Seniors Enrichment Centre
Newsletter
Fall 2013
Locations & Hours
York Region Centre
Scarborough Centre
10 AM to 2 PM
10 AM to 1 PM
Welcome Centre (South)
10 AM to 12 Noon
Welcome Centre (North)
10 AM to 12 Noon
www.secgta.org
From the President
Bala Kumar
At SEC we continue to fulfill our mandate, providing
high quality wellness programs for our
participants. All four programs follow the path of
ongoing evaluation and improvement and are
performing extremely well.
Our partnership with Tender Care & welcome centres
is stronger than ever. We share the same vision,
commitment and passion for community welfare, and
complement each other.
For the future we have an ambitious agenda & plan to meet our goals to get
there.
I am most grateful to our directors, hardworking volunteers, supportive
patrons and valued members for their continued encouragement to SEC &
myself.
I would also like to offer my sincere appreciation to two very distinguished
ladies, namely, Reshu and Nirmala, who have once again taken the initiative
to produce our Fall Newsletter.
Stay well and please don't forget that SEC is your organization and needs
your un-wavering support.
Wishing all of you the very best
From our VP
Dhana Nadaraju
SEC has grown from 1 to 4 centres since 2005 thanks to
our very hard working President Bala Kumar. She was
recently chosen to receive the Diversity Award for the
Blue Hills Child and Family Services. She very
passionately fought for, and promoted, diversity at Blue
Hills. This is a special award given to organizations that
promote diversity in the community. Congratulations,
Bala. We at SEC are very proud of your achievements.
“We are strong in the conviction
that the destiny of Canada is to
unite, not divide; sharing in cooperation, not in separation or
conflict; respecting our past &
welcoming our future.”
Prime Minister Lester B Pearson
“No culture can live if it attempts to be
exclusive. “ --Mahatma Gandhi
Ideas don't work unless 'you' do.
Patrons
Seema Babbar
Jatinder Chabra
Raj Kashyap
Anand Mehta
Chandra Mehta
Satya Nagpal
Rani Sagar
Mohini Sareen
Jeewan Sayal
Ruppi Tandon
Anonymous
Honorary patrons
Ranjit Kumar
Francis Martis
Directors
Bala Kumar, President
Dhana Nadaraju, Vice President
Reshu Karna, Secretary &
membership, TC
Ramma Chabra, Volunteer
Coordinator
Meena Kapur, Social Director
Urmila Mehta, Social Director
Nirmala Karia, Membership,
Assistant
Kamla Malhotra, Special Events
Coordinator
Kiran Kashyap, Treasurer
Vijay Kumar, Director-at-large
Suraj Sharma, Director –atlarge
Staff
Lalita Sharma, Yoga Instructor
Sharmila Maheswaran,
Program Coordinator
Nothing ever exists
entirely alone;
everything is in relation
to everything else.
Buddha
The Quebec Experience
By Sat Pal Chadha
Our arrival in Montreal, Quebec, in 1966 was a celebration for us. French Canadians accepted us with
open arms. On our 2nd day, I landed a job with Canadian General Electric Co in Lachine, Quebec, a big
change for a middle class Indian resident. We adapted to this very challenging environment & came
out winners. As a hard working family we faced no hurdles but our sight was on success & progress.
Economy was good & opportunities were many. French Canadians freely recognized us in our own
field of work. I earned my teacher’s qualifications from McGill University & was hired by the School Board of Eastern Township, a place with many mountains & rivers. Skiing, hockey, scouting, camping etc were the
past time activities for us & our 2 boys. I gained many other degrees in Quebec. We all learned to speak French &
helped others in return for their friendship & understanding. These traits helped us to have firm footing & a wellestablished life in Ontario since 1989. The real community living came to us from Quebec.
The Hong Kong/Japan Experience
By Ish Bhagat
I left Punjab in 1955 for Hong Kong & joined the H.M. Prison Service in 1959. At work I found
that
my Chinese colleagues had similar family values to me. Chinese New Year is as important for
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them as is Diwali to us. Gifts are exchanged and respect paid to the elders. Their celebrations last
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for almost 4 days. Since Hong Kong was a British Colony, I learned that the British people are very
P
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efficient administrators. Working in various prisons, I found that the attitude towards prisoners
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was to reform them and not to punish. Through different programs, we provided the inmates half
day schooling and half day work. This enabled them to obtain work or admission in school after
release from prison.
