The internationally acclaimed educator believes that the greatest benefit of education lies not only in what you have learnt, but also in learning how to learn.
Dr. Kanwal Singh Neel is a renowned name in education and community work throughout the country. The internationally-acclaimed educator believes that the greatest benefit of education lies not only in what you have learnt, but also in learning how to learn.
The passion for education was something Dr. Neel acquired early on. His father had spent many years teaching science and his mother Punjabi. He himself had been coaching athletes with the Richmond Track and Field Club during his undergraduate years and so teaching in some form or the other became his true calling. For him, this vocation is simply fulfilling. “As a teacher I believe that education is a key element in fostering social responsibility, which breaks racial and cultural barriers,” he shares.
Peaceful coexistence and diversity were also themes that featured in Dr. Neel’s life from a very young age. His parents immigrated to Kenya from India in the 1950s. This is where he acquired primary education, and living amidst a multicultural community he learned to speak five different languages - Punjabi, English, Kiswahili, Hindi and Gujarati. He was also involved in the Boy Scouts, St John First Aid, activities at the Gurdwara, and other organizations in his growing years.
In 1969, his family moved to Canada. After completing his high school diploma at Steveston Secondary School in Richmond, Dr. Neel went on to acquire a BSc in Mathematics and Computer Science at the University Of British Columbia (UBC). In 1977 he acquired his Teaching Certificate at UBC and began his teaching career with the Richmond School District.
It was in 1994 that he conceived and co-hosted a television series called Math Shop, produced by Knowledge Network, that helped students visualize math problems and understand complex and challenging concepts. “Each of the sixteen half hour show that we taped would start by identifying a contextual problem; teach the mathematical concepts that would enable us to solve the problem; finally apply the concepts learnt and solve the problem. To this date a generation of young adults acknowledge that they honed their mathematical skills by watching the award-winning Math Shop,” says Dr. Neel.
In 1999, during his tenure as President of the British Columbia Association of Mathematics Teachers (BCAMT), Dr. Neel had the opportunity to travel across BC and identify that Aboriginal students across the province struggled with mathematics in the classroom particularly. He then went on to focus his Doctoral Thesis research on finding ways to address this problem and produced math education resources for the Haida, Squamish and Sto:lo Nations.
At present, Dr. Neel is the Coordinator for the SFU Friends of Simon Tutoring Project, providing students as tutors to immigrant and refugee children. Besides being an educator, Dr. Neel has also been a community volunteer for over 40 years. He was the founding director of the Punjab Cultural Association, where he actively promoted the arts through Bhangra since the 70s. “I believe in fusion and educating the various communities of Canada about their distinct culture and history,” says Dr. Neel, who has in the past coordinated the 75th Anniversary of the Komagata Maru Incident, hosted many community events/fundraisers, and officiated international level Racewalk and Track and Field meets.
“It is our past that informs us about the present that shapes our future. Since 1989, when I coordinated events during the 75th Anniversary of the Komagata Maru incident, I have been actively reminding Canadians that we need to be vigilant so that in the future we don’t re-visit a time when there was open exclusion and discrimination,” states he.
Dr. Neel has been bestowed with a number of accolades over the years – namely the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for recognition of his significant contributions and achievements in 2012; Prime Minister’s National Award for Teaching Excellence in Science, Technology and Mathematics; and most recently an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from the Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) for his commitment to the community in education, athletics and community service.
According to Dr. Allan Davis, President and Vice-Chancellor of KPU, “Kanwal has inspired hundreds of students and teachers throughout his career in education. He demonstrates a passion and commitment to the success of all learners.”
A man who leads by example, Dr. Neel’s advice is to use education as a means to help others. “Continue to learn and live with passion and be an agent for change in helping those that are not so fortunate with compassion,” he sums up.
Credit: Kwantlen Polytechnic University
