OCTOBER 2019 VOLUME 22, ISSUE 5 CANADA’S SOUTH ASIAN & MULTICULTURAL LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE DIWALI AWAY FROM AN INTERVIEW WITH HOME KARANVIR AND TEEJAY ELECTION DIETICIANS TIPS FOR DIWALI 2019 Special Diwali Edition ISSN 2371-2481 Reflecting Today, Shaping Tomorrow 6 27843 65722 4 aajmag.ca Happy Diwali Happy Diwali I, Al Rawdah, would like to introduce myself as a candidate for Burnaby South with PPC. I was born in a small town in Edmonton, AB. My parents immigrated to Canada in 1974 from Lebanon with the dream of a better and safer life. Canada has always been known as the country to achieve this dream. Unfortunately, taxes, low wages and the UN pact is jeopar- dizing this dream for everyone except the rich. Canada is a democratic country, I strongly believe in democracy. I will also not tolerate the corruption that is evident with the current government. I have learned valuable lessons in my life as many of you have. Firstly, is to have respect others and offer help to those in need. This is where our current government is failing. My goal is to listen to your concerns and produce detailed solutions to the government and this community. Secondly, I will push for our tax’s to be lowered to a possi- ble 0% on 15k in earnings, 15% on income up to 100k in earnings and 25% after that. Thirdly, Mental Health and Housing, Which is on the top of my list. I plan to listen, then construct a plan with solutions to present to the government. As I ask for your votes, I assure I have the same concerns you do. Vote Al Rawdah for Burnaby South to see a change. ALFORBURNABYSOUTH.COM This disease can be hard for anyone to endure, but for kids in particular, daily activities that make up a “normal” childhood– playing, eating their favourite foods, and even sleeping–are impacted by their condition. How is your team working to help these families, and improve diabetes care in BC? Not all kids in BC with type 1 diabetes live close by to the expert care and support they need IT to keep their medical condition under control. We’re determined to change this by giving all families in BC close access to FEELS expert pediatric diabetes care through virtual health, and by providing training, education and LIKE resources to community health care providers across BC. We are also committed to giving more kids and families access to the A LIFE latest diabetes management technologies, and training on how to use them, to help make their SENTENCE day-to-day lives easier and reduce A Q&A WITH A DIABETES EXPERT the stress of living with this complicated and lifelong disease. Dr. Shazhan Amed is a pediatric endocrinologist at BC Children’s Hospital, working as part of a team to transform diabetes care throughout the province. How is BC Children’s We sat down with her to learn more about her team’s work to help improve Hospital unique when the lives of kids in BC who are living with diabetes. it comes to diabetes care and research? Tell us why you’re What is type 1 What daily challenges BC Children’s is a Canadian passionate about the diabetes? do kids face with type 1 leader in pediatric diabetes care work you do. diabetes? and research, and has a team of Type 1 diabetes affects 90 per highly trained specialists who My passion is fueled by directly cent of kids with diabetes, and is a Imagine, as a child or teen, are dedicated to providing the working with patients and serious, lifelong disease that can’t enduring four or more finger best care possible. The expert families to gather their be prevented or cured. Unlike type pricks and multiple insulin care we provide, coupled with the perspectives on their diabetes 2 diabetes which can sometimes injections daily, interrupting latest advancements in diabetes care and integrate their ideas be managed by a healthy lifestyle, activities often to check blood management technology, puts us into new ways of delivering care. the only way to manage type 1 sugar levels, and counting in an ideal position to transform This allows me to make real and diabetes is to maintain the right carbohydrates at every meal. the way kids who are living meaningful impact that truly levels of insulin, a hormone that’s No wonder type 1 diabetes can with diabetes receive care, addresses the needs of kids essential for the body to produce often feel like a life sentence here in Vancouver and across living with diabetes. energy. Without this, the disease for these kids. With a whole life the province. can be life-threatening, and can of wearisome routines ahead lead to serious complications like of them, they can suffer from But we can’t do this alone. heart or kidney disease, blindness emotional stresses like burnout, We rely on donations and the and amputations. depression, anxiety and social support of the community to isolation. make this happen. On November 2, 2019, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation’s 11th Annual A Night of Miracles Gala will help turn our