|
Many of our readers will be able to relate
to the story of Devina Zalesky, the subject
of this issue’s cover story. Like so many other
South Asian immigrants in the early 1970s,
she and her family arrived in Canada with
little more than a dream for a better life.
Ever since she got her first job at the age of
13, Zalesky has been impressing her bosses
wtih her drive, her people skills and her
willingness to go the extra mile. Today, as
president of AllWest Insurance, a major
player in B.C.’s auto-insurance business,
she’s in the driver’s seat of a business that
employs more than 200 people. Now, Zalesky
is drawing on the indomitable will that
propelled her up the business ladder to face
an unexpected, life-altering challenge.
Zalesky is one of several intriguing people featured in this issue. We also profile Gary
Dhaliwal, a 22-year-old who’s making his
mark in B.C.’s construction industry; Sunita
Bapooji, who teaches a form of yoga she says
anyone can practise; Saroj Sood, whose “all
for one, one for all” philosophy has created
an invaluable support system for her fellow
residents at the PICS Assisted Living home.
Also in this issue, we cover a diverse range of topics. Mehfil speaks to several
British Columbians of South Asian descent about their reaction to a recent poll that
indicates only one-third of Canadians have a
favourable impression of Muslims and Sikhs.
In the wake of headline-making allegations
of mistreatment levelled at Liberal MP
Ruby Dhalla by former caregivers, we take
a closer look at the rules in the federal Live-
In Caregivers program that leave foreign
caregivers vulnerable to exploitation. From
India comes a story about the mounting
waiting lists for India’s new Nano
automobile, which has put car ownership
within the reach of a whole new segment of
the country’s population.
As always, we welcome your feedback.
- Minto Vig, Rana Vig
|