GIAN SANGHA

You may have heard the amazing story of Gian Sangha, the courageous BC-based Indian immigrant who filed a discrimination complaint with the Human Rights Commission. And won.

Sangha arrived in Canada with every intention of “serving the government or serving the country.” Two weeks after interviewing with the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board in Yellowknife, he was informed by email that another candidate had been selected for the position. This, despite his overwhelming qualifications as an environmental scientist.

The importance of Sangha’s case? Writes the Canadian Human Rights Commission: “What began as a complaint based on overt racism developed into a very detailed analysis of a problem of systemic discrimination based on the barriers to employment faced by highly trained visible minorities.”

Proud of the victory, Sangha still wonders what more Canadian employers want or need beyond his proven skills and experience in his specialized field.

Companies must consider that new immigrants must not be denied any position due to his or her qualifications.