Mukhbir Singh: First Canadian-born World Sikh Organization President

Canada: The World Sikh Organization of Canada held its biennial convention on February 27 in Mississauga, Ontario, where for the first time in its 32-year history, a Canadian-born Sikh was selected to lead the organization. Mukhbir Singh was unanimously chosen to serve as President for the next two years.

Born and raised in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, Mukhbir Singh is tri-lingual, with a proficiency in both official languages and Punjabi. Singh is an actuary and holds a Master's degree in Finance (MSc) from Concordia University. He currently resides in Ottawa. Mukhbir Singh is an active member of both the Montreal and Ottawa Sikh communities. From 2011 to 2015, he served as the WSO Vice-President for Quebec and the Atlantic Region.

Mukhbir Singh is joined by the Senior Vice President of the WSO, Jasbir Kaur Randhawa, who is based out of British Columbia. She is a leading educator and has been recognized with numerous awards for her community service and contribution to the field of early childhood education.

Mukhbir Singh will lead a 31-member Board of Directors selected from across Canada. The Board also includes the highest number of second and third generation Canadian Sikhs in the organization's history.

The World Sikh Organization of Canada's 2016-2017 Executive:

President – Mukhbir Singh

Senior VP – Jasbir Kaur Randhawa

Director of Finance – Jagdeep Singh Mann

Director of Administration – Rupinder Kaur Dhaliwal

VP B C – Sukhpreet Singh

VP Alberta – Tejinder Singh Sidhu

VP Central Canada – Jasbeer Singh

VP Ontario – Mr. Prabhmeet Singh Sarkaria

VP Quebec and Atlantic – Amrit Kaur

Outgoing President Dr Amritpal Singh Shergill said, "It has been a privilege to serve as President of WSO Canada for the past two years. The Canadian Sikh community is very fortunate to have so many talented young professionals that are committed to community service and social justice. Our transition team has done an excellent job of bringing on refreshing new voices."

Mukhbir Singh said, "I am truly honored to have been selected for this role. The WSO has a proud track record of service not just to Sikhs but to the cause of human rights for all Canadians. During the past 4 years, I have had the opportunity to see first-hand the positive impact of WSO's 30-year legacy. As we formulate our two-year plan, I look forward to meeting with members of the Sikh community as well as other key stakeholders, to see how WSO can best meet everyone's needs to ensure a brighter future for us all."

The article was first published in voiceonline.com