Birthday and anniversary celebrants at APNI CRN in February 2024. Surendra Handa and wife Sanyogita pictured centre, holding the mic and a card. (Photo credit: S. Handa)
Mr. Surendra Handa, APNI (South Asian) CRN Coordinator and co-founder, has been a part of the BC CRN community for only two years but during that time he has organized and attended more events and social gatherings in his community than we can count. We caught up with the incomparable Mr. Handa to get the story of his recent 50th wedding anniversary celebration that he shared in a unique way – with his community seniors’ group.
Anniversary Celebration During APNI CRN Cruise Adventure
In February this year Surendra and his wife, Sanyogita, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with 62 members of their seniors’ group during the group’s 12th annual cruise. Each year, he creates and presents a cruising adventure opportunity to the members and begins to meticulously craft an itinerary for those that respond. It takes him almost the entire year to research and create a schedule full of fun experiences, and he ensures every detail is included in the cost of the trip: flights, meals, excursions and other expenses.
This year’s adventure started with a flight from Vancouver to Cape Town where they boarded the cruise ship. They called in at three ports around the coast of South Africa with group excursions to safari game parks at each one. Then on to Madagascar and ending in Mauritius where they all flew back to Vancouver.
A few of the 62 senior celebrants during the APNI CRN cruise. (Photo S. Handa)
Surendra noted that open-water cruising days “can be boring” and wanted to be sure no one experienced any boredom. He worked with the ship’s crew and reserved a small theatre during the voyage to provide special entertainment and celebration programs to mark a few notable occasions that were happening during the trip: his and his wife’s anniversary, a community member’s birthday and also aboard celebrating their 50th anniversary were the parents of Vancouver-Hastings MLA, Nikki Sharma. Each event lasted about two hours with entertainment and festivities that included: snacks, playing bingo, singing Bollywood and Punjabi folk songs, playing Bollywood music and dancing Punjabi folk dances.
Mr. Surendra Handa is currently 82 years young and is still running circles around people a third of his age. Besides taking seniors on cruises, his schedule is overflowing with events and activities for providing education and referral resources for the prevention of abuse, neglect and self-neglect of vulnerable adults. It is evident that connecting with and caring for the seniors in his community is very important to him and brings him great joy.
APNI CRN seniors gathered to celebrate Mother’s Day at the Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre. (Photo S. Handa)
In addition to being the Coordinator of the APNI CRN, he is currently the Coordinator for the Vedic Hindu Cultural Society of BC, the CRN host agency. Within the Society is the Vedic Seniors Parivar (Hindu for ‘family’) Centre which serves as the local seniors community centre. Surendra oversees much of the programming and presentations that keep the seniors connected and educated on topics of all matters.
His adventurous life story and how he came to be the Coordinator of the APNI CRN under Regional Mentor, Jas Cheema, is featured in a 2022 post where he was recognized as volunteer of the month.
Read more about Mr. Handa and a special award he received for outstanding service to the community on the late queen’s jubilee.
Explore our website to learn more about BC CRN or connect with your local CRN for more information or resources.
