After decades of service and numerous accolades, a Prince George resident will be one of a handful to receive the province's highest honour next month.
Baljit Sethi has been named to the Order of British Columbia for her tireless efforts to help immigrants to Canada through multicultural integration and reform.
The long-time Prince George resident and founder of the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society - formerly the Immigrants Services Society of Prince George - is on the list for 2011 inductees along with 13 other B.C. residents, including Jim Robson, James O'Rourke, Yuri Fulmer and former politicians Gordon Campbell and David Emerson.
The Order of B.C. is a civilian honour, instituted by Lt. Gov. David Lam in 1989, replacing the previous Order of Dogwood.
When Sethi heard about her upcoming honour, she said felt privileged for the opportunity to receive the recognition, but that it wasn't just for her.
"It's not me, it's because my clients and community gave me the opportunity to serve them that I reached that level," Sethi said, adding she also has received immeasurable support from her husband and children.
Born in Lahore, India, Sethi arrived in Canada with her husband in 1972. She said when she arrived in Prince George, there was still a culture of racism against Indo-Canadians.
"In the Indo-Canadian community, is a very hardworking, very honest, very helpful community, but it's not rightly represented. There's a gap in communication," Sethi said.
Trained as a teacher in India, Sethi could not get more than a substitute teaching position in B.C. without taking courses to upgrade her certification. That gave her the time to begin volunteering with the multicultural community.
It was through this volunteer work she realized that newcomers' integration in the community couldn't be achieved without multicultural programs and the promotion of racial harmony. As an immigrant herself and a former refugee in India, Sethi said she is in a unique position to help others.
"It's a good feeling, being an immigrant, to help immigrants," she said, explaining she has made real connections and friends through her work over the years.
"Whenever somebody moves, it hurts my heart," said Sethi, who can't help but become attached to families after being so involved in their lives, struggles and successes.
Sethi has been decorated handsomely for her work over the past 38 years. She most recently received the Paul Yuzyk Award for lifetime achievement from Citizenship and Immigration Canada at a ceremony in Ottawa earlier this summer.
"When I was in Ottawa, I was very happy to say I was from Prince George," Sethi said.
"I feel that this community has given me so much. I would like to bring something back the community could feel proud of."
And Sethi has no intention of slowing down. "Every time I get an award, I feel I should continue my work and do more. I'm always looking at issues that need attention." Two of the main issues in her heart are the needs of immigrant women and seniors.
"Even if I didn't work for the agency, I would still do work for the community," Sethi said. "Someone has to work with them."
Sethi will be inducted into the Order of British Columbia at a ceremony in Victoria Oct. 4.
