Jag Dhillon. Classification talk

A young man who was well connected at home but suffered a lack of identity.

He was Mr Dhillons son.

With his pregnant wife and their 3 yr old daughter they left India to travel to Canada for work.

His first work was with a law firm but that didn’t pay well so he soon got better qualified at UBC. He took Community planning whilst working at a sawmill as a grader to earn the fees for school.

Then 2 years with B.C. Hydro in the planning department.

He then worked for several town planning departments over the next 37 years..

He is retired now but still consults for several town-planning departments and is busy full time.  He was Director of planning for several cities in B.C.

Rotary has changed over the years but is still a chance to pay back to the communities from which he has benefited so much.

Also as a member of the International committee he has had a chance to do projects abroad in such places as Panama and South Africa.

Using his experience here he was able to introduce such things as simple accounting and bookkeeping to these communities he worked with.

One project area now bakes their own bread after they set a bakery there with his help.

In Africa they learn to do things better and do it through the Peace Corps.

He tried to teach them their way rather than the local way.

Sometimes we can learn from them.

In some cases there is more than just town planning.

In one case they are still in touch from 1986.

He also did a project in Ghana.

He won the Queens Jubilee medal for a project he worked on.

He is still a planner for Chilliwack and works with the Province of B.C.

We need to look at the environment nowadays as well.

 A shortage of money is going to dictate future growth.

We may not get everything we want in future town planning.  We may have to compromise.

Our speaker was thanked by President Paul.