Tiger Jeet Singh Public School

Tiger Jeet Singh Public School

PRESENTATION TO HALTON DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

MARCH 3, 2010

JOHN CHALLINOR II
LOCAL AUTHOR AND HISTORIAN

GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN, TRUSTEES OF

THE BOARD AND STAFF…

THANK-YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING TO DISCUSS THE NAMING OF THE LATEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO BE OPENED AT 640 YATES DRIVE IN MILTON… I AM PROPOSING THAT THIS NEW SCHOOL BE NAMED TIGER JEET SINGH PUBLIC SCHOOL, FOR THE WORLD RECORD-HOLDING FORMER PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER TIGER JEET SINGH… I COULD EASILY SPEND MY ALLOTTED TIME AND PROBABLY THE REMAINDER OF THIS EVENING RECITING TIGER’S LIST OF ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS, WHICH HE EARNED OVER A LONG CAREER IN CANADA, THE UNITED STATES, JAPAN AND SOUTH-EAST ASIA…

WHILE HIS ATHLETIC PROWESS HAS AFFORDED HIM A HIGH PROFILE AROUND THE WORLD DURING THE LAST FORTY YEARS, IT ONLY TELLS A PART OF TIGER’S LIFE STORY. I BELIEVE IT IS THE OTHER HALF OF HIS LIFE THAT IS PERHAPS MOST RELEVANT TO YOU AS YOU GO THROUGH THE PROCESS THIS EVENING OF NAMING A NEW SCHOOL…TIGER JEET SINGH HAS SERVED CANADA AND THE WORLD AS A NON-GOVERNMENTAL TRADE AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS WITH A MANDATE TO REACH OUT TO SOUTH-EAST ASIAN COUNTRIES… HE CONTINUES TO SERVE AS THE WORLD-WIDE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AMBASSADOR TO MILTON, A COMMUNITY WHERE HE MAKES HIS HOME AND HAS LIVED ALMOST HALF HIS LIFE. IN 2007, TIGER WAS HONOURED BY THE TOWN OF MILTON AS ONE OF THE FIRST INDUCTEES INTO ITS WALK OF FAME…

HE IS ARGUABLY THE MOST REVERED MEMBER OF CANADA’S SOUTH-EAST ASIAN COMMUNITY, AN INDIVIDUAL WHO EITHER RECEIVES VISITORS AT HIS HOME WHO ARE SEEKING GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT OR IS REQUESTED TO TRAVEL ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO PROVIDE SAME…

HE IS A DISTINGUISHED AND REGULAR GUEST AT COMMUNITY, RELIGIOUS AND ATHLETIC EVENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, OFTEN HOSTING PRIME MINISTERS, PREMIERS AND OTHER DIGNITARIES. OVER THE LAST THIRTY YEARS, TIGER HAS BECOME THE WISE, OLD UNCLE OF CANADA’S INDIAN COMMUNITY… ON A SPIRITUAL LEVEL, HE IS THE FIRST AND ONLY CHIEF PATRON OF THE PUNJABI SAHIT SABBA OF ONTARIO – AN ORGANIZATION THAT FACILITATES EDUCATION, CULTURE, SOCIETAL VALUE AND GENERATION PROMOTION OF SIKHISM – A VOLUNTARY ROLE HE HAS PERFORMED SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 1976… ON A COMMUNITY LEVEL, HE IS A ROLE MODEL FOR HUMANITY AROUND THE WORLD, A HUMBLE MAN FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS WHO WORKED HARD, ACHIEVED SUCCESS AND NOW ADVOCATES TO THOUSANDS OF PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN ABOUT DRUG AND ALCOHOL AWARENESS, THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING IN SCHOOL AND THE NEED TO BE PHYSICALLY FIT…

IN A WORLD WHERE SOME OF OUR LEADERS AND TOP PERFORMERS HAVE SAID ONE THING ABOUT THEIR LIVES WHILE DOING SOMETHING ELSE ALTOGETHER, THIS TIGER IS THE GENUINE ARTICLE – A MAN WHO WALKS THE TALK…

HAPPILY MARRIED TO SUKHJIT FOR FORTY YEARS, THEY HAVE RAISED A FAMILY OF THREE BOYS WHO HAVE EACH GONE ON TO ENJOY SUCCESSFUL CAREERS OF THEIR OWN.  TIGER HAS NEVER USED DRUGS TO ENHANCE HIS PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE. HE HAS NEVER ABUSED DRUGS OR ALCOHOL IN HIS PERSONAL LIFE. HE HAS NEVER BEEN ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE LAW. AND, ON THAT LAST POINT, HE BETTER NOT – ONE OF HIS SONS IS A MEMBER OF HALTON REGIONAL POLICE FORCE…

PHILANTHROPICALLY, HE HAS GIVEN – AND CONTINUES TO GIVE — HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO HIS FORMER HOMELAND AND HIS NEW HOMELAND, MONIES EARMARKED FOR WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE, HOSPITALS, EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES AND THE BASIC NECESSITIES OF LIFE…

