This weekend, Halton real estate broker Amarjit Sanghera hosted her first Family Fun Day at Munn’s United Church to benefit the Canadian Cancer Society and the Upper Credit Humane Society.
From noon until 5 p.m., Sanghera, of Trimaxx Realty Ltd. Brokerage, and her team of volunteers served up burgers and sold cookies, brownies, and other goodies to the community in support of the chosen causes. Local businesses who sponsored the event were on hand to partake in the community spirit, with booths stocked with information about their services.
There was also face painting, games, and a raffle, with prizes donated from local businesses, contributing to a total of over $2000 for the Canadian Cancer Society and $500 for the Upper Credit Humane Society. Some 150 community members joined in over the course of the afternoon, no doubt in part due to the efforts of some of the high school student volunteers, who waved brightly-coloured signs on the sidewalk along Dundas to tempt drivers to turn in and partake in the fun.
For Sanghera, the day was important in bringing people together and helping create a sense of belonging, as well as raising money for causes that are close to her heart.
The Upper Credit Humane Society, she says, is because they’re a local and no-kill shelter; Sanghera herself has two cats.
The Canadian Cancer Society is an even more personal choice: Sanghera and her five sisters lost their beloved mother to breast cancer in 2016 after she struggled with the disease for eight years.
All of the Sanghera sisters (and assorted nieces and nephews) supported this fundraising Family Fun Day in one way or another: Spring Psychology and Wellness Centre, the practice of Dr. Parmjit Sanghera and Dr. Sarbjit Sanghera, was an event sponsor, and helped sell the baked goods; another sister baked cookies for the bake sale, while Amarjit baked the brownies that were for sale. Sister Jas Sanghera, a Halton police officer in the Community Mobilization Bureau, brought a cruiser for families to get a closer look, and it was her suggestion to reach out to local high schools to bring in volunteers.
It was clear that the Sanghera sisters share a desire not just to support the Canadian Cancer Society because of the link to their mother, but also to create a sense of belonging in the community. “We’re Sikh,” said Dr. Sanghera. “So it’s part of our culture —community and community service.”
Sanghera noted that cancer is a disease that touches everyone in one way or another; some of the high school volunteers were volunteering not to fulfill their mandated volunteer hours, but because someone they love had experienced cancer.
This was further highlighted by Dr. Eric Dawtrey of Oakville Rehabilitation Centre, one of the sponsors of the event, who not only knew Sanghera’s mother but lost his own father to brain cancer. “It’s personal to me, too,” Dawtrey explained.
Sanghera brought together other local businesses to sponsor the event, including Marlin Travel Oakville, ComForCare Home Care, Atelier Mortgage, Shoppers Drug Mart Prince Michael, Starbucks North Oakville, and Wellspring Cancer Support Centre. A handful of firefighters from Oakville’s fire department were also at the event with a fire truck, an always-popular sight at community events.
Those community connections helped make the event a success; said Jay Gill of event sponsor AtlanticKBF, who brought samples of countertops and tiling along, “I’ve known Amarjit a long time…we really support the cause, and love to see the whole community coming together, and being a part of it.”
Sanghera is now hoping to make the Family Fun Day fundraiser an annual event, perhaps in Burlington next time. No doubt it will be another full-family — and full community — event again next year.
