Rooted and Rising – Season 2 brought together the stories, journeys, and achievements of immigrant Punjabi women in a meaningful celebration of identity, resilience, and community. The event was organized and moderated by Dr. Reetinder Kaur, Project Director at the UBC Kidney Transplant Research Program and an Instructor in the SFU Department of World Languages and Literatures. The event took place on September 17, 2026, at City Centre Library in Surrey as part of Punjabi Women’s Storytelling Week. The City of Surrey had proclaimed September 13 to 19, 2026, as Punjabi Women’s Storytelling Week, recognizing the importance of creating space for Punjabi women’s voices and experiences.
This second season continued the vision established through the first Rooted and Rising event: to bring Punjabi women’s stories into a public space where they could be heard, appreciated, and passed on to future generations. The initiative grew from a desire to recognize the contributions of Punjabi women while also acknowledging the challenges and transitions that often accompany immigration and building a new life in Canada.
The event provided an opportunity for community members to hear from accomplished Punjabi women and learn from their personal and professional journeys. The panelists included Maninder Grewal (banking professional and community builder), Parvind Grewal (Director of Data Systems, Informatics & Analytics, BC Transplant), Baljinder Kaur (media personality), Jaspreet Sidhu (media personality and radio host), and Sukhjeevan Sandhu (licensed psychologist). The panelists shared experiences that reflected the diverse paths these women have taken while building their lives and careers in Canada. They highlighted the importance of staying focused, seeking help when needed, learning new skills, building networks, and engaging with diverse people in order to grow, stand out, and transform the ordinary into something extraordinary. Rooted and Rising – Season 2 therefore became part of a larger celebration of Punjabi women’s voices, experiences, and contributions to the social and cultural fabric of Surrey.