HE IS CURRENTLY CONSIDERING BECOMING THE VOICE OF CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES TO CANADA’S SOUTH-EAST ASIAN COMMUNITY…AND, HE AND ONE OF HIS SONS, ALSO A WORLD RECORD-HOLDING PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER AND A MEMBER OF MILTON’S WALK OF FAME, ARE PLANNING AN ANNUAL GOODWILL TOUR IN INDIA TO RAISE AWARENESS AND FUNDING FOR LOCAL CHARITIES, SCHOOLS, AND HOSPITALS WHILE CONTINUING TO CARRY TIGER’S MESSAGE ABOUT DRUGS AND ALCOHOL, EDUCATION AND FITNESS…

NAMING THE NEW SCHOOL FOR TIGER JEET SINGH WOULD AFFORD STUDENTS AND STAFF AT THAT INSTITUTION REGULAR ACCESS TO SOMEONE THEY COULD RELATE TO AND WHO COULD MENTOR THEM THE WAY HE DOES TO THOUSANDS OF OTHERS…  JUST AS RESPECTED FORMER EDUCATOR ED FOSTER ADVISED THE STUDENTS AND STAFF AT E.W. FOSTER PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE 1970S AND 1980S AND ASTRONAUT CHRIS HADFIELD REGULARLY DELIGHTS ALL WHO ATTEND CHRIS HADFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL TODAY, TIGER JEET SINGH HAS THE BACKGROUND, ABILITY AND PASSION TO BE MORE THAN JUST A NAME ON THE SIDE OF A NEW SCHOOL… NAMING MILTON’S NEWEST SCHOOL FOR TIGER JEET SINGH WILL BRING THAT  SCHOOL’S IDENTITY TO LIFE FOR AS LONG AS  TIGER IS PHYSICALLY ABLE AND WILLING TO MENTOR THEM – AND HIS INVOLVEMENT MAY ALSO HELP THE BOARD TO DEVELOP THE NEXT-GENERATION OF LEADERSHIP LOCALLY, NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY…

THANK-YOU…

Tiger Jeet Singh

Philanthropic Activities:

• Donation to community of Ludhiana, India (1990) (money used to build water and sewer infrastructure)
• Donation committed to Milton District Hospital Foundation (2006)
• Money raised through his leadership with Kopz4Kids (monies were shared between Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington and Halton Healthcare facilities in Georgetown, Milton and Oakville) (2008)
• Money raised through his leadership with Troy’s Diner Toy Drive (2009) (toys went to local Salvation Army and Sick Childrens Hospital in Toronto )
• Donation to Milton Historical Society to publish local book of history, Milton Streets (2008)
• Annual pilgrimage to India to donate money, including the following:
• o Five buses purchased for various Sikh temples in Punjab, India, so that poor had transportation to worship (2009)
• o Land purchased for college campus in Ludhiana, Punjab, India, so students could study locally as most couldn’t afford transportation to study out-of-town (2009)
• o Donated monies for clothing and other items to unspecified villages (1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s)
• Raised money with professional wrestler Lord Athol Layton for Shriners Foundation (late 1970s)
• Raised money with professional wrestler Whipper Billy Watson to help expand Newmarket Hospital and raise visibility for plight of handicapped children (early 1970s)
• Anonymous large annual donor to numerous local charities (ongoing)

Pending Philanthropic Activities:

• Annual Tiger Goodwill Tour to major cities through India to raise philanthropic awareness and provide funding for local charities, schools, hospitals, children’s’ hospitals, etc. (planned for 2010)

Humanitarian Activities:

• Non-governmental ambassador (trade) to United Nations with a mandate to reach out to South-East Asian countries (2000 – 2001)
• World-wide Economic Development Ambassador to Milton, Ontario (1980s, 1990s, 2000s)
• Drug, alcohol, education and physical fitness (Tiger-fit) awareness advocate in Canada, Japan, South-east Asia, addressing thousands of parents and students (1990s, 2000s)
• Chief Patron, Punjabi Sahit Sabha of Ontario (organization facilitates education, culture, societal value and general promotion of Sikhism) (since 1976)
• Recognized leader in Canadian South-East Asian community that members from across the country come to when in need of guidance and support (1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s)
• Annual guest of honour at major South-East Asian community religious, community, athletic events (1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s)
• Annual guest of honour at Canada Kabaddi Cup (typically alongside Prime Minister of Canada) (ongoing)

Pending Humanitarian Activities:

• Red Cross of Canada/Canadian Blood Services Official Spokesman to South East-Asian community regarding importance of blood donations
• Annual Tiger Goodwill Tour to major cities through India to raise plight of local charities, schools, hospitals, childrens’ hospitals, etc. and help to break down lack of empathy between social classes (planned for 2010)