In 1982 the Department sent me to Japan for training in the United Nations Asia & Far East Institute for the
prevention of crime and the treatment of offenders (UNAFEI). This gave me a good insight of the Japanese people
and how they run their prisons. They were dedicated to their work, courteous, honest and very patriotic.
In 1990 I retired from active service. Since Hong Kong was reverting to Chinese rule I decided to migrate to Canada
with my family.
In 1993 we moved to Toronto. Coming here from Hong Kong wasn’t a big culture shock. We spoke the language
well and knew some acquaintances from Hong Kong. There were some minor problems we faced such as right
hand driving, lack of friends, and having to set up a new home in a different country. My stay in Hong Kong did
provide valuable lessons and skills, such as making friends again and interacting with people from different
cultures. I overcame these problems with patience, perseverance, and experience
Ancient Wisdom & My Life in Canada
By Saroj Chawla, Ph.D.
I landed in Canada, in July 1968, distraught & overdressed. I had left twin daughters, 1
year old, with my mother in India to join my husband & a Ph.D. program at York
University. Having read in geography books that Canada is a cold country, I arrived in
Montreal wearing a dark grey woolen coat while Montrealers wore shorts & T shirts.
2nd week in Toronto I walked into a Coles book store & bought a copy of Bhagvad Gita
translated by Juan Mascaró. I read it again & again, & underlined many passages. The Gita
gave me some solace to face challenges in Canada.
At the end of 1st year at York U, I was advised to complete a 2nd M.A. Much later it was pointed out that this
suggestion was racist, but I took it as an opportunity to expand my knowledge about Canada.
In the late sixties, York U library stayed open till midnight. I was a frequent visitor to the Indian philosophy section.
Some of the ideas of ancient wisdom guided my life. You never fail as long as you continue fighting in the
battlefield of life. If faced with a mountain go around it. Follow 3 injunctions in life: be calm, firm & polite.
Life is a bridge. Cross
over it, but build no
house on it. (India)
Write injuries in
sand, kindnesses in
marble. (France)
When the sun
rises, it rises for
everyone. (Cuba)
Life is a bridge.
Cross over it, but
The World As We Know
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Europe & North America are said to be moving 7 cm apart every year.
Asia is the home of the 10 highest mountain peaks in the world.
Africa Continent is the home of the Nile, the longest river in the world. It is also the home of the Sahara,
the largest desert in the world. It is said to be the place where 1st humans lived. 66% of world's chocolate
comes from Africa.
Australia’s sheep population is 14 times more than its human population.
North America is the only continent that has every kind of climate & has 6 time zones.
Canada & the United States boasts of Lake Superior as the largest fresh water lake in the world.
Cuba is known as the 'sugar bowl of the world; it is the world's largest exporter of sugar.
You would be surprised to know that in Antarctica ,time stands still - there are no time zones!
… get this …
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The American ‘thumbs up’ gesture is considered obscene in Bangladesh & offensive in Iraq.
Business cards should be accepted with both hands as a sign of deference. (Japan)
When asked to "bring a plate" to an event such as a party, bring a plate of food and not just a plate.
(Australia)
Signifying "five" or even "stop" by holding up five fingers, with the palm of the hand facing the listener, can
be mistaken for an offensive gesture. (Greece)
In Russia, Poland, Serbia, and Armenia: sitting at a corner of a table is considered bad luck for an
unmarried girl, as she will not find a husband.
Cutting a slice of bread with a knife is disrespectful. It should be ripped with the fingers. (Estonia)
Offering yellow roses to a married woman is considered offensive in Germany, since to some people yellow
roses are a symbol for adultery.
The American "come here" gesture of palm upwards with the fingers curled back is considered a romantic
solicitation. (Latin America)
Canadian aborigines -when visiting a pow-wow, it is extremely rude to touch a dancer's clothing (called
regalia) or to take a photograph of a dancer without asking for, and RECEIVING, permission from the
dancer.
When shaking hands, it is appropriate for the guest to first greet the person on his/her right-hand side and
work their way left. This ensures that the guest's palm makes contact with the palm of the person receiving
the handshake - touching the back of the hand instead of the palm is
considered insulting. (Ghana)
… and this …
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If all the nations in the world are in debt, where did all the money go?