vision of transforming diabetes care in BC into a reality. To learn more, visit anightofmiracles.ca. Jasmite, patient THANK YOU FOR HELPING KIDS SHINE This Diwali, we want to thank the South Asian community for your longstanding support of BC Children’s, the only hospital in the province devoted exclusively to the care of kids. Donations from people like you are the reason we can enhance public health care and take it to the next level for the one million kids in BC—from Surrey to Prince George and beyond. Learn more at bcchf.ca FROM THE PUBLISHER Warm wishes on this auspicious occasion of Diwali to our readers, business clients, ambassadors, writers and staff. AAJ Media Group wishes you a wonderful festive season, followed by growth and success throughout the year. On this occasion of Diwali 2019, AAJ is bringing a special cover story featuring celebrity couple from television industry ‘Karanvir Bohra’ and ‘Teejay Sidhu’. On every page, you will see the uncompromised quality and exciting content about Diwali celebrations and various multicultural events happening in the city. Special thanks to Promod Puri, a Vancouver-based writer and author, for engaging our readers with article on Federal Election. Over time, Canadians have come to trust the outcome of elections as truly reflecting their collective will without political interfer- ence. I would encourage the young adults to increase your participation in the electoral process. On behalf of AAJ Media Group, I congratulate all the candidates running for the upcoming Federal Election. In the Lifestyle section, we have also included various articles to raise awareness among our readers on topics such as Health, Childhood Sexual Abuse, Environmental Preservation and Dietary Tips. This issue is another wonderful milestone for AAJ with the goal to help shape the perception of the South Asian community across Canada. Thank you all for your continuous support. AAJ Media feels proud every day for doing our best in serving the community. Suki Pangalia CEO REGIONAL TEAM NATIONAL TEAM Publisher/CEO Design & Layout Caribbean Fusion British Columbia, Ontario, P: 604.590.0007 Suki Pangalia Adrian Brugge Michael Llewellyn Greater Vancouver Toronto E: [email protected] Jim Kalsi aka Rasta Mike Advertising & Alive with Aman Zahara M JP Budwal Executive Sales Aman Boparai Gill Jay Nair 647.887.6031 AAJ Media Group Assistant Suki Pangalia Surrey, BC Reshma Gaitry Kaul Thank you Victoria Ottawa ISSN 2371-2481 Mohammed Sonali Pangalia Sal Rafi Photography Jim Kalsi 604.341.3016 613.889.5682 Jas Kooner AAJ Magazine is published by AAJ Office Manager Jas Kooner Prakash Panchal Media Group, doing business as AAJ Varnnitha Vinay Jay Nair Kamloops Quebec, Jeevanath Sekaran Magazine Inc. AAJ is a magazine Sonali Pangalia Krishna Lakkineni Montreal that is published every two months. Sarah Uppal 250.574.7988 Manvir Singh Images Credits Any reproduction of the magazine, Editorial Karen Nagra 514.770.7465 Jas Kooner editorial content, images or adver- Sarabijt Kaur – Sanj Grewal Alberta Coordinator for South Asian Unsplash tisements cannot be reproduced or Kuljit Dhillon Saskatchewan Pioneer Book Pexels reprinted in any form, without written Tarwinder Kaur Manitoba Rupa Gopinath Adobe Dhillon permission of the Publishers. The Nimi Chauhan views expressed by the writers in this Rita Chohan Sunny Singh Susan Singh AAJ Television publication are not the views of the Karanvir Bohra 587.501.4804 Jai Virdi Executive Publishers or AAJ Media Group. The Teejay Sidhu Dr. Suman Kollipara Producers: Publishers assume no responsibility Safina Kataria Mike Brar Sarabjit Kaur Suki Pangalia Shelina Mawani 780.339.4477 for errors or omissions. Copyright Ricky Kej 2019 AAJ Magazine Incorporated. Isaiah Mackoruk Alysha Badiani AAJ television All rights reserved. Imtiaz popat hosts: Karen Dosanjh AAJ on location Alex Sangha Aronjit Singh Sharron Heer Lageri Jai Birdi AAJ Arts Rupa Gopinath Gaitry Kaul Indervir Kaur IN THIS ISSUE 32 FESTIVAL A Look Back And Into The AWAY Future One Year After The FROM Release Of My Name Was January 8 HOME ISSDC 2019: Princess Margaret Nasa Team Creates History 12 An Interview With Karanvir And Teejay 16 Vegan Diet: A Fad Or A Panacea? 22 Shaan Kooner 24 A Dietician’s Tips For Healthy Celebrations 26 16 AN INTERVIEW WITH 2019 Diwali Events In Vancouver 30 KARANVIR AND TEEJAY Festival Away From Home 32 42 Exciting Election Steaming WHY DO WE Up In Canada 34 HAVE A TOXIC How Come No One Noticed POLLUTED What Is Happening? 36 PLANET? Mihika Arts, Education And Medical Foundation 2019 Awards 40 44 Why We Have A Polluted MUSHTARI Toxic Planet? 42 BEGUM FESTIVAL Mushtari Begum Festival 2019 44 2019 Greetings From India To Canada 48 30 2019 DIWALI EVENTS IN VANCOUVER COMMUNITY A LOOK BACK AND INTO THE FUTURE ONE YEAR AFTER THE RELEASE OF MY NAME WAS JANUARY My Name Was January was released on Film Freeway which is the film festival submission platform on September 26, 2018.