VICTORIA, BC, Canada—One of the most prominent Sikh personalities in the world, Dr. Raghbir Singh Bains has been honoured with the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award in recognition of his long years of selfless service and help offered to the people of Canada and beyond its borders.
The Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award was first established in 1995 by the Right Honourable Roméo LeBlanc Governor General of Canada to honour volunteers and social activists who gave so much to their fellow citizens—the unsung heroes who volunteer their time, their efforts and a great deal of their lives to helping others, and who ask for nothing in return. The award also highlights the fine example set by these volunteers whose compassion and engagements are so much a part of Canadian character to serve the needy, incapacitated, sick, and the disadvantaged people.
Raghbir Singh Bains is an eminent community activist, dedicated environmentalist, reputed philanthropist, encyclopaedist, known museologist, an eminent drug therapist, and lifetime crusader against the global menace of drugs and other social evils.
Mr Bains did extensive research on HIV-AIDS in Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya to curb the menace. For the last few years, he has continuously been arranging seminars, youth camps, and community campaigns to celebrate World AIDS Day for creating awareness about this deadly disease.
He received most of his professional education in Canada and America. He has volunteered with a number of organizations to stop increasing pollution as well.
Pertinently, Dr Bains is a renowned scholar of the computer age. He is founder producer of the 1st of its kind Encyclopaedia of Sikhism on Multimedia Technology in the world which was released by the then Prime Minister of Canada in the Parliament House on 11th December, 1996—a tribute to his outstanding commitment, dedication, untiring and relentless hard work spread over a period of more than 16 years.
Dr Bains is a global record holder for setting up five Multimedia Sikh Museums in the world where he used robotic and touch screen technology.
Along with support from the community, he has been instrumental in installing Punjabi Street Signs in Punjabi Bazar Surrey-Delta, BC. It was due to his combined efforts that a Punjabi-speaking Community Police Station was opened in Delta, BC, to help immigrants.
He has also been counseling incarcerated criminals in prisons voluntarily to rehabilitate them in India and Canada.
He is a long time member of the Surrey-Delta Seniors Society, BC and helps the seniors as and when they need his services including complementary transport.
Dr Bains has experience of working on various advisory committees in Canada. He is a known fund raiser for many charities. He is an established writer of various classic books.
He is longtime advisor to Kaar Sewa Khadur Sahib (India) and Nishan-E-Sikhi Charitable Trust (Regd). These organizations are engaged in promoting religio-socio-cultural values, sports, education, and global environment.
Now almost 78 years of age, Mr Bains has touched the lives of countless people at their darkest moments, offering them comfort and selfless support.
He stands for human liberty, equality and fraternity without any leanings towards caste, colour, or creed of an individual. He is an asset not only to Canadian society but also to the entire human race.
Born and brought up in Punjab, Raghbir Singh immigrated to Canada in the year 1990 and has been working to eradicate various social ills in India, Canada, and in African countries as well. In giving gratitude for the award, Bains thanked his parents, family, friends, his role models, mentors, and the people of the multicultural society of Canada for supporting him to work for the well being, peace, and prosperity of global society.
He further said, “I am humbled and blessed to receive the honour. It’s in my bones to serve humanity. The award will further add to my commitment to serve my co-mate Canadians and global community in future with more zeal.”
His Excellency the Governor General of Canada sent warmest congratulations and best wishes to Mr Bains for his volunteer commitment to the people of Canada.
