Harcharan Grewal came to Canada in 1967 with hopes of a better future for his family.
He soon found work at the CIPA Sawmill. Once settled in Canada, his wife Balbinder and their young children joined him in 1970.
The Grewals raised three children, welcomed 10 grandchildren, and are now celebrating their first great-grandchild. They built strong friendships within the community and have become respected, philanthropic leaders in the Sikh community.
When their children began to plan their 50th wedding anniversary, the Grewals expressed that they would rather collect donations for the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation and B.C. Children’s Hospital in place of receiving gifts.
The Grewals inspired almost $5,000 in donations from family and friends to the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital alone.
“We are humble people and we have more than enough,” said Harcharan Grewal. “If we were to plan a celebration we prefer it to benefit others.”