John,Challinor II Tiger Jeet Singh Public School

March 5th, 2010
Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 11:46 pm    Post subject: NAMING OF NEW SCHOOL ON YATES DRIVE

To those who are interested in knowing why the Board made the decision it did, please find pasted below my remarks in support of the naming of the school for Tiger Jeet Singh.

Below it, I have provided you with his philanthropic and humanitarian efforts, so far.

The decision had nothing to do with his athletic endeavours — he was recognized for that by the Town of Milton in 2007 when he was inducted into Milton’s Hall of Fame.

With respect to Mssrs. Coates and Deacon, both have been recognized through the naming of local roads for them. Undoubtedly, that will happen for Mr. McCaw. His name is on the list for selection.

Tiger Jeet Singh is one of our community’s 35 most significant local residents over the last 153 years.

I hope this helps. If you have any further questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to contact me by email at challinors@sympatico.ca or by phone at (905) 878-7638.

Thanks!

JC

 
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:

• $200,000 donation to community of Sujapur, India (1990) (money used to build water and sewer infrastructure)
• $100,000+ donation committed to Milton District Hospital Foundation (2006)
• $35,000 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)
• $30,000 raised through his leadership with Troy’s Diner Toy Drive (2009) (toys went to local Salvation Army and Sick Childrens Hospital in Toronto )
• $25,000 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)

Slam Wrestling, Tiger Jeet Singh Public School

March 5th, 2010
School named after Tiger Jeet Singh

By GREG OLIVER – Producer, SLAM! Wrestling

 
 
 

The honours keep rolling in for Tiger Jeet Singh. On Thursday, it was announced that Tiger Jeet Singh Public School will open in Milton, Ontario in September.

“It’s very big news, and a big honour for the family,” Tiger Jeet Singh told SLAM! Wrestling.

The city of Milton, about 30 minutes west of Toronto, inducted Singh and his son Tiger Ali Singh into its Milton Hall of Fame in 2007.

The new Milton elementary school, which is almost completed at 640 Yates Drive, will host junior kindergarten to Grade 8.

Four names were considered for the school: Tiger Jeet Singh Public School, Coates Crossing Public School, Robert McCaw Public School, and John Deacon Public School.

The school board meeting was tough to sit through, said Tiger Ali Singh. “It was excruciating. We were there at the board, but unbeknownst to us, we didn’t know it was going to be a unanimous,” he said, adding that the announcement was “very emotional.”

Milton author and historian John Challinor II made the presentation to the board, and stressed that the honour should be made based on Tiger Jeet Singh’s philanthropy and humanitarian works.

“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,” Challinor said.

Singh is not the first professional wrestler in Canada to have a school named after him, however. That honour first went to Whipper Billy Watson. In 1993, the York Region District School Board named W.J. Watson Public School in Keswick, Ontario, after him for all his charitable works.

In an interview with the Toronto Star, Area Trustee Donna Danielli addressed the decision, which has been met with some controversy given the violent nature of professional wrestling.

“He definitely makes a difference in the community and I believe that he will be a very positive role model and mentor at that school — he plans to be very involved,” Danielli said.

Tiger Ali Singh said the family was going to take it a step further than just being involved with the school. “Now I’ve got to get all my kids going to that school!” he laughed.

Greg Oliver has been writing about pro wrestling since 1985. His fifth book, SLAM! Wrestling: Shocking Stories from the Squared Circle has just been released. The four previous books are Benoit: Wrestling with the Horror That Destroyed a Family and Crippled a Sport (with Steven Johnson, Heath McCoy and Irv Muchnick); The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Heels (with Steven Johnson); The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams (also with Johnson) and The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Canadians. Order them all from the SLAM! Wrestling Store. He can be emailed at goliver@canoemail.com.

