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I first wrote about Ajit Kaur Deol a dozen years ago when the Free Press was doing Our City, Our World, a year-long, in-depth project looking at different ethnic communities in Winnipeg and the contributions they have made.
Under the headline “Profiles of our South Asian community”, which painted portraits of many people from that region; I wrote that Ajit had done much to improve Canada as a teacher and volunteer since coming here from India in 1967.
Now I’m writing about Ajit again; she died on Feb. 11 a week shy of her 98th birthday.
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Ajit was born in India in 1926 and, when civil unrest broke out during the Partition in 1947, which split Pakistan away from India, she and her family escaped to the Indian state of Punjab.
At a time when women there had very limited opportunities, she was fortunate to grow up in a family where her father insisted his only daughter receive a quality education, just like her four brothers had.
Ajit went on to graduate with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from the University of Punjab, along with a degree in physical education.
She married Udey Pal Singh Deol in 1959 and they had three daughters before Ajit decided she wanted the family to move to Canada so she could get a Master’s of Education at a foreign university. Ajit and Udey taught at schools in Ontario and later moved to Manitoba.
In Ontario, Ajit was the principal of a school for people with mental disabilities, and during the six years she was there she integrated its 24 students, who were being taught in a church basement, into a local public school.
Not only was the Life Skills Program she set up “cutting edge,” as her family says, it was used as a model for the entire province.
“Her impactful service as principal was emblematic of her community leadership throughout her life — she was a constant, powerful force for justice and good.”
After the family moved to Manitoba, Ajit taught at Edward Schreyer School, then Maples Collegiate.
Even after retiring, Ajit still worked hard, volunteering with Manitoba’s Intercultural Council, the Women’s Immigrant Settlement Association, the Boys and Girls Club of Canada, and the Seven Oaks School Board.
Throughout the years, Ajit also was devoted to her Sikh faith and she became the first woman in North America to become president of a Sikh Gurdwara, the Gurdwara Singh Sabha.
“Throughout her life in Canada, Mrs. Deol was instrumental in assisting many newly arrived immigrants to fully integrate into life in Canada,” her family says.
“She was not just a pillar in the community; she was one of its core builders.”
For everything she did, Ajit was honoured with the Order of Manitoba, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, and an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Winnipeg.
Ajit was predeceased by her husband and is survived by her three daughters, eight grandchildren, and one of her brothers.
Read more about Ajit
How They Lived
Bob Altemeyer was a psychology professor at the University of Manitoba.
Bob, who was 87 when he died on Feb. 7, was a global expert on right-wing authoritarianism.
A psychology professor at the University of Manitoba, he wrote several books on the subject, including Authoritarian Nightmare, co-authored with former U.S. president Richard Nixon’s lawyer John Dean.
Read more about Bob
Evelyne Reese worked as a school guidance counsellor before becoming a city councillor.
Evelyne, who died on Jan. 29 at 91 years of age, worked as a guidance counsellor in schools both inside and outside Winnipeg, operated her own private counselling service, and lectured at the University of Manitoba.
She was first elected in the former Winakwa ward in 1974, and was re-elected four times; due to various amalgamations she was also the councillor for Langevin and finally St. Boniface.
Read more about Evelyn
Henry Kreindler helped fans hear musicians.
Henry, who was 73 when he died on Feb. 3, owned Banquox Sound and provided audio services to musicians including Tina Turner and events like the Winnipeg Folk Fest.
He was known for his uncompromising craftsmanship, with his speaker boxes known as the heaviest ever built.
Read more about Henry
Socorro Juan was a teacher in the Philippines — and she also taught here.
Socorro, who died on Feb. 11 at 81 years of age, got an education degree at the University of Manila and taught in that country while operating a taxi business with her husband.
After the family immigrated to Winnipeg, she got a second degree in education from the University of Manitoba and began teaching at Wellington and then John M. King Schools in the Winnipeg School Division. Later, Socorro rose to become vice-principal at both Norquay and Lord Roberts Schools.
Socorro was also a pioneer of the Manitoba Association of Filipino Teachers and founded both the Seven Oaks Filipino Employee Association and Active Living Seven Oaks.
Read more about Socorro
Edouard Champagne was a builder in the sport of downhill skiing in Canada.
Edouard, who was 96 when he died on Feb. 9, was born in Ste. Anne and was 18 when he joined a ski club.
Later, as junior chairman of the Manitoba Ski Division, he helped a Parks Canada committee recommend the site that later became the downhill skiing area at Agassiz. He also served on the provincial committee that selected the site for the Falcon Ridge Ski Slopes.
Edouard became manager of the national ski team, helped popularize the “Crazy Canucks” and other ski teams, and was inducted into the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame.
Read more about Edouard
Gail Robertson was a forensic psychologist.
Gail, who died on Feb. 6 at 76 years of age, received her PhD in clinical psychology at a time when it was still unusual for women to get an advanced degree.
She worked as a forensic psychologist at the Health Sciences Centre, taught as an associate professor at the University of Manitoba, mentored many students, and was seen as a role model in the profession.
Read more about Gail
A Life’s Story
John Barsby was a much loved mathematics teacher who had an immeasurable impact on many lives.
John, who died on Nov. 17 at age 78, began teaching in Snow Lake, then at Gordon Bell High School in Winnipeg, where he helped a school team to the provincial championship at Reach for the Top. He later spent decades at St. John’s-Ravenscourt.
SUPPLIED John Barsby, relaxing here in Victoria in 2012, retired from teaching at St. John’s-Ravenscourt in 2004.
“It’s impossible to calculate, even estimate, the impact that Mr. Barsby had on us, those privileged to have had him as a teacher, mentor and friend,” former student Dennis Bayomi said.
To read more about John’s life, click here.
Until next time, I hope you continue to write your own life’s story.
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