Hon. Harinder Takhar

Born to a farming family in Punjab, India, Harinder Takhar’s humble beginnings could not predict his eventual ascension to greatness. Although his father was a civil servant, the young Harinder was always on the move. The social Harinder was always making new friends and adapting to change as his father’s job as a civil servant occasionally meant that the family would have to pack their belongings and head towards his father’s new posting.

As a brilliant student from early on, his father placed a lot of trust in young Harinder. He would encourage the youngster to do whatever he pleased, and would continue to be a supportive figure in his life. It is this trust from his beloved father, coupled with absolute confidence that made Harinder always excel. His strong determination assisted his motivation not to betray the trust his father had put into him. Harinder ensured that his father would not be disappointed in the decisions he made and his trust was well placed.

Harinder explains that he was a student who excelled well in class. He achieved a number of promotions and found himself always sitting with students much older than he was due to the many scholarships that Harinder had received. Although he played field hockey and soccer at times, studies took priority. Finishing primary school in just 3 years and being the top student in his university as well as the province, Harinder easily qualified to do his masters on a state sponsored scholarship. At the early age of 21 this young man had masters in Economics to his credit.

Harinder took up teaching for awhile where it was here that he decided to pursue a degree in political science. It was in the month of February that he decided to take up this challenge. With only a couple of months to prepare for the exam, set to be in April of that year, his determination kicked into high gear. Harinder managed to achieve his goal and received his Degree in Political Science.

At 22 he became a Bank officer, enjoying many privileges that came with the job. Obtaining any bank job in South Asia is always a prestigious achievement and for Harinder to be appointed as a Bank officer in one of India’s prominent banks were definitely something to be proud of. It was around this time that his uncle who had long since lived in the United Kingdom had decided to turn a fresh leaf by moving to Canada. He offered the young lad the opportunity to join him. With a prestigious job in hand, the hesitant Harinder applied for residency in Canada in November of 1973. To his amazement he would hear from the Canadian authorities by December of that year who had given him 6 months to enter Canada with the deadline reading 20th July 1974.

Apprehensive yet hopeful, Harinder Takhar traveled with only $7 in his pocket. Due to heavy foreign exchange regulations imposed at the time by the Indian Government that is what he was left with. Harinder left his homeland India on an Air France jet that defactors in Abudhabi leaving him with no room to inform his uncle and his family of his upcoming arrival. His receiving family made the trip to the Pearson International Airport in the hopes of welcoming the young lad just to find that Harinder had not yet arrived. Believing that Harinder had changed his mind in coming to Canada due to the many comforts he was enjoying with a good job and highly qualified for his age his uncle and his family turned back and went home.

On the 17th of July, 1974 Canada eventually welcomed a young Indian man from state of Punjab. Harinder connected with his uncle and began the process of settling down in his new country. With Harinder’s impeccably sharp memory that he easily recalls the experience although it was over thirty years ago. Finding a job was very challenging. Harinder, this one time Banker was able to land only one interview in the banking profession with Bank of Montreal. He realized soon enough that the Canadian experience was going to be a challenge. After many attempts he was finally hired by a consumer distributing company to work in the shipping and receiving section. With Just 7 days at his new job the young Takhar quit and couldn’t help but wonder whether he made the right choice leaving India with his lucrative job. It was then where he had contemplated leaving Canada to resume his duties once again as a Banker in India. With much persuasion by his uncle and close relatives Harinder decided to give it another chance.

He started to work in a factory and decided to enroll himself in CMA in early 1975. Here he was met with his second biggest challenge as the economy went south leaving him with no job. But with his continued determination, Harinder completed his CMA within a year and qualified for certain exemptions which allowed him to try hard to land a job in arena of Finance. In early 1976 Abitibi paper would have one of its employee go on maternity leave which would result in Harinder getting the lowest job in Finance. Somewhat happy that he had finally got into his field, Harinder found himself on shaky ground as the lady who went on maternity leave arrived at her desk after a month due to an unfortunate miscarriage. Somehow he was able to remain with his new company as the supervisor left the company 6 months down the line. The young Takhar would soon fill this position as the company’s new supervisor for the next one and a half years.