Troy’s Toy Drive on Breakfast Television

January 25th, 2010

Troy’s Diner on BT

 

Comments on this story are moderated

Tigers Jeet’s Gesture To Sick Kids Hospital

January 25th, 2010

sick kids hospital

 

THE WEEKLY VOICE,

SATURDAY, JANUARY 09, 2010 A – 15

COMMUNITY NEWS

Milton: Wrestling Legend Tiger Jeet Singh and his son, former WWE Superstar Tiger Ali Singh really drove home the notion that Christmas is about far more than Santa Claus, shopping and eating. Using his influence around town, Tiger Jeet Singh was able to rally the troops for Troy’s Toy Drive, run by Troy Newton. Singh,  Sikh, was able to get the posters for the event up in area Muslim Mosques and  Sikh Gurdwaras, helping spur on the giving regardless of faith. His son, Tiger Ali Singh, displayed that with his get-up – a Santa suit, wrestling belt and his turban. It was East meets West, he said. “People of all faiths can come together for children in need,” said Tiger Ali Singh. The celebration at Troy’s Diner located in the Best Western Milton Inn was broadcast live on City TV (Canadian network) by Breakfast Television. The Singhs along with the most famous hockey dad in Canada Walter Gretzky (father of Wayne Gretzky) were in high demand for their pictures and autographs by the fans in attendance. The toy drive was very successful because of the donations made by local Miltonians and area residents that over $30,000 in toys and money were raised. Some of the extra money was used to buy food for a food bank. The toys went to the Salvation Army, with a portion going to The Hospital for Sick  Children in Toronto — at the insistence of the Singhs. “This opportunity to give back truly means the world for our family,” said Tiger Ali. “Less than five years ago my nephew was a patient at Sick Kids when he was diagnosed with leukemia. With God’s grace and the helpful staff at the hospital he survived after he received a bone marrow transplant.” Along with Troy Newton and Honourable Harinder S. Takhar Minister of Government Services, the Tigers delivered toys to the patients at the hospital. The father son team hosted a meet and greet with the children where they signed autographs and had their pictures taken with their championship belt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Letter to the editor: Canadian Champion, Tiger Jeet Jr Singh

January 25th, 2010

Toy drive a big success

Letters
Jan 13, 2010
DEAR EDITOR:
I wanted to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all my fellow Miltonians and area residents neighbouring our beautiful community for their generosity in making Troy’s (Diner) Toy Drive an overwhelming success.

It was due to their donations and the assistance of sponsors that the toy drive was able to take in more than $30,000 worth of toys.

The entire atmosphere during the campaign wrap-up was truly special. For those who were in attendance, they know exactly what I mean. It was such a magical feeling and the true spirit of the season could be felt throughout the entire building.

Because there were so many toys donated, it allowed us the chance to make a donation delivery to Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children in addition to the local Salvation Army.

My father and I were so honoured to be given the opportunity to visit some of the patients, and I was amused by how excited the children were to have their pictures taken with our championship belt. However, it was the children that were the true champs in our eyes.

In closing, I would like to offer my sincere thanks to my dear friend Troy Newton for allowing both my father and me the opportunity to participate in such a noble cause. There’s nothing more gratifying than bringing a smile to a child’s face.

Here’s wishing everyone a happy, healthy and peaceful 2010.

TIGER JEET SINGH JR., MILTON

Welcome to Troy’s Diner!

January 23rd, 2010

There’s nothin’ finer than eatin’ at Troy’s Diner!

Troy’s Diner is a 1950’s Coca-Cola inspired diner decorated in a retro, vintage style with a plethora of various Coca-Cola merchandise. Troy’s Diner is a reasonably-priced, family restaurant with a fun, lively atmosphere that serves breakfast all-day, every day. Owner Troy Newton also participates in many of Milton’s major events over the course of the year, donating many dollars to local charities or causes, such as the Milton District Hospital.

Troy Fest is an annual event organized by Troy’s Diner which occurs every October with activities such as: horse and buggy rides, pumpkin carving, Halloween candy sales, face-painting, penny raffles and Troy’s drag car with all proceeds going to Milton District Hospital. The inaugural Troy Fest was held in 2006.