Almost 82 years young, my dad, Sonny Sengara, affectionately known as pops or Papa bear in our family, has reiterated the value of education to all of his children. From a very young age there was a constant message of “School’s important, it's essential for your future! How are you going to make money without an education?” that permeated our home as a child and continues to extend to how he speaks to his grandchildren.  

Coming from a very modest background as one of eleven children born to an Indian family living in an industrial area of Vancouver, BC, my father has worked extremely hard to become a successful business owner and property developer. While most of his education was not found in schools and he might still struggle to list off all of the vowels, his knowledge and skill set speaks volumes and has significantly impacted the way I navigate the world. I am very excited to share some of his insights and experience with you today.