Gurpuran Singh Waraich

1932 - 2021

GURPURAN SINGH WARAICH May 30, 1932 - September10, 2021 Gurpuran Singh Waraich, jagirdar and socialist, was born in Hakumatpur, Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India, the son of Captain Gurdial Singh Waraich and Harbans Kaur Dhillon at midnight with the full moon in attendance. He began an MA in history at the University of Toronto in 1960 and organized and danced the first bhangra ever in Toronto there at its arts festival (see Torontonensis '62 p.78). He met his wife, co-student, Marianne Ramaekers, at FROS (Friendly Relations with Overseas Students). Together with Major and Jimmy Gill of India Trading Co., he raised money for and co-founded, the first Sikh Gurdwara (temple) in Toronto on Pape Ave. which gave rise to the Little India on Gerrard. He helped settle many newcomers. The couple raised their four children, Rupica, Neela, Paul, and Sonia in Burlington, with a four-year interval in Chandigarh, India. His import business allowed him to spend his winters in India where, having raised funds from fellow expats, he effected many village improvements such as paving the roads, deepening wells, organizing soccer tournaments for local youth and holding eye camps. His passionate idealism made him a lifelong supporter of the NDP. Share and Care was his motto! He suffered from Alzheimer's for the last 7 years of his life and died quietly in his sleep. He leaves his wife, children, and three granddaughters, Claire, Madeleine, and Victoria. Expressions of sympathy may be directed to mariannewaraich@gmail.com and memorial donations to the Alzheimer Society.