Our Story

Get to Know Us

Sher Vancouver was founded in 2008 to provide arts and cultural, and social service programs and services to queer South Asians and their friends, families, and allies in Metro Vancouver.

We respectfully acknowledge that Sher Vancouver and the Sundar Prize Film Festival are held on the unceded traditional territories of the Semiahmoo, Musqueam, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Kwantlen, Qayqayt, and Tsawwassen First Nations. We honor and recognize these lands as the ancestral and ongoing home of Indigenous peoples who have stewarded them for generations. We express our gratitude for the opportunity to live, work, and gather on these lands and commit to supporting Indigenous sovereignty, rights, and cultural heritage.

Marching forward with pride since 2008

Our Mission

Sher Vancouver seeks to protect human rights to end all forms of exclusion, discrimination, and prejudice, and to educate, empower, connect, and assist individuals in our community

Our Vision

A community that is just, compassionate, inclusive, respectful, values diverse perspectives and helps those in need.

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Meet the Founders

Founder

Alex Sangha (he/him)

Alex is a Registered Clinical Social Worker and a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a Master of Social Work and MSc in Public Administration and Public Policy.

Co-Founder

Josh (he/him)

Josh is a strong believer in diversity and human rights. He is also a Founding Member of the Dignity Seniors Society which aims to support vulnerable queer seniors.

Co-Founder

Ash (he/him)

Ash is a registered nurse and was the best friend of Sher Vancouver’s beloved late social coordinator, January Marie Lapuz, who was the first trans person to hold an Executive position within the organization.

Co-Founder and Elder

Jaspal Kaur Sangha (she/her)

Jaspal starred in Emergence: Out of the Shadows and provides guidance and emotional support to members of Sher Vancouver who consider her like a Grandma.

Meet the Board

President

Sunita Mistry (she/her)

Sunita wishes to promote the visibility of the queer South Asian community. She is the peer support facilitator for Sher Lotus in Sher Vancouver and a freelance writer, creator, and host of the Come Out & Shout Podcast.

Secretary-Treasurer

Vincent (he/him)

Vincent is a peer support facilitator with Sher Vancouver. He has completed a Bachelors in Business Administration and has a strong passion to help others and provide support to the queer community.

Director

Jason Pillay (he/him)

Jason is a fashion stylist and works in the costume department for film and television. He is also the communications coordinator for Sher Vancouver.

Director

Simrat Mahil (she/her)

Simrat is a Grant Writer, Researcher, and UBC Student in the Master’s of Public Health Programme. Simrat received the Volunteer of the Year Certificate from Sher Vancouver at the Desi-Q Cultural Gala in July 2023.

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Vice President

Annie (she/her)

Annie is a social justice teacher for Surrey Schools. She developed the teachers discussion guides for My Name Was January and Emergence: Out of the Shadows. Celebrating queer pride is her goal.

Director

Josh (he/him)

Josh is a strong believer in diversity and human rights. He is also a Founding Member of the Dignity Seniors Society which aims to support vulnerable queer seniors.

Director

Gurpreet Singh (he/him)

Gurpreet is a graduate of Engineering at the University of British Columbia. All his life he has supported his friends and now he supports LGBTQIA+ members of the South Asian community.

#LivingWage

Sher Vancouver is thrilled to share that we've earned official certification as a Living Wage Employer by the Employers Committee of Vancity Community Foundation, thanks to their incredible Living Wage for Families BC Campaign! We're deeply committed to supporting our exceptional staff and team members in every way possible. Here's to fostering a workplace where everyone thrives! #EmployeeWellbeing #SherVancouverPride