MLA Manmeet Bhullar's deep commitment celebrated at memorial
Capacity Calgary crowd hears of his smile and his hard work for those less fortunate
Thousands packed Calgary's Jubilee Auditorium and overflow seating on Sunday to say goodbye to "peaceful warrior" Manmeet Bhullar.
The Progressive Conservative member of the legislature for Calgary-Greenway was only 35 when he was killed by a semi-truck on a snowy Queen Elizabeth II Highway north of Red Deer on Monday. Fittingly for a man with a reputation for helping others, Bhullar was out of his car coming to the aid of a stranded motorist.
The crowd at his service included federal and provincial cabinet ministers, Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi and over 40 MLAs, as well as family and regular citizens who were touched by Bhullar's generosity. The master of ceremonies was former premier Jim Prentice, who had known Bhullar since he was age 10.
"In a world where there is much darkness, he showed us all, seemingly effortlessly and always with that broad smile, that it is always the best in humanity that wins out," said Prentice.
'An exemplary man'
With over 2,000 people packed into the Jubilee and over 400 watching in the nearby SAIT gymnasium, Prentice said Bhullar would have had a chuckle and a smile over the turnout.
Following the singing of the Canadian and Sikh national anthems, Prentice read a statement from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "Today we remember an exemplary man who devoted his life, publicly and privately, to helping others," said the statement.
Prentice praised Bhullar's generosity and optimism and his "shining belief in the ability of young people to change the world."
His sister, Tarjinder Kaur Bhullar, spoke of how her parents, Baljinder Singh and Sukhvir Kaur Bhullar, could never have imagined their son being so honoured by so many when they immigrated to Canada.
Commitment to public service
She said his commitment to public service cost him. His love for his job and his community sometimes wore him down, particularly during his time as minister of human services.
His shoulders were broad, she said, but they sometimes "softened" under the load of his responsibilities.
She worried about him, saying older sisters always worry about their brothers.
"As the sister of a politician, that protective instinct is unbelievably fierce," she said. "Rest now, because you have earned it. Rest, my peaceful warrior."
Later, Calgary's mayor fought back tears, speaking of the loss of his friend.
"This isn't right, we shouldn't be here," Nenshi said, before celebrating Bhullar's accomplishments.
He made a promise to Bhullar's family, which included not only his wife, parents and sister, but also a younger brother, Appy, and of course extended family: "We will be there for you, the way he was always there for us."
Those sentiments were echoed by Canada's minister of defence, Harjit Sajjan.
He said Bhullar looked up to him for some reason, but in truth it was Bhullar who was the pillar on which Sajjan and so many others stood.
"Now we are duty bound by his example," Sajjan said in a video statement played at the memorial. "It is up to us to do right by his tremendous life."
Sense of humour
Bhullar's sense of humour was a theme throughout the memorial, and all participants spoke of his good nature and quick smile.
"I know you're smiling because you oversold the Jubilee," said his friend Tony Dhaliwal, who expressed his trepidation at taking the stage after so many politicians.
He said that just last week, Bhullar crashed a friend's date, bought a lot of chewy candy and then threw the candy at the couple during a movie.
But Dhaliwal also spoke of Bhullar being there for him in hard times and holding him as he cried.
He said he returned the favour, but there was one critical difference.
"I cried for myself and you cried for others," he said, speaking of Bhullar's struggles with the suffering he encountered as minister of human services.
He was also among those who spoke of Bhullar's faith, Sikhism, which gave him the convictions of seva — selfless work.
"You increased the significance of the turban. You have shown this world what a true Sikh is."
Commitment to family
His cousin Amardeep Singh Lail said he wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for Bhullar and his commitment to family, and he promised to ensure his daughter remembers that.
"She has a dad because Meetha never gave up," he said, breaking down in tears.
Closing the ceremony, Bhullar's wife, Namrita, thanked everyone for their support and celebrated her husband's accomplishments.
"Not everyone dies a hero: Meetha not only passed away a hero, but he lived as one," she said.
Cabinet posts
Bhullar was first elected to the legislature in March 2008, at age 28, after being appointed by then premier Ed Stelmach to carry the Tory banner in Calgary Montrose.
Alison Redford named Bhullar to the cabinet in 2011 as Service Alberta minister.
In December 2013, Redford moved Bhullar to replace veteran Dave Hancock as human services minister.
In that role, Bhullar helped rewrite a law that placed an automatic ban on the release of the names of children who died in provincial care. That controversial ban had prevented even parents from speaking out.
In September 2014, he became infrastructure minister in the short-lived Prentice government.
Bhullar was re-elected twice and narrowly avoided being caught up in the NDP tide that swept the province in May, winning his riding by about 800 votes.
Powerful community advocate
Born in Calgary, he earned a bachelor of arts from Athabasca University and a bachelor of law from the University of Windsor.
Before running for office, he founded the Inspire Youth Development Society, which works with at-risk youth, and worked on several political campaigns.
When Prentice ran for the Conservative leadership in 2014, Bhullar chaired his campaign.
Nenshi said city landmarks would be lit navy blue on Sunday in tribute.
Tonight, downtown Calgary landmarks will be lit in navy blue (his favourite colour) in honour of our friend Manmeet Bhullar.
—@nenshiBy early evening Sunday landmarks including the Calgary Tower and Langevin Bridge were lit in Bhullar's honour.
