Last Saturday our family and our friends got together to celebrate the 65th birthday of my very dear friend and brother-in-law, Harinder Mahil. Harinder came to Canada in 1970. He became very active in the IWA, International Woodworkers of America. Shortly after he joined the union he became the editor of the newspaper called Chipper.  He was very active. When I came to Canada in 1973, he was the one who guided me, to teach me how to work in the Canadian labour movement, and he introduced me to many other friends.

In 1973, he married my sister, so he became my brother-in-law. We went to college together. We played together. Harinder, after working in the community, played a very important role in the formation of the Canadian Farmworkers Union and the B.C. Organization to Fight Racism.  In 1982, he was appointed as industrial relations officer. In 1992, he became the chair of the B.C. Council of Human Rights. In ’97, Harinder became deputy chief commissioner of the Human Rights Council, and in 2001, he was the acting chief commissioner of Human Rights. Since 2003, Harinder has been working in the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada.

Every day he is helping people in the community, participating in progressive causes and providing leadership. He writes columns in the local newspapers.  I want to say to Harinder: “Very, very happy birthday, and many more.”