CRUSADER VS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DRIVING INSTRUCTOR, ROTARY BOSS ROLLED INTO ONE

CRUSADER VS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DRIVING INSTRUCTOR, ROTARY BOSS ROLLED INTO ONE


-Indo-Canadian Rotary boss: I want to reach out with Filipino community


By Alex P. Vidal

 APV and the most powerful woman in the Punjabi community, my fellow Rotarian, President Kuldip K. Ardawa

SURREY, British Columbia -- She didn't make it in the recent race for a seat in the city council, but Kuldip Kaur Aradawa holds the distinction of being the first Punjabi to be elected president of the Rotary Club of Surrey Fraser Heights.
"I am proud of this distinction and I am happy to tell you that I am very much eager to reach out with the Filipino community as well as with other ethnic communities in British Columbia," Ardawa said in an exclusive talk with this writer in Fleetwood on February 9.
Ardawa is a former Huddersfield woman who has made history by becoming the first Punjabi woman to become president of a Rotary Club in the city of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
Ardawa, who was installed president on July 8, 2011, emigrated in June 2003 after living in Huddersfield for 35 years.


PASSION


"I have always been passionate about serving the community. The Rotary Club has been the avenue for me to continue to do just that, not only to the immediate community but to communities worldwide," said Ardawa, who is married with a grown up family and three grandchildren. 
As a Surrey Civic Coalition council member, she expressed willingness "to work to positively contribute in our community to develop it to be vibrant and a shining example of efficiency, fairness, inclusiveness, innovativeness and progressiveness."
This can be achieved, she stressed, "by bringing and working together with employers, businesses and members of the community who are inspirational, motivated and creative."
"I came from England eight years ago eager to work, eager to serve and eager to get involved in the community programs and projects whether as a volunteer or as an employee," she narrated.


COMMIT 


"Throughout my working life I have been deeply committed to passionately work with community service providers, Federal, Provincial, Municipal government offices, employers, businesses and individuals to build new bridges, open new doors of opportunities and partnerships."
According to Woman in Spotlight, it was not long that Ardawa secured a position in the city council as the Community Development officer. "She was the first woman to be employed at this level, sayd the article which called her as "another name of selfless service and a born leader."
It added: "Her voluntary experience and knowledge came very useful in that her responsibility was to research and develop new community projects. She spearheaded the first resource center and played a huge part in getting the first transition house for South Asian and West Indian women who were fleeing domestic violence."


DEMAND


Her demand in the community has grown greater by the day. Due to her "non-judgmental commitment to the betterment of the community," she was elected to represent the ethnic community on a number of committees. 
She was the first South Asian woman to stand up and speak openly about domestic violence at many forums, conferences, and events. Ardawa was the first woman to be an executive on the Board of Race Equality Council. She was the only South Asian woman on the West Yorkshire Police Advisory Board. 
Ardawa was chosen by the Youth Exchange Council to be the region's representative. She became the first South Asian woman to lead a group of 11 teenagers to multilateral youth exchanges to Europe on an annual basis. 
Her dedication to serve the community extended into the workers' rights when she became the first of the Indian Workers Association.


SECOND


Ardawa also holds the distinction as the second woman driver in the town of Huddersfield. When she pursued the Ministry of Transpor's driving instruction license, she became the first South Asian woman driving instructor.
Ardawa said still regularly keeps in touch with friends, family, work associates. She witnessed the program prepared by members of the Filipino community for MLA Jagrup Brar in his Constituency Office on Thursday (February 9).
 "When you give a little with an open non-judgemental heart, the satisfaction and reward given back by the community to the individual is greater," Ardawa concluded.