By Zile Singh

Mr. Sucha Singh Claire does not need any introduction in the Indo-Canadian community. Not only in the Sikh, but also in the Hindu Community he has made his  strong foothold. Claire, born on July 8, 1937, to Mr. Piara Singh and Mrs. Nasib Kaur, village Jagat Pur Jattan, Kapurthala, Punjab migrated to England in 1962. From his early age, Claire has been a man of the masses. In England, in addition to his job as a Machinist in the General Electric Company in Coventry he served as the Director of the Indian Workers’ Association and the General Secretary of the Indian Cultural Society, Coventry. At the youthful age of twenty, he got  married to Mrs. Harbans Kaur. The couple has a son and two daughters. Son Manjit is living in Vancouver. Daughter Sukhwant Heer in Surrey and Darshpal Sandhu in California, USA.

Mr. Claire could not resist the calling of the Beautiful British Columbia and in October 1969 came to Vancouver.  In May 1970,  he was   one of the first to establish his clothing business in the Shopping Center at Main Street and 49th Avenue, Vancouver.  Later, that shopping center was Indianized  as “Punjabi Market”.   For several years he served as a Treasurer and President of the Punjabi Market Association. The Market became gradually one of the significant landmarks for Indians living in North America. With the efforts of the Association, of which Mr. Claire remained the Present, the Punjabi Market got its signage in Punjabi Language. He was Director and President of the Sunset Indo-Canadian Seniors’ Society, Vancouver from 2011 to 2022. On account of his health, he voluntarily quit the post of the President. He, however, could not be spared by the Seniors’ Society. He is  still performing his duties as one of its directors. 

With his determination to serve a wider section of society, he was selected to be one of the Directors of Canadian Cancer Society, B.C and Yukon and also Holi Family Hospital, Vancouver during 1990-95.

It is said, “ The ladder is ascended step by step.”  Soon, Mr. Claire came into contact with people who hadan interest in literature. He was chosen as the Treasurer of the Central Association of Punjabi Writers, Surrey. He served there from 1991-2015. During this time, he authored five books in Punjabi language.   “The Trailblazers”, one of these five,  sketches short biographies of twenty-six  Indo-Canadians who have made a mark in their respective fields such as business, politics, journalism, mass communication , trade and industry, farming, civil and  community service and sports. To name some ; Asa Johal, the Lumber King of BC, Herb Dhaliwal and  Ujjal Dosanjh – former Federal Ministers, Wally Uppal, Moe Sihota and Surinderpal Rathor – Attorney General,  first Asian origin provincial Minister and first City Councilor respectively. Tara Singh Hayer, Indo-Canadian Times,   Ms. Sushma Datt, Radio and TV.  Arjan Bhullar, Commonwealth Gold Medalist Wrestler, Amrik Virk, Inspector RCMP and Charanpal Gill, community service.In addition, he is a respected columnist for the Punjabi Weekly “The Indo-Canadian Times.” 

So far, the following Organizations/Associations have recognized/awarded Mr. Claire for his distinguished social  services:   The Punjabi Market Association, Vancouver, Shiromani Sikh Services Society of Canada, the Indo-Canadian Times Weekly, Central Association of Punjabi Writers of North America, Canadian Cancer Society, BC, Sunset Indo-Canadian Seniors’ Society, Vancouver, University of British Columbia, Goel Family Charitable Foundation, Vancouver, and Janta Sewak Society, Vancouver. 

For the last five years community activist and owner of Punjab Bhawan and Sukhi Bath Motors has been organizing an annual Conference to debate the past, present and the future of the Punjabi language. This year’s conference was held on October 8-9 at Taj Convention Centre, Surrey. Well known Punjabi writers and intellectuals from India, US, and Canada participated. A drama, titled “LachhuKabadia” was staged by Dr. Sahab Singhdepicting the conditions of the hitherto under-privileged sections of society. It got audience’s huge applause. The annual Arjan Singh Memorial Award was given to Mr. Sucha Singh Claire for his  services as a social activist and a Punjabi language  columnist. 

Communities in BC are diversified. Diversity is the most valued resource for human resilience and development.  The B.C. Cultural Diversity Association, incorporated in May 2018, celebrated  its Annual Seniors Recognition Day on October 14, 2023. The International Day of Older People is observed on October 1 each year. As a prominent member of the Indo-Canadian community Mr. Sucha Singh Claire was recognized by the B.C. Cultural Diversity Association. Ms. Sudha Manral, another Indo-Canadian was also recognized as one of the ten elders from different communities. The Association organized a Luncheon that day to encourage exchange of understanding and connection within as well as among diverse cultures. 

Mr. Claire is a soft-spoken, approachable, unassuming and a down-to-earth human being. He is an epitome of “A good heart conquers ill fortune.”

Zile Singh is a well respected Columnist, Writer and a Vipassana Meditater. He has a Post-Graduate Diploma in Human Rights.  He can be reached at zsnirwal@yahoo.ca