Dr. Satwinder Kaur Bains receiving King Charles III Coronation Medal

Dr. Satwinder Kaur Bains would be the first to say that none of the work at UFV’s South Asian Studies Institute (SASI) is done with awards and recognition in mind. But, it’s nice when it happens.

Satwinder has been the director of SASI for more than a decade, pursing her passion for telling the real history of BC’s settlers, and she is being recognized with a prestigious honour. She is receiving the King Charles III Coronation Medal at a special ceremony this month in Vancouver. Created by the federal government in 2023, the award recognizes Canadians like Satwinder who’ve had a positive impact on their communities and country, particularly in the areas of diversity, sustainability, and the environment.

As SASI director, Satwinder leads a team of scholars and engaged students from diverse backgrounds. They conduct inter-disciplinary research, and community and public engagement on issues related to South Asia and the Canadian South Asian Diaspora.

“It is an honour for me and, along with me, the team at SASI to be recognized in this manner at a milestone moment in Canadian history,” Satwinder says with a smile. “I am humbled to think that our work is appreciated and admired ― making it all worthwhile for all of us at SASI. Our passionate interest keeps us motivated to do more as we are aware that this work is groundbreaking and is just in its beginning stages. There is a lot that still needs to be done, and we are excited to be on this journey at UFV.”

Among her countless projects, Satwinder is currently excited about Haq and History 2.0 — a travelling art exhibit that SASI played a large role in producing.

The exhibit, which debuted at the Royal B.C. Museum (RBCM) in 2020, offers visitors the chance to reflect upon stories from and about South Asian Canadian immigrants, including details about work, home life, and keeping cultural traditions alive. They learn about the experiences of immigrants working at sawmills across B.C. in the early 1900s. They hear about travel from regions in newly partitioned India in the 1950s and learn about the challenges sourcing culturally significant food in Vancouver in the 1960s and ’70s. The exhibit shares poignant memories of life in Paldi, the first village in B.C. to be founded by South Asians.

“From 2017–2020, we travelled across the province gathering stories, archives, ephemera, and local histories to resurrect, recollect, and restore the South Asian Canadian historical record,” Satwinder says enthusiastically. “The exhibit presents a 100-plus year aggregate history of South Asian settlements in B.C.”

BC Premier David Eby wrote a letter to Satwinder, congratulating her for the King Charles III Coronation Medal, saying, “Your dedication to service and impressive accomplishments have earned you the respect and admiration of your community and we are pleased to see you recognized along with other exemplary individuals.”

Satwinder will receive the medal at a ceremony on August 27 in Vancouver.