Cycling4Diversity in Langley

Cycling4Diversity Promotional picture 2011

Ken Herar will ride into Langley City today (May 18). He will ride approximately 200 km leading up to World Diversity Day, May 21.

submitted picture

By Ashleigh Beaudoin - Langley Times
Published: May 18, 2011 12:00 PM
Updated: May 18, 2011 12:12 PM

Learning to live together. That’s the message of the United Nation’s World Day for Cultural Diversity.
Ken Herar, former Times columnist, has decided to use the Day for Diversity as a way to raise awareness, by Cycling for Diversity.
He plans to ride his bicycle with a team of riders to raise awareness about this day and about diversity for the planet.
The World Day for Diversity is one day a year that devotes itself to bringing everyone together to celebrate all the cultures of the world.
“It’s a great day when the world can come together and celebrate as one,” said Herar.
The ride will start in Mission on Wednesday, May 18, and end on Saturday, May 21, in Victoria, where Herar and his team will celebrate World Day for Diversity.
En route to Victoria the Cycling for Diversity team will stop in Langley for the night on May 18.
Along the way, the team will give talks to schools and community members, and stop for tree planting in Mission, where the District of Mission has declared Cultural Diversity week, May 16 to May 21.
Herar, along with his team, and the Langley International Festival Society, invite members of the community to the Muriel Arnason Library, 20338 65 Ave., at 7 p.m., to welcome the cyclists into Langley.
There will also be an opportunity to meet with the cyclists and they will be speaking to members of the local community about the importance of local and global diversity, speaking to community members about their ride.
Shar Dubas of the LIFS would also like to invite members of the community to wave one of the society’s 60 international flags to give them a “warm Langley welcome.”
Herar will also be giving a short presentation at Langley Community Services Society at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 19.
To follow along with Cycling for Diversity go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cycling-for-Diversity-2011 or on Twitter @RickRake.

The Province daily newspaper covers the "Cycling For Diversity" journey

Non-inclusion leads to awareness bike ride through Metro Vancouver

By Sarah Douziech, The Province May 16, 2011

An Abbotsford journalist and his team will cycle some 200 kilometres through the Lower Mainland starting Wednesday to inspire awareness about the need for more cultural inclusion in the region.

Abbotsford-Mission Times columnist Ken Herar said the four-day cycle tour dubbed Cycling for Diversity will make stops in schools and at civic celebrations to generate awareness of the value of diversity.

Herar said the idea came from a growing concern in his community about increasing segregation, as well as his own recent experience of discrimination when he was barred from a party because of his race.

“The best way to tackle rascism is to celebrate multiculturalism,” Herar said. “We can never stop building bridges with one another.”

The trip starts with a visit to Griner Park in Mission at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday morning where Herar and six other team mates will plant a Gingko Biloba tree, native to China, to symbolize the ever-expanding nature of acceptance and inclusion.

The team will continue through Mission, Abbotsford, Langley, Surrey, New Westminster, Burnaby, Vancouver, Richmond until its finish at the legislative grounds in Victoria on Saturday, May 21.

May 21 marks the United Nations’ World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.

Herar will ride a road bike on loan from a shop in Mission and said he hopes to raise money to buy the bike and donate it to someone in need after the trip.

For more information, see the Cycling for Diversity Facebook page or contact Herar at kenherar@gmail.com.

sarahdouziech@theprovince.com

twitter.com/sarahdouziech

© Copyright (c) The Province

Press Release for Cycling for Diversity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CYCLING FOR DIVERSITY: TRIP FROM
MISSION TO VICTORIA CREATES AWARENESS

A four-day cycling expedition May 18-21 from Mission to Victoria will showcase the need for harmonious cultural diversity in the area, and Abbotsford-Mission Times columnist and advocate Ken Herar will lead his team for some 200 kilometres.

The trip, dubbed Cycling for Diversity, celebrates the United Nations World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (May 21), and shines the spotlight on the area's diverse ethnic populations and the need for inclusive communities.

Herar and his small group of riders are planning stops in Mission, Abbotsford, Langley, Surrey, New Westminster, Burnaby, Vancouver, Richmond and Victoria with various elementary and high school classroom visits, civic celebrations and meetings with civic leaders.

During the trek, Herar will be riding a Devinci Oslo Hybrid road bike loaned from Wentings Cycle & Mountain Shop in Mission. Herar hopes to raise funds to purchase the bike and donate it to someone in need.

"By creating awareness, we are making a difference," said Herar. "But we should never stop building cultural bridges."

On the first day of the trip, the Cycling for Diversity team visits Griner Park in Mission at 8:15 a.m. for a diversity tree planting. The tree is a Ginko Biloba, an evergreen native to China which has potential medicinal properties. The District of Mission has also declared May 16 to 21 as Cultural Diversity Week.

From Griner Park the squad will make five stops at Mission schools and the Mission Indian Friendship Centre where they will share in discussions about diversity and the cycling trip.

From there they travel to Dasmesh Punjabi School in Matsqui Village before they speak to a Grade 12 Law class at W.J. Mouat Secondary at noon.

Next stop is Gordie and Colleen Howe Middle School where the team will be heralded by cheering students waiting on the school track.

A second tree planting is set at 2:30 p.m. at Old Yale Road and South Fraser Way. Three maple trees will be planted to celebrate the ride.

Canada Safeway in Abbotsford is the next stop at 3:30 p.m. for an hour-long diversity celebration featuring entertainment by Korean drummers and snacks provided by the grocery store.

At 5 p.m. that day the team will also make a quick visit to the Abbotsford Heritage Sikh Temple to pay their respects to the historic building which is celebrating its centennial.

