100 years of Reflection, Resistance, Celebration: A Surrey Community Program Marking our History since Komagatamaru

Saturday, November 22, 2008. Doors open at 1:30 p.m, Program begins at 2:00 p.m. sharp. Conference Rooms G 1205A and G 1205B. Kwantlen Polytechnic University, 12666 72nd Ave., Surrey [ From Scott Road Skytrain station a short bus ride on #319. ] Snacks provided!

NOII is happy to support this event and we are arranging rides from Vancouver. If you have an extra vehicle or would like a ride from Vancouver at 1:00 pm from Safeway Parking Lot (Broadway and Commercial), please be in touch at maripayet@hotmail.com or call 778 862 8895.

 >>> >>> FILM “Continuous Journey”: An award-winning film by Ali Kazimi. This documentary focuses on the history of the Komagata Maru, while drawing connections with Canada’s broader immigration history as well as disaporic anti-colonial sentiment.

>>> >>> FILM “Hate Can Kill”: A 10-min documentary on the community response to the 1998 beating death of 65-year old Surrey Sikh temple caretaker Nirmal Singh Gill by five white supremacists. (Also view an
online video about an anti racism march to commemorate Mr. Gill’s death:
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/anti-racism-rally-surrey-bc/2527934646)

* Panelists and Commentators include:

>>> >>> ALI KAZIMI:
Film-maker of “Continuous Journey” and internationally renowed filmmaker who has won over thirty awards and honours for his films including Continuous Journey, Runaway Grooms, Narmada, and others.

>>> >>> KABIR JOSHI – VIJAYAN:
Grade 10 student and inspiring youth from Toronto. His activism includes “Hood to Hood” to unify youth especially in working-class immigrant communities and Toronto Haiti Action Committee.

>>> >>> DR. BALBIR GURM:
Registerd nurse with a UBC doctorate in Education (Policy and Leadership). She is the President of VIRSA, a community non-profit that addresses South Asian youth violence.

>>> >>> HARSHA WALIA:
South Asian community activist, writer, and legal researcher. She is involved with SANSAD, No One Is Illegal, Radical Desis network, and other struggles for social justice.

>>> >>> DR. HARI SHARMA:
Dr. Hari Sharma: President of South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy and Professor Emeritus at SFU. He is a long-time political activist and author in Canada and India.

>>> >>> DR. SUNERA THOBANI:
UBC Professor of Women’s Studies. She has also been involved with the National Action Committee on the Status of Women and Canada Researchers and Academics of Colour for Equity Network.

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Organized by SANSAD. Co-sponsored and supported by VIRSA, Kwantlen Faculty Association, No One Is Illegal, Surrey Urban Youth Project, Progressive Inter-Cultural Community Services (PICS), Komagatamaru Heritage Foundation, Anniversaries of Change Coalition.

For further information, contact
Hari Sharma (SANSAD): 604-420-2972 or sharma@sfu.ca
Harjap Grewal (SANSAD): 778-552-2099 or harjap@gmail.com
Balbir Gurm (VIRSA): 778-578-0620 or president@virsa.ca

This event is part of a a week-long activities in the Vancouver area to mark over one hundred years of South Asian presence in Canada and to commemorate the 100th year anniversary of the Continuous Journey
requirement. For a full listing of events visit: http://southasianevents.blogspot.com/

— SANSAD # 435, 552A Clark Road, Coquitlam (Greater Vancouver), B.C., Canada V3K 6Z8 phone: (604) 420-2972 fax: (604) 420-2970 e-mail: sansad@sansad.org