Dr Sardul Singh Gill
Philanthropy
President & Secretary | Gill-AM Investments Ltd | Victoria, BC (CANADA)
Ancestry
Jagdev Kalan, Amritsar (Punjab)
Residence & Birthplace:
Victoria, BC (CANADA)
A SELF-MADE PARAGON
With a commendable set of philanthropic deeds to his name, he is the first Indo-Canadian Sikh to have a graduate school named after him.
A small farmer, Sardar Bhan Singh, in a small village of Amritsar, was struggling to make ends meet, while his elder brother, Harnaam Singh, used to send him money that he earned as a security guard in Hong Kong. Hoping to do better, Bhan Singh too moved to Hong Kong and later to Shanghai, where he had served as a Policeman for the British for a while. His perseverance paid off when he finally arrived in Canada in 1906, a young lad of 17, educated till grade 6, knowing no English. He was the first in the entire family to migrate to and settle in Canada.
Bhan Singh began with working in the lumber industry but moved to California soon for some farming jobs but didn’t find it too satisfying and so went back to Canada. When the WWI ended, he went back to India for his marriage in 1917. While he went back to Canada, his new bride stayed with his family in India. Unfortunately, she became an untimely victim of the plague, which took him back to India in 1925. He got remarried, this time to Sardarni Hardial Kaur in 1925 and flew back to his work immediately, with Hardial following him in 1929. Bhan was a bright man; he now could speak and understand English, writing it was still a challenge though. Hardial didn’t have a similar exposure to the language but managed to survive. In fact, she did all the household shopping. She would often visit the nearby temple as it was the place most Sikh women would gather to socialise. Indians were still new in this part of the world, immigration wasn’t as rampant. Facing a lot of discrimination, yet finding themselves pretty well-settled, they decided to grow their family. And here, on 16 November 1931, I was born to this extraordinary couple with ordinary means. They brought us up – I have a younger sister, Permindar – to the best of their capacity. We still were sharing a small apartment with two other families.
Education and my parents have made me
Even though I was born and brought up in a foreign land, my parents ensured that I was well-acquainted with our culture and religion. Papa ji, a deeply devoted and religious man, taught us the values of our religion and was strict in his demeanour, probably the reason I ended up being so focused in my life. He wore his turban throughout his life; I refrained from shaving till the age of 21.
Since I was born in this country, I was privileged to get educated here. That also meant a lot of exposure and opportunities for the future. Topping my class many a time, I went to tax school for a year and Victoria High School for about five years. While in high school, I worked at a sawmill and did some other odd jobs such as a petrol pump attendant for some extra money. My motivation was the ice-cream that I’d buy with that money; I guess it takes little to please a young heart.
Just when life had started cruising along, Papa ji wanted me to marry a girl, Amar, his friend Gurdarsar Singh’s daughter, from Jandiala in Amritsar. I was engaged to Amar while I was still in grade 12. It was rare for Canadian Sikhs to go for higher studies. They were mostly hired for unskilled jobs and were encouraged to stick to it. I was lucky to have Kuldeep Bains as a friend and mentor who advised me to continue with my education further since I was good in academics. In 1953, I joined Victoria College at the University of British Columbia to earn a BCom degree. While I was in my last year, Amar came to Canada with her family and we got married on 25 June 1955 in the Vancouver gurudwara. While she took care of the family, I studied to graduate in 1956 and went ahead to take up a job at Revenue Canada as an auditor.
Soon we were blessed with four kids along the way – Kevin, Robin, Amir and Steven. Amar’s support was crucial as she was not only tending to all the housewifely duties but also encouraging me at every step. I had already landed myself a decent job, I advised Papa ji to save the money that he was sending to his brother’s family. We were soon able to buy some rental property.
And thus I took my first step in the world of business with Gill-AM Investments in 1977, which became our side business. With Papa ji’s $2000 and another $3000 of my investment, it was fully functional by 1984. I continued at the Revenue Canada for about 30 years even though the pay wasn’t good, but it gave me the liberty to pursue my business additionally. Some of my bosses at Revenue Canada were not happy with me. “Either job or business,” they warned, yet I continued to sail both the boats. We hired people to manage the firm to avoid the hassle that came along with it – which kept increasing with every step.
Today, the company owns a substantial number of apartment blocks, commercial buildings and a warehouse.
Life is an obscure journey
It has been a phenomenal journey from the farms of India to real-estate in Canada. There has been the usual share of risks and hazards. Back in 1980, I was in a lot of debt due to the exorbitant rise in interest rates at the banks. Though I knew that if I stayed steady, I would be able to overcome the situation and I did. But at times, I’d sit back gloomy when Amar would simply say a few soft but inspiring words!
I have always believed in hard work and integrity (and Amar’s cooking too) and I am glad that it has let me give back to the society in my own way. For this reason, I joined the board of the Victoria Sikh Temple as a Vice President in 1977. I realised that having the right mix of education and opportunity can alter lives miraculously. Therefore, around 2004, I decided to contribute a considerable amount to my alma mater because I felt the need to strengthen the foundation for education and research. They honoured me by naming it Sardul Singh Gill Graduate School. I was also recognised with 2017 British Columbia Community Achievement Award by the Government House, Victoria. I hope this becomes a motivation for future generations to dream and achieve high. Sardul & Amar Gill Family Foundation, which will help promote education and other social causes, is also on its way to light. I have taught the same values to my children.
Kevin, the eldest, is a Bachelors in Arts and has recently retired after 35 years in the municipality. Robin, after studying business at Camosun College, works at a hospital in the radiology department. My daughter, Amir, went to become a counsellor after her masters. And our youngest, Steven, a special child, passed away in 2017. We have tried our best to instil as much of our culture as we could in our children. It is, however, difficult, for the third generation to keep the same Indian values, as there isn’t much interaction, though Kevin and Robin speak Punjabi well enough.
The year 2009 was especially difficult for me, as that was the year Amar left us all. She had been struggling with cancer for six years. More than a wife, she was my pillar to lean on; we would have our circle of friends and often made trips together to China, South America, Jamaica and several times to Hawaii. Together, we were enjoying life on our own terms.
The lord has been kind to me, bestowing me with all that I ever dreamt of. The only thing I see missing are my grandchildren, but I never lose hope on Him. He has made things easy for me through and through, I am sure He has more good awaiting me!
Philosophy
Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
I love…
Shabads. Jazz and Blues music. And travelling.
Success Mantra
Work hard on esteem and integrity, there is no short cut.
I’d suggest the youth…
To work hard with honesty and integrity, because if they are determined, they will succeed sooner or later. But by lying or cheating it brings you down, sooner than later.to define their goals early. And then work towards them with full intensity and dedication.
The world doesn’t know that…
A deep breath can calm me down.
Gallery
ISBN : 9788193397695