By nightfall the cyclists will make their way to Langley for more diversity activities the next day.

The schedule for the next three days will include more school and civic visits, the details of which will be released shortly. Details can be obtained by calling Herar at 604-615-2499. Interested riders can also contact him.

The trip concludes in Victoria at the Legislature.

An ongoing journal of the daily activities will be posted on the Cycling for Diversity Facebook page or @RickRake on Twitter. Donations for the bike Herar will be riding can be made to Envision Financial, account #4577128 (Mission branch).

Ride supporters include Canada Safeway, Envision Financial, Mission Rotary Club, Fraser Valley Indo-Canadian Business Association, Peter Warkentin,

-30-

CONTACT INFO:

KEN HERAR 604-615-2499

A racist attack against a eldery Sikh gentlemen in Abbotsford

Disturbing attack & biking adventure

By Ken Herar, Special to the Times May 5, 2011

It's disturbing to hear the racist attack that occurred a week ago on a elderly Sikh gentlemen while he was sitting with his friends on a park bench in Abbotsford.

A lone man approached them and began making ethnic slurs. The attacker then brandished a liquor bottle and struck one of the men in the face, causing him to fall to the ground

This is absolutely disgusting and there is no excuse for this behaviour. This is surely not an example of cultural divide - this is a prime example of racism.

I recall a similar incident many years ago in Mission where a group of young kids were lighting an elderly gentlemen's turban on fire while he was sitting on a bench minding his own business.

It was a summer afternoon and I came to an intersection and glanced over and saw a group of young kids speaking to an elderly Sikh gentlemen. The next thing I noticed were flames coming out of this man's turban. I immediately stopped the car and approached these kids and assisted the victim. Lucky enough, he was alright and I called the police.

If you ever come across a situation where you sense seniors are being harassed on our streets don't hesitate to call the police.

My final preparations are being made before my departure to Victoria on my cycling journey (Cycling for Diversity), only two short weeks away.

Recently, my father handed me an old essay titled "The Gentlemen from Jundiala." It was about my grandfather Kabul Singh Herar and his journey to reunite with his family in Canada. It was written by Dale Taylor, who took an interest in Sikhism. Taylor, was a local Mission teacher and wrote a comprehensive paper on South Asian life. He said: "As a teacher, I believe that it is vital to stimulate an interest in cultures other than our own. If we can create that initial interest, then children will be motivated to search, on their own, for more knowledge of other cultures."

I couldn't agree more.

n Ken Herar is a columnist for the Times. Contact him at: kenherar@gmail.com.

© Copyright (c) Abbotsford Times

Mission City Record: Cycling for Diversity 2011

Cycling for Diversity 2011

There is hope for federal Liberals in the Fraser Valley..

Pounding pavement and painting police cars

By Ken Herar, The Times April 22, 2011

Who says Abbotsford has always been politically blue?

Looking into the history books, the 1960s and '70s federal elections were always a three-way battle between then Social Credit, Liberal and the New Democrats. Only a few thousand votes separated each party from victory.

In fact, Abbotsford elected a Liberal member of Parliament to Ottawa in 1968.

Gerry Pringle served one term from 1968-1972 as the Fraser Valley East representative. He was later defeated in 1972 and 1974 by long-time Social Credit and Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament Alex Patterson, who regained his seat from Pringle.

I applaud candidates from all political stripes, who let their names stand for public office. Many people talk about it, but very few actually follow through. Little appreciation comes along with the enormous responsibilities.

I had the opportunity to experience this firsthand and go door-knocking with one of the federal candidates. For the most part, people were welcoming when we came to their door. Looking back, we only had one bad experience, where the lady basically slammed the door in our face. Little did she know, I reside a few doors down. If candidates come to your door, take the time to meet and greet them, and ask questions. It's a fabulous opportunity to be politically engaged face- to-face at your own door step with the candidate who may be representing you in Ottawa.

Looking for perfection can be nearly impossible in politics. Finding a candidate who best represents you is a much better method. There will be someone for everyone on the ballot May 2. In public life almost everything can be fair game, including one's personal life.

It's occurring more frequently and candidates are being fired or forced to resign for silly behaviour. Mandeep Bhuller, who is the Liberal candidate for Pitt Meadows/Maple Ridge/Mission, recently had his drinking and driving conviction from 2003 thrown into the spotlight. Speaking with Bhuller recently, he expressed sorrow for the incident and claims he has learned from it.

"I am humbled that my friends, supporters have stood with me despite my mistake. Liberals believe that mistakes should result in help, not prison. Liberals believe that people can, and should, make amends, but should also have second chances," said Bhuller.

"I decided to run despite my DUI because I think our riding deserves an MP, who believes in these values."

Driving past the political colours on our streets, notice any other changes around town? Speaking with Abbotsford Deputy Constable Rick Lucy, he shared some interesting insights into these changes.

In 2005, it represented the 50th anniversary of the Matsqui/Abbotsford Police.

To mark this special occasion the department decided to have two cars appear with a 'retro' black and white look.

Lucy said: "At around this time, there was also some discussion about updating the overall appearance of our marked vehicles. Our awareness that a number of policing agencies in North America had been returning to the traditional black and white colour scheme, combined with the public feedback on the black and white cars that we had patrolling the community, had us embark on a design review based on a black and white scheme."

"The end result was the decaling [much of it reflective] and black and white markings that now exists on half or more of our marked fleet. We will continue to phase in the 'new' look as marked vehicles require replacement, so that cost is not a factor."

n Ken Herar is a columnist for the Abbotsford-Mission Times. Kenherar@gmail.com.

© Copyright (c) Abbotsford Times