Nominated by
Mahendra Paul Kwatra
August 16, 2014
Ashok Bhargava is a poet, writer, public speaker and community activist who has worked hard to develop socio-cultural, literary and art communities and to help people realize their dreams. He is a Senior Financial Manager with BC government, a poet, speaker and essayist. He has published 4 books of poetry. He is the founder President of the Writers International Network Canada (WIN) that recognizes community leaders, writers and volunteers who bring south Asian but especially Punjabi community closer to other main stream Canadian communities. He believes that volunteering enriches us spiritually. He is involved with many causes as below:
- Past President of India Club to raise funds for Operation eye-sight, spread peace, harmony and non-violence, provide scholastic scholarship to Indo-Canadian children
- Director of Chetna Association to uplift dalit / untouchable communities and to promote human equality through education and awareness
- President of India Association of Saskatchewan to provide support with networking for new Canadians
- Volunteer ESL teacher for Surrey Delta Immigrant Association and Vancouver Community College through outreach program to those who cannot get to schools or colleges.
- Director of Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Canada to improve lives of disabled children and to provide financial assistance with wheelchairs, splints and crutches etc.
Ashok is working hard to bring different communities together by promoting their languages, culture and values and by empowering and creating a sense of being. Through WIN, he has brought South Asian and other cultural communities together, inspired by example and brought them into mainstream community. It has made Vancouver a better place to live for all of us.
He is always ready to help people settle in their new environment, teach English and assist them when they need help to deal with schools, doctors, Revenue Canada or editing their essays or poems etc. He is an avid volunteer.