land of five rivers.
In Surrey, British Columbia, Hargun Dhillon, Founder and President of the Age Strong Unity Wellness Society and Co-founder of the Ignited Resilience Mentorship Foundation, is making waves as a changemaker who empowers the elderly and supports at-risk newcomer students. His journey showcases the power of South Asian values, resilience, and the spirit of ‘seva’ (selfless service).
Meet Beant, a rising rap artist and curator from Leamington Spa, is making waves in the UK music scene with his unique fusion of British rap and Punjabi folk music.
Born in Victoria, B.C., and raised in Surrey, Raj Thandhi never expected food to be her calling. A trained graphic designer, her love for cooking truly ignited after her children were born. What started as an effort to decode heritage recipes soon became a mission—to preserve and translate traditional Punjabi flavors for a new generation.
