In this special women's issue, we put the spotlight on many remarkable women in our community, and shift the conversation to understanding the calm but resilient strength of a woman.
Women have played an integral role in the growth and recognition of British Columbia’s South Asian community. Be it politics, broadcasting, business or social work, South Asian women have proven themselves time and again, scaled newer heights, broken barriers, achieved unconventional goals, and have stood tall in a male-dominated society. This issue, we put the spotlight on many such remarkable women in our community, and shift the conversation to understanding the calm but resilient strength of a woman.
As March 8 marks International Women’s Day worldwide, DARPAN Magazine celebrates womanhood by sharing inspiring stories of 13 South Asian female achievers. Each of these local women has a unique background and story that is a source of inspiration for hundred and thousands of women. Being leaders in their respective fields, the featured 13 are encouraging women in the South Asian community and beyond to dream big, challenge social norms and take charge. By highlighting the journeys of these empowering personalities, we aim to create role models and mentors for the next generation, and salute the women in our community for their relentless courage and unyielding voice that has shaped BC’s South Asian community in Canada.
Meet our list of 13 South Asian female achievers. Each of these local women has a unique background and story that is a source of inspiration for hundred and thousands of women.
Amika Kushwaha: Kathak Dancer & Founder-Director of Mushtari Begum Festival
Anita Bathe: Co-host of CBC Vancouver News at 6 & National Reporter
Anoop Virk: Entrepreneur & Philanthropist
Harsha Walia: Activist, Author & Executive Director of BC Civil Liberties Association
Jasmine Mander: Vancouver Whitecaps FC Youth Coach & UBC Student
Jessie Kaur Lehail: Storyteller & Founder of Kaur Project
Jinny Sims: MLA for Surrey-Panorama
Maninder Dhaliwal: President & Co-Founder of Lions Gate International
Perm Jawanda: Vice President of Partner Retail Sales at Rogers Communications
Raj Arneja: Director of Community Engagement & Philanthropy at Nanak Foods
Dr. Satwinder Kaur Bains: Director of the South Asian Studies Institute at UFV
Shachi Kurl: Executive Director of Angus Reid Institute
Zeba Khan: Founder of PERIOD. at UBC
Brought To You By: Teja Foods
Photo & Video: A Master Media
Venue: Maharaja Restaurant, Surrey
A Message from Teja Foods, Proud Sponsor of the 2020 Women’s Special Issue
Teja Foods is proud to sponsor Darpan Magazine’s spring issue as we celebrate the extraordinary South Asian women in our community. The tremendous achievements of women in our community symbolize the advancements towards greater gender equality and inclusion. Internationally, we endorse impassioned movements that have swept across the world. At home, in our South Asian community, we continue to support the empowerment of women – our mothers, wives, sisters and daughters. Our proud South Asian heritage is rooted in the essence of the modern woman, as we commemorate her strength, courage and resilience.
Gurdial Singh Teja launched Teja Foods in 1955, a time when our small but close-knit community longed for the comforts of the homes they left behind. He embarked on a journey of service to our South Asian Community during a time when high-quality South Asian products were not readily accessible. The foundation of our company was built to overcome these barriers in the Canadian market, allowing our community to embrace our cultural heritage and traditions.
Our beloved historic brand, the portrait of an Indian woman, is recognized across Canada as a symbol of our strong culture and commitment to excellence. As we unveil our new branding, we sought to capture the essence of our values and our own history but also found inspiration in our modern community. We chose the portrait of an Indian woman who exudes empowerment but also celebrates tradition as a source of strength and pride. Braham Teja and Mandeep Bains are currently leading our company into the next generation while continuing to recognize the importance of heritage, culture and history.
Teja Foods is committed to supporting the community and celebrating the empowerment of women and girls as they become leaders in economic, social and political life. As a household brand, we are continuing to honour this vision.
As we applaud the extraordinary women who are leading the transformation of our community, together we also celebrate the inspirational women who empower, inspire and advocate in our daily lives. From our household to yours,The Teja Foods Family