When dog food is new with improved tasting, who tests it?
Who copyrighted the copyright symbol?
Do fish ever get thirsty?
Why is it called a "building" when it is already built?
If a person suffered from amnesia and then was cured would they remember that they forgot?
Why is it called a TV set when there's only one?
Some interesting facts about the world:
In Denmark, it is believed that when a person dies, open a window in the room so the
soul can depart.
In China a guest is offered a piece of bread as a sign of welcome.
In Afghanistan, a guest is offered tea, up to 3 cups, as a sign of welcome &
acceptance.
In Germany on May 1st, people celebrate spring by cycling down the main roads with
leafy branches tied to the handlebars of their bicycles.
In Spanish Tomatina Festival every participant is involved in throwing tomatoes at each other.
In 12th century England, tradition said a man would spend a third of a day walking to the market, a third of a day at
the market, & a third of a day walking home. Therefore, a market served people within a third of a day’s journey, which was reckoned to be 7 miles. If 2 markets were more than 14 miles apart, their catchment areas did not
overlap. Any place outside of the 14 miles was entitled to a market license.
In Hong Kong, a wife may legally kill her unfaithful husband but she must do so with her bare hands.
In 2007, there were more than 6500 people abducted in Mexico. As a result, some Mexicans (those who could pay
for it) are implanting microchips under their skins to be tracked in case of being abducted. The company that
started these microchips implants in humans is Xega, whose own CEO was abducted in 2001.
Climbers who attempted the ascent to Mount Everest had a success rate of 10 to 1, but left behind over a hundred
tons of trash on the slopes.
Sheikh Hamadan bin Rashid al-Maktoum, who is the wealthy son of the ruler of Dubai, bought in 2008 supposedly
the best camel in the country. The price: 2.7million.
Strange Animal Facts
1. A headless cockroach can survive for a couple of weeks. Its life will end due to starvation.
2. A crocodile can never stick its tongue out of its mouth.
3. On an average, a hedgehog’s heart beats 300 times per minute.
4. A coin is heavier than a hummingbird.
5. A snail can sleep for 3 years at a stretch.
6. An ostrich’s brain is smaller than its eye.
7. The taste buds of a butterfly are in its feet.
8. The butterfly was originally known as ‘flutterby’.
9. On an average a hen lays 19 dozen eggs every year.
10. The number of animals listed in the USA is 935.
11. Although the Smithsonian zoo called its 2-week old panda (named Butterstick because of its size) female,
according to a Chinese belief, one cannot tell if a panda is a male or a female until it is 4 years old.
8 Healthy Foods from Around the World
1. Sushi of Japan
2. Spices of India
3. Oats of Scotland
4. Red wine of France
5. Mint tea & hummus of Middle East
6. Tofu & seafood of China
7. Mediterranean salad of Greece
8. Potato of Ireland
Luck is
loaned, not
owned
(Norway)
Upon my Arrival in Canada
By Kiran Kashyap
I can certainly talk about more, but I will talk about just one experience. I arrived on August 8 th,
1967, to my new home, Alberta, Canada. I came from a somewhat conservative background,
familiar with English, but hesitant to speak. I was worried that the Canadians might not understand
me. Fear of proper articulation left me unwilling to speak. As I entered College to enhance my
education, I met many classmates. Some tolerated, and some made fun of, my speaking. Amongst
all of them one Good Samaritan, a young man named Peter, always came to my rescue. He helped
me with the correct words, & taught me proper pronunciation. His kindness is ‘un-erasable’ from my memory. He played a big role in helping me improve my speaking. My brother, a teacher in high school at that
time, was amazed with the fluency of my speech when we all visited him in December of 1967. He felt sorry for
being hard on me during the early days of my arrival. Now, he was proud of me.
Common Cultures
By Meena Alimchandani
I flash back to my second day living in Hong Kong (as a new bride) in the 1970’s. Hearing a knock on the door, I opened it to find a Chinese woman holding a straw basket full of local vegetables.
