INDERJIT SINGH CLAIRE

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INDERJIT SINGH CLAIRE Inderjit Singh Claire was born in Pachmari, Punjab on May 10, 1931. He was predeceased by his father Bhajan Singh Claire, his mother Kishan Kaur Claire, his older sister Harbans Kaur Gill, his older brother Harbans Singh Kaler, and his younger sister Gurcharan Kaur Sidhu. He is survived by his loving wife Baljit Kaur Claire; his mother-in-law Harchand Kaur Grewal; and children, Harinderjit Kaur Cheema, husband Dr. Gulzar Singh Cheema; Jatinderpal (J.P.) Singh Claire, wife Loretta Marie Claire; Jagjit Kaur Claire; and Mohinderpal (Paul) Singh Claire, wife Kiranjit Kaur Claire; grandchildren, Anuraj Singh Cheema, Kiranjit Kaur Cheema, Haley Jordan Kaur Claire, and Jared Paul Singh Claire; his sister-in-law Malkit Kaur Kaler; his brother Ranjit Singh Claire; sister-in-law Surjit Kaur Claire; his sister Ranjit Kaur Sidhu; brother-in-law Gurmel Singh Sidhu; his youngest sister Balvinder Kaur Gill, husband Satpal Singh Gill; brother-in-law Jalaur Singh Sidhu; and a large extended family. Papa was raised in Churchak, Punjab where he matriculated from high school. He attended DM College in Moga and Government College in Ludhiana where he earned F.Sc. and B.Sc. degrees. He also earned his Master of Zoology from Jabalpur University. He began his teaching career at Government School in Mehraj and later lectured at Lyallpur Khalsa College in Jallundar. He and his loving wife Baljit Kaur were married on June 16, 1956. He was blessed with the births of his two eldest children (Harinderjit and J.P.) soon afterward. Papa always followed his dreams and soon moved to Scotland in 1964 so he could continue his teaching career at Breahead Secondary School in Buckhaven, County of Fife. His third child (Jagjit) was born while he was away. Shortly after settling in Scotland and reuniting his family his youngest child (Paul) was born. In 1968 the Claire family was once again on the move as Papa looked to Canada for the next stop on his voyage to building a better life for all of us. We settled in St. Benedict, SK for that first year and then moved to Hudson Bay, SK in August of 1969. His life was incredibly busy during the next 18 years, teaching, sometimes selling life insurance, raising his young family, and struggling to make a 640 acre grain farm successful. He was especially proud of the fact that he was the first farmer of East Indian ancestry to hold a Saskatchewan Wheat Pool Permit book to sell his grain. He also found time and passion to sponsor countless members of his family to immigrate to Canada, while earning his B.Ed. degree (1972), and a Post Graduate Diploma in Educational Psychology (1983). He was always a strong believer in community development and gave of his time and energy in numerous roles in the community of Hudson Bay such as President of the Hudson Bay Teachers Association, Counsellor representing his school unit with the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation, Director with the Hudson Bay Credit Union, Vice Chairman Hudson Bay Alfalfa Dehydration Plant, Lions Club Member, Coach, Constituency President of the Kelsey Tisdale Riding with the Provincial NDP Party, and President of the McKenzie Riding with the Federal NDP Party. He moved to Winnipeg in 1986 after having taught in Beauval, SK for two years. While in Winnipeg, he taught as an Enrichment program coordinator at the Junior High School level and as a senior science/math teacher at the Maples Collegiate. During this time he also served as a Councillor with several Seven Oaks schools. He retired from teaching with the Seven Oaks School Division in 1997. Not one to sit idle long, Papa served thereafter as the general manager of Duffys Taxi Ltd. As was his custom he continued to give much of his personal time to his city and cultural community. He served as President of the Gurudwara Singh Sabha on three separate occasions, was a member of the Manitoba Intercultural Council, served as Vice Chairman of the Maples Youth Justice Committee, was a candidate for the NDP in the 1995 Provincial Election for The Maples Constituency, served as a riding delegate to several NDP and Liberal National Leadership Conventions and was the President of the Manitoba Sikh Cultural & Seniors Centre Inc. from its inception in 1999. He was the recipient of a 125th Anniversary of Canadian Confederation Commemorative Medal for his contributions to the community. He was also very proud of being recognized by the Lt. Governor and Premier of Manitoba as one of the few honoured Manitobans to receive the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2002. He was a fierce defender of the Canadian parliamentary process and valued his voice as a citizen with great pride. As such he worked on numerous federal, provincial, and municipal election campaigns in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and British Columbia during his 35 years as a proud and great Canadian. He was looking forward to his retirement years so that he could discover more of the world and visit with his children and grandchildren. Papa and Grandma had just returned to Canada from a visit to India when he was suddenly taken from us by natural causes. He will be remembered and loved by all whom he touched for his passion, his wisdom, his unwavering belief in the common man, his endless generosity and his immense ability to share his love and compassion. The Claire Family.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 12, 2004