Accolades for prominent lawyer

 

Sharma with Mayor McCallion

Prominent community lawyer Roop Sharma was honoured twice this past weekend on June 21st. The first came from CASAL (Canadian Association of South Asian Lawyers), who awarded him the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Society and Culture in four countries  — Canada, England, India and his native Guyana.

In attendance were hundreds of South Asian Lawyers, the Former Premier of British Columbia Ujjal Dosanjh, Minister Bal Gosal, MP Parm Gill and lawyer Dhaman Kissoon who gave him a most fitting introduction.

 

Two days later on June 23 in front of thousands on stage at Celebration Square in Mississauga, Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion, Masood Khan Chair of the South Asian Canada Day Committee, MP Brad Butt, Dr Kristy Duncan MP and Councillor Ron Star presented Sharma with a second Lifetime Achievement award.

Sharma’s five children Prabha Bassoo, Mala Singh, Ishwar Sharma LLB, Astuti Sharma and Kamla Sharma proudly witnessed their father receiving the two very Prestigious awards and were notably moved.

Ishwar, who has followed in his father’s footsteps, said: “We thank God for granting our dear father this great honour. He has worked hard all his life and truly deserves these accolades.”

Roop Sharma was notably humbled and moved by the Presentations and on both occaisions gave an eloquent acceptance speech and dedicated the awards to his late wife Dhani, saying she was the one who inspired him.

In addition to the lifetime achievement awards, Roop Sharma is also a licensed Hindu marriage officer, appointed to this post by the Ontario government in 1976. He has also served as President, The Canada Hindu Organization, President, Gayatri Mandir, Chairman, Canada Pandits Parishad, Founding Member and Legal Advisor to The Caribbean Children Foundation and Legal Counsel, Agincourt Legal Community Centre.

He was appointed by the Attorney General of Ontario as member, and acted as chairman of the Police Complaints Commission, for three years.

Among his other awards are one from the Ministry of Citizenship and Culture for Volunteerism in the community; the Adyatam Sadhak Award, New Delhi for selfless contribution in propagating Hindu Religion and Culture Overseas; the Dharm Ratna, presented by the Canada Hindu Organization and the Dharm Bhushan, presented by the Guyana Pandits Council.