By Balwant Sanghera

A Fitting Tribute to Asa Johal The City of Richmond must be commended for recognizing a great Canadian for his contribution to Canada by naming a park in Richmond’s Mitchell Island in his name on September 12 . This park named as Asa Johal Neighbourhood Park backing on to the Fraser River is close to Johal’s Terminal Forest Products. 

Roots of the Indo-Canadian community in Canada go back more than 130 years. Like pioneers from other communities, they also made a commendable contribution to the growth and development of this country. Late Asa Singh Johal is one of those pioneers who made a tremendous contribution to Canada. Asa came to Canada in the mid 1920s as a toddler with his parents from India. Johal quit school and started working in the lumber industry as a young 14 years old. Over the years, with hard work, perseverance and dedication, he managed to establish a formidable lumber enterprise – Terminal Forest Products Ltd- on Richmond’s Mitchell Island. This Richmond based enterprise has provided employment to thousands of people over the years. Not only that, this lumber baron and the Johal family have also donated millions of dollars to public institutions including UBC, Richmond Hospital, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver Children’s Hospital and BC Cancer Society etc. 

Among his other charitable work, Asa Johal and his family were kind enough to build an impressive auditorium for Girls Secondary School in his native village in Jandiala, Punjab, India. He and the Johal family is also one of the founders and major donors to India Cultural Centre of Canada Gurdwara (Sikh Temple) Nanak Niwas on Richmond’s #5 Road aka Highway to Heaven. Richmond has always been very dear to Johal’s heart. The management committee of India Cultural Centre of Canada Gurdwara Nanak Niwas is very proud of this great pioneer, industrialist and philanthropist. Born on August 7,1922 Mr. Johal left for his heavenly abode on July 5,2021. His family is proud to carry on Mr. Johal’s legacy. In this context, it was very fitting for the City of Richmond to recognize Mr. Johal’s contribution. 

On a warm sunny day, on September 12,2025, the City of Richmond led by his worship Mayor Malcolm Brodie, paid a very fitting tribute to Mr. Johal and named a lovely park as Asa Johal Neighbourhood Park at 11491 Mitchell Road, Richmond. The attendees included City of Richmond officials, members of the Johal family, their friends and close relatives, Steveston Richmond East Member 0f Parliament Parm Bains, Richmond East -Queensborough MLA Steve Kooner, former judge and Attorney General Wally Opal, management committee members of India Cultural Centre of Canada Gurdwara Nanak Niwas, Richmond and many prominent members of the community. While dedicating the Park, Mayor Brodie paid a very impressive tribute to Mr. Johal. Asa Johal’s son Darcy Johal, accompanied by his mother Mrs. Kashmir Kaur Johal, his wife Manjit Kaur Johal and close family members and friends shared with the attendee’s history of his father’s hard work and dedication. These tributes to Mr. Johal were followed by planting a tree in the Park in Asa Johal’s name. It is a very fitting and well-deserved tribute to a great Canadian. Our congratulations go to the Johal family and sincere thanks and appreciation to the City of Richmond. 

Balwant Sanghera Secretary, India Cultural Centre of Canada Gurdwara Nanak Niwas, 8600 # 5 Road, Richmond, BC Richmond, BC.