HARKIRPAL SARA

Mr. Sara was on of my favorite teachers at Lord Byng. He presented us with a stern exterior, but occasionally he softened his image by telling us stories of his life in India. What a great man. My sincere condolences to his family.

Mr. Sara was a very caring and sensitive teacher who spent many hours after school helping us. I remember him with very fond memories even though I graduated 32 years ago!!! Thank you Mr. Sara for your committed time with us... sweet dreams.
Gayle

I too would like to add my condolences on the passing of Mr. Sara. He was my math teacher at Lord Byng but he was also my Grade 6 teacher at Queen Mary Elementary. He taught us most subjects. He would periodically tell us with great pride that we were doing math at a Grade 9 level while we were only in Grade 6. However my favourite memory for me was in English. Our assignment was to write a poem I did my best but was unable to come up with a suitable ending. I can't remember the topic but his comment after reading my poem was "Nature is a beautiful artist". That became the last line in the poem and it is a line I frequently repeat whenever I recognize the truth in these words. All the best to his family and friends.

What a lovely man & a great teacher. I was in so many math classes where the good students got better & the ones like me, who didn't get it right away, got worse. I remember the beginning of the year in gr 11 when he made his speech about marks & held up the class register. He showed us the empty column where the previous year's marks would be entered & said he was purposely leaving it blank as he wanted to meet us on our merits that year & not prejudge us on our previous performance. We would have a chance to show him what we could do without any prejudice on his part. Harkirpal Singh Sara. As an indian man in a very WASP highschool in the 70's he taught me more than the fact that a C- math student could achieve a C+. He subtly explained that judging people before you know them is wrong and it's a lesson I have OFTEN thought of since.

Sincere condolences on the passing of Mr. Sara. He was an extraordinary man and an exemplary teacher. We feel privileged to have had him as our Math teacher at Lord Byng and enjoyed the stories he would tell us at the end of class. A remarkable man has left his mark on his students.

Cleo and Colleen (the twins)

Thinking of you at this difficult and sad time. I wish I could be there and pay your dad's last respect. I am heartbroken about his passing and will always miss him. Love, Kia

Mr Sara tried his best to teach me maths, but even with his unending patience, I'm afraid I never quite got it. I will always remember his passion for the subject and his support for those struggling with it. This was the most precious and valuable thing I learned from him - his compassion and humanity - a memory which I will always cherish. RIP Mr Sara (Lord Byng, class of '77)

I remember my school "daze" with Mr. Sara at Lord Byng well. He knew his stuff, pushed us to aim higher but I too enjoyed most of all and remember him best for his stories of his younger days in India.

Mr. Sara was my math teacher at Lord Byng and I always enjoyed his stories about life in India. He was one of my favourite teachers from high school and I remember him fondly.

Mr Sara is one of the few teachers I remember from my school day. He always expected more from me than I expected from myself and encouraged me to aim higher. Best wishes to his family at this time.

A real professional....with passion.
Glad he took the time to care about us and that he lived a good long life. I always recall him telling us about being a cop in India. 35 years later we salute him as a great teacher!

Thank you Mr. Sara for teaching me algebra at Lord Byng High school and having the patience and taking the time to explain it to me after class to bring me from a failing grade in December to A- by the end of the year. I will never forget you. I wish also to add that Mr. Sara planted a seed of multiculturalism in me that anyone can see has come to fruition in the music I compose to this day. I express my condolences to the entire Sara family. – John Oliver