Aylmer resident honoured
Bulletin d’Aylmer staff
Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin, the Mayor of Gatineau, presented Aylmer resident Maghar Singh Dhaliwal with a Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers on October 16 in Gatineau. The Governor General of Canada awarded Mr Dhaliwal the medal on December 3, 2017.
The Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers recognizes the exceptional volunteer achievements of Canadians from across the country in a wide range of fields. The Medal for Volunteers is the only one for volunteerism given by the Governor General of Canada. Mr Dhaliwal was accompanied by four additional recipients.
“Tonight, we celebrate the self-sacrifice, dedication, the generosity of women and men who do not count the time they’ve spent with their fellow citizens. These people demonstrate a dynamism and a willingness to work to better their community and deserve our admiration and gratitude,” said Pedneaud-Jobin.
Any living person who is a Canadian citizen and who has made significant, sustained and unpaid contributions to their community in Canada or abroad is eligible for the award. Candidates must have demonstrated an exemplary commitment through their dedicated volunteerism.
Originally from India, Mr Dhaliwal landed in Vancouver in 1956 to study at the University of British Columbia (UBC). He spent close to two decades in British Columbia and in Alberta before calling Aylmer home to work for Agriculture Canada.
During his time in Canada, Mr Dhaliwal volunteered countless hours to help out in various fields, such as sports, leisure, and education. He also contributed in promoting his rich punjabi culture in Canada by, for example, coaching Bhangra dance (traditional Punjabi dance).
Mr Dhaliwal was also president of the Gur Sikh Gurdwara (Sikh Temple) in Abbotsford for several years and taught Punjabi and English classes. In the National Capital Region, he worked with local Sikhs associations, such as the Ottawa Sikh Society, where he was instrumental in collecting funds across the country to build Ottawa’s Gur Sikh Gurdwara.