Though she did not speak much English, she managed to explain to me through hand motions
and a few words that she wanted me to be her customer. She handed me a card, which noted
she would deliver any order of fresh vegetables if over 25 Hong Kong Dollars. I thanked her and
told her my next day’s vegetable order. On closing the door, my mind vividly remembered the life I had left behind in Kenya. The black African woman covered in colourful beads, carrying her infant child who
used to come to our house with a basketful of fresh green vegetable seeds, chickpeas, pigeon peas, papri, etc. My
mother would buy vegetables from her every day. It occurred to me in that moment, in a foreign country which I
had never visited before and now called my new home, that my “old” home and place of familiarity really wasn’t that far away after all and that I would be able to adapt and make a new life in Hong Kong.
Diversity, Value, Vision & Action
By Kamla Malhotra
Recognizing & respecting the different backgrounds of our members at SEC,
we celebrate several festivals & special days. Believing in the harmony of
humanity & diversity, I plan these events with the view that each individual
is unique & able to contribute something positive. Diverse activities result
in a more positive environment, which is a vision that is bound to bring
success to our organization. During the next few months, I look forward to
your participation in celebrations such as Diwali, Halloween, Christmas
Lohri, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Vaisakhi etc. The drive & team work of our members has always
made these events a success.
Humour
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A Portuguese man visited Brazil and was amazed by what he saw. So many inventions!
Such landscapes! He bought a box of matches and sent them to his wife, Maria, back in
Portugal. Months later he received a letter: "Joao, I loved the presents, thanks. But the box
of matches didn't work quite like you said they would." Surprised, Joao replied that day: "Maria, I can't
understand it! I tested them all before I sent them."
A policeman stops a Galician and demands, "Give me your first name and surname" "You what?" the
Galician replies. "And what about afterwards? What will I call myself?"
A Belgian, a Faroese and an Icelander are about to be executed. Each one gets a final wish. The Faroese
asks for a final feast of sour shark and dried whale meat for everyone. The Icelander asks to be allowed to
compose an epic poem in the old style about how cruelly he is being treated and about how great Iceland
is. The Belgian thinks for a while, and then says: "Can I be executed before the poem is read and the food is
served?"
From South Africa to Canada
By Tara Daya
My grandparents immigrated to South Africa from Gujarat, India, about 100 years ago. I was born in
Cape Town, South Africa, a country rich in beauty & natural resources. I grew up as a second class
citizen under the Apartheid system of injustice & intolerance, allowed to go only in the non-white
areas. When I got married, I moved to Johannesburg. Even though my husband was in charge of an
accounting department, he was paid a lot less than the white counterparts. Compared to the white people, we had
a low standard of life. However, in our own community he was considered one of the better-paid employees
working for a white-owned company. Our life was quite comfortable. We had a car & other amenities of life, but
we had no freedom of movement outside of the designated areas.
When our children were very young, we decided to move to Canada away from the repressive regime of SA. My
husband got a job within a week of arrival in Canada. After a few months we opened our own business. We worked
very hard for 7 years. Knowing English made it easier. Our children went to SA many times & they could see the
difference between the 2 cultures & the 2 sets of values. They appreciated what Canada offered to us. Even though
we never said anything to them, both my children have adopted Canadian values. They are very caring &
compassionate.
Having lived in South Africa, we appreciated the freedom in Canada. We felt equal to all the Canadians. We still go
to SA to visit our families, but we are happy & proud to call Canada our home.
Diversity - the Magic of Life
By Satya Nagpal
I have been blessed to have lived on four different continents. I was born in India, my cherished
motherland. My first introduction to diversity was to happen here – a mystical land full of different
seasons, cultures, religions and beliefs. My journey of life next took me to East Africa, where I
married my beloved Husband, Dr. Ved Parkash Nagpal. As the Provincial Medical Physician, we
travelled to remote villages to care for the sick. More than 40 ethnic groups reside in Kenya, and
their gratitude still resonates with me today.
My stay in the UK exposed me to a culture that was gentle and welcoming. The seasons were a delight to
experience, and unbeknownst to me at the time, would prepare me for my journey to Canada.
The culmination of these experiences has led me to this definition. The concept of diversity encompasses
acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual
differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, age, physical
abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies. It is the exploration of these differences in a safe,
positive, and nurturing environment. It is about understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to
embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual.
Our Heritage/ In Praise of Inherent Skills
By Ranjana Kiran
My husband and I came to Canada in 1972 as students at the University of Saskatchewan.
