You may not be familiar with all of their names, but their businesses play a key role in our community. Members of Brampton’s business community have rolled up their sleeves to pitch in and help as we come together to deal with COVID-19. With the pandemic taking its toll on our healthcare institutions and charitable organizations, community leaders have taken it upon themselves to exemplify the spirit of giving. With their corporate offices in Brampton, Rogers Communication Inc. has led by example through Martha Rogers, member of the Board of Directors of the company and the Chair of Rogers Foundation. She has generously committed to matching donations to the William Osler Health System Foundation’s Health Care Heroes Campaign up to $500,000. Others in the community have stepped up to help as well.
Brampton businessman Sajjad Ebrahim, former owner of Par-Pak Ltd, has openheartedly extended his own commitment to match donations to the same campaign for up to $100,000. BVD Petroleum through their president, Bikram Dhillon, presented a cheque to the Osler Foundation at their offices near Airport Road. Narinderpal Lalria and Rajwinder Johal of Access Personnel have also contributed $20,000 to the Health Care Heroes Campaign. In another show of solidarity, the CEO of Brampton-based Canon Canada, Mr. Nobuhiko Kitajima, sent a personal message of support to the Osler Foundation for their contribution. Donations to the campaign are being collected by the William Osler Foundation to provide “ventilators, vital signs monitors, stretchers and personal protective equipment” to health care professionals that serve the Brampton community at Brampton Civic Hospital and Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness.
The Knights Table, a Brampton neighbourhood charitable organization offering hot meals, food bank items and other services to the community, has received a $20,000 contribution from Alectra Utilities. Brian Bentz, President and CEO of Alectra Inc., praised the “critical service” that the food bank was providing, adding that Alectra “will continue to help our communities in every way that [they] can.” Brampton native and New York Times bestselling author, Rupi Kaur, challenged herself and other notable literary figures to make donations to local food banks including Knights Table.
Businesses have not had a monopoly on generosity as community associations have also done their part and stepped in to help. The Brampton Professional Fire Fighters Association has made a donation to local Brampton foodbanks. Local 1068, representing 510 brave men and women, even set up a donation drive, taking on the responsibility of collecting donations and delivering them. The Brampton Tamil Association also demonstrated their community spirit by making a generous donation to the Osler Foundation. These acts of altruism were accurately captured by Mr. Sajjad Ebrahim’s statement to the Osler Foundation: “Viruses know no borders, nor should our compassion.”
Thanks to all of our Brampton heroes for their generosity and community spirit. We will get through this together!