Building
Cultural Bridges
Since arriving in Canada
from his native Pakistan, 1968, Asaf Shujah has been one of the most active
members of the Pakistani community of Toronto. Now President of the Pakistan
Canada Cultural Association, Mr. Shujah immigrated to Canada after obtaining
a London, U.K., diploma as a computer programmer. He worked at the Bank
of Montreal and Ryerson Polytechnic University, Toronto, 1970-1984, before
becoming involved in motel and residential property management as President,
Gold Bloom Management & Investment Co. Ltd. Since 1990, he has also
been proprietor of East Pole Trading Co., importers of equestrian riding
equipment. His extra-curricular activities, on behalf of the Pakistani
community, include being a founder of the Pakistan Canada Cultural Association,
1972, and founder of the Urdu-English monthly newspaper, AZAD, 1990. He
has served on committees of the Toronto Board of Education; helped Ontario's
Ministry of the Attorney General design the terms of reference for the
Commission on Race Relations in Criminal Justice, 1992; was appointed Chairman,
National Federation of Pakistani Canadians, 1993; and in 1997, organized
the “50th Anniversary Independence Day Celebrations,” the same year he
served as Chair, Pakistan-Muslim League of Canada. Mr.Shujah’s volunteer
work has been recognized by several organizations, including the Ontario
Government who recently awarded him a certificate marking 15 years of voluntarism.
[Photo, courtesy Asaf Shujah]