Unlike India's winters, Saskatoon saw temperatures well below -35 Celsius. No amount of
warm clothing or doubled up socks helped; we nearly froze. Money was in short supply. For
an entire year we did not eat out or went to a movie, saving a few bucks here and there. I am
still teased about shopping at the Bi-Way. We adapted to the thrifty way of life and were
happy.
Language was never a problem, as my schooling had been in English. This made me very
comfortable and confident in my new work environment. In India, we were raised with social skills, endurance and
hard work. These qualities helped me through 28 years as a full time high school teacher while I also looked after 3
kids, husband and in-laws.
After graduating from Saskatoon, with no jobs lined up, we moved to Toronto. This was a big risk, but somehow it
seemed small compared to the one, when we travelled halfway across the world, with no money in our pockets
and no relative or friend to support us, yet ready to face all odds. This took sheer courage and the will to survive.
Looking back I think, the qualities I brought with me from India, diverse as they may seem, helped me and my
family build a very successful life here in Canada.
Toronto… Then … & Now
By Nirmala & Reshu
After a short discussion, we decided to turn the 2013 Fall SEC
Newsletter into a celebration of diversity. The idea took off & we went
on a research rampage. We thought we would not write or ask for
articles about diversity but show ‘universal diversity’ through words & Toronto Flag
pictures. That is what we have attempted to do in this newsletter. As we
all know, Toronto is one of the most diverse cities in the world, with over 200 ethnic
origins as reported by 2006 Census. People from 169 different countries & speaking
over 100 languages, call this place home. It is remarkable the harmony that prevails in
Chinatown, Corso Italia, Little India, Koreatown, Portugal Village, Greek area and so on, each with their own
distinctive flavour of stores, restaurants, clubs and businesses (2012). City’s 9-1-1 services are equipped to respond
in 150 languages. The cultural landscape of Toronto has changed considerably since the 1970s when most of us
first arrived. Schools started Heritage Language classes in 1970s. Many new festivals have been added to the
already rich culture of Toronto. Many multicultural radio & TV stations have opened & the TO schools represent
this cultural variety. A city of neighbourhoods, of ethnic communities, Toronto has been viewed as a cultural
mosaic & our diversity unites us. In fact, in 1998, when all the boroughs united to make one amalgamated city, it
adopted the city motto ‘Diversity - our strength’. Royson James, the Toronto Star's urban affairs columnist, calls
diversity "Toronto's best calling card."
Some Bizarre wedding ceremonies
1. In a traditional Zulu ceremony, the groom's family slaughters a cow to welcome the bride. The bride places
money inside the stomach of the cow to symbolize that she is now part of the family.
2. In Peru, charms attached to ribbons are tucked between the layers of the wedding cake. Before the cake is
cut, each single woman grabs a ribbon and pulls. At the end of one ribbon is a fake wedding ring. The guest
who picks that ribbon is said to be next in line for marriage.
3. Before the wedding, the Czechoslovakian bride's friends traditionally plant a tree in her yard and decorate
it with colored ribbons and painted eggshell, because, according to legend, the bride will live as long as the
tree. The bride is also given three motherhood-promoting dishes: wheat for fertility, millet mixed with
ashes that she must sort through in order to prove her patience, and in the third a sparrow hides under the
lid.
4. Among the Tujia people in China. Starting one whole month in advance the bride starts to cry for 1 hour
every day. Ten days into the ordeal the mom joins the picture, and then ten days later the grandmother
does the same. By the end of the month every female in the family is crying alongside the bride. It’s actually supposed to be an expression of joy as the women weep in different
tones, kind of like a song…a very salty, wet song.
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Proverbs from different nations:
Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped. (African culture)
Turn your face to the sun & the shadows fall behind you. (New Zealand)
A light is still a light even though a blind man cannot see it. (Austria)
A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.
(China)
The barking of a dog does not disturb the man on a camel. (Egypt)
God grant me a good sword & no use for it. (Poland)
Nobody can make you
feel inferior without
your consent.
Eleanor Roosevelt
The best thing about the
future is that it comes
one day at a time.
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
We all wish a
speedy recovery
to Brijlal Bhola
Our sincere thanks to all
who have contributed to
this Newsletter.