While at this job as a supervisor he realized that if he was to reach the top he would need to be a specialist and decided to take up costing.

In 1977, the young Harinder took Balwinder as his beautiful bride. I am sure a lot of mothers in India would have loved to have this talented young man as their son-in-law, perhaps many regretting that they were too slow in making a move.

Soon the ambitious Takhar would land a job as a Plant Controller for a company called “ Chalmers” and hence he had never looked back. He stayed at Chalmers for 1 ½ years and took the controller job position at Timax for the next 4 ½ years. Blessed with 2 daughters by then, the brilliant Takhar applied for a Director position with Gennum Corp. of Burlington, named at the time as one of the best 100 companies to work for. He landed this job with ease at the age of 35 and within a year ascended to the Vice President of the firm.

A new playing field, a new set of opportunities, as Mr. Takhar with great humour explains how he became the VP of Agra Industries Group, a billion dollar company with annual sales topping the $350 million mark.

On a routine shopping excursion at a grocery store the energetic Tarkha bumped into a friend who suggested that “Chalmers” which happens to be the company he worked for some years back was up for sale. The pair put a plan in place and bought the company for half its worth in just 6 months. Takhar left the operations to be continued by his business partner and kept his job with Agra Industries. As long as profitability was at acceptable levels Takhar vowed not to get involved in day to day operations of their newly acquired venture. This of course, soon became a success story although incidentally, they were denied at the start of their operation for a Business Line of Credit by RBC. Today “Chalmers” enjoys its place as one of the 50 best managed companies in the country and in 1999 Mrs. Balwinder Takhar joined the company.

One would think this VP of Agra, with a stake in his new company “Chalmers”, would now take it easy and enjoy his achievements. The driving force of Harinder Takhar took another rise to the top when he became Executive Vice President of the 2nd largest Engineering Company AMCE.

Harinder Takhar promised himself that he would not join politics while his kids were young. With one daughter excelling well in the field of Finance with a MBA & CMA and ranked best student of the institute and another headed off to Mc Master to pursue studies in medicine, Takhar approached the Liberal party Headquarters in 1999 to secure a nomination, which fell in deaf ears.

This successful entrepreneur, who by then had a good track record holding several senior positions on community boards, was determined to get it right in the next election. As the Party had built a lot of confidence in Takhar, they announced his candidacy in 2002 as he would now prepare to take on the conservative MPP Rob Sampson who stood strong holding this constituency for 8 years.

Takhar quickly realized that the votes were in the residential homes. He drew up a plan to visit every home 2 to 3 times. This included the houses that historically gave supported the conservatives. Takhar took fight to their doorstep of the community as he presented himself as one who was easily approachable and ready to serve from day one. His success in the world of business was a definite plus and his credentials were next to none.

In the early stages of the campaign, Takhar found himself behind in the polls. With his strong sense of determination, Harinder persevered and increased his exposure as well as keeping the enthusiasm until the last day of the campaign. The opposition realized that they had taken this Indo Canadian candidate too lightly as Mr. Harinder Takhar beat the Conservative stronghold by 2800 votes. On the 2nd of October, 2003 he won the seat for the Liberals. Although a number of calls from as far as British Columbia would shower him with the great news, Takhar would only site his campaign office at 10pm. He recalls the presence of media personnel, who had flocked the campaign site with overwhelming energy and excitement from all who had gathered to celebrated Mr. Harinder Takhar’s victory.

On the 23rd of October, 2003 a new chapter was created in the Ontario Legislator as Hon. Harinder Takhar became the first Indo Canadian Minister giving hope to all who believe that Canada is a great country full of opportunities for those with dreams and determination.

Mr. Takhar attributes his success to the wonderful team of people who have supported him throughout his life’s journey.

Can Indo Lanka-Times is privileged to cover yet another success of a South Asian community member who has reached the top. We hope, in the years to come we will be able cover your success story as a key figure in this great country, Canada.