Burnaby Public Library Board member profiles

While I never achieved the goal of working at my hometown library, I have spent a lot of time at libraries all through my life. I have always had a library card for the cities I have lived in, including when I moved Burnaby in 2011 with my husband and young child. Throughout my life, I have visited the library to find a great book (or 10!) to read. While I was a student in high school and then university, I spent hours of my time at libraries, either studying or using the indexes to do research. As a mother, I bring my children to the library to share my love of books and my commitment to lifelong learning. And during these times when we are asked to stay home, I have used the digital library resources to keep discovering new stories and learn new things safely at my home.

I have always admired how libraries can be one of the drawing points of a community. I have seen this at the Burnaby Public Library as well – and I have been impressed at how the library programs support people who want to learn and share knowledge. Whether it is the mobile library at the community park or the programs and clubs that hold their meetings at the library, there is something for everyone going on at the library.

I am honoured to now be able to join the other Burnaby Library Board members to support the work of the library’s team. I look forward to using the skills and experience I have gained already in my professional and volunteer life and to learn more (of course) as board member. I believe the library is a resource that is essential for people of all ages. Information and knowledge are a critical part of the world, and library access is a gateway to that knowledge for many people, as I know from my own experience. We also need space for imagination, stories, and artistic adventures, and I aim to promote the library’s goals of community connection, innovation, and creative exploration, along with so much more, while I serve on the Burnaby Public Library Board.

In high school, the library became my study room and research central. By the time I started university, the library still remained my favourite place to study. There was always someone sitting nearby that never took a stretch or study break. They kept reminding me that I should not be slacking off. After I started working full time, I had more time to read leisurely. The library became my favourite place for borrowing the most diverse and interesting collections of books, not to mention the DVDs! I really enjoy the rotating collections of books at the library and I also love attending many of the in-library events. The library is part of my life and it is my honour to serve on the Burnaby Public Library Board. I would love to share my ideas and make our city libraries the best in the world!

Some Awards: Received CRA Award of Excellence for Community Service in 2006; Nominated for Order of British Columbia in 2005; Received Burnaby Local Hero Award in 2004 by Mayor Derek Corrigan; Government of Canada “International Year of the Volunteers” Award in 2001; Nominee for Burnaby’s “Outstanding Citizen of the Year” Award in 1992 by Mayor Bill Copeland; Long Service (10 years) Award and Outstanding Achievement Certificate from the Provincial Scout House; His Highness The Aga Khan Silver Jubilee Medal (1982); Burnaby Centennial Award; and Canada 125 Award.

“To me a Library means an Abode of Learning where one can go and enrich one’s knowledge in almost every field of life.

This is a place where one can find peace and quietness, forget the “outside world”; immerse themselves in books, journals, magazines, newspapers, CDs, DVDs and other audio-visual aids to find answers to most questions in their minds.

A lot of misunderstandings and clashes are a result of lack of knowledge and ignorance, so reading and arming oneself with some knowledge about a subject can avoid all this.

This is also good for Students as I remember spending a lot of my time in the libraries when I was in University!”

It is an honour to be a trustee of the Burnaby Public Library. My previous experience as a trustee in the Fort St. John Public Library in the ’80s will hopefully help. Our libraries are such an essential part of our communities, and engaging the citizenry in understanding what a library offers and how it can move our common and progressive understanding of what we want our library to be are vital. It is remarkable that BPL’s vision is about community “where all people are informed, literate and entertained.”

Mr. Hundal’s illustrious career has been marked by his unwavering commitment to serving diverse client groups, including newcomers to Canada, individuals with disabilities, and youth. In addition to his proficiency in employment services, he boasts a profound understanding of public relations, communications, and marketing. His prior professional engagements have seen him contribute significantly to esteemed institutions such as the City of Vancouver, the Provincial government, and the Government of Canada.

Presently, Raj Hundal holds the esteemed position of Senior Director of Employment, Planning & Program Development at Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society (PICS). Notably, he has also lent his expertise as a part-time Career Development Professional program Instructor at Langara College, where he imparted invaluable knowledge in “Work Search Skills and Employment Development.” His commitment to fostering community growth extends to his role as a member of the Surrey Board of Trade Health and Technology Committee, where he proactively identifies critical concerns and policies that impact Surrey’s business community, its members, and the city as a whole.

Furthermore, Mr. Hundal’s commitment to professional excellence extends to his role on the Association of Service Providers for Employability and Career Training (ASPECT) BC Board, where he passionately represents the diversity within their membership. His dedication to continuous growth and development is evident through his regular engagement in professional and governance development initiatives.

Most recently, Raj Hundal was honored with the prestigious Community Crusader award by the Times of Canada, a testament to his exceptional leadership and extraordinary contributions to community improvement initiatives.

Anna's commitment to volunteerism is driven by a sincere desire to give back to the Burnaby community. She quietly dedicates her time to serving as a seniors community volunteer, contributing to the Jewish Seniors Alliance, and fulfilling the role of a lector for mass at Holy Cross Parish for almost eight years.

Professionally, Anna works as a commercial realtor with Royal LePage Westside Klein Group, and is the Managing Partner of Par X Property Services. She is a member of trade organizations like the Burnaby Board of Trade (BBoT), where she quietly supports local businesses. Anna also serves on the Board of Directors of the Philippines Canada Trade Council (PCTC) and is a member of the Asia Commercial Association of Canada (ACAC).

Anna's global perspective on service is showcased through her involvement in the Rotary Club of Vancouver Fraserview. In July 2024, she will humbly step into the role of President, embodying the Rotary Club's ethos of "Service Above Self."

In essence, Anna Lu's unassuming nature and genuine commitment to community service and education make her a modest yet invaluable addition to the Burnaby Public Library's Board of Directors. As she takes on this new role, Anna continues to quietly inspire others, fostering a stronger and more connected community.

Sangeeta is the founder of Chetana Consulting, a boutique firm that focuses on systems approach to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the public and private sector. Clients include Burnaby Family Life, BC Association of Farmers Markets, Vancouver Coastal Health, North Immigrant Inclusion Partnership. As a settler on the traditional, unceded and stolen lands of the Coast Salish Peoples, Sangeeta endeavours to bring a decolonization lens to all their work.

Sangeeta completed her post-graduate studies in Management from the Indian Institute of Management and Non-Profit Management and Leadership from Schulich School of Business York University. She also is a certified trainer on Inter-Cultural Communication, and has extensive training and experience in facilitation.

As a resident of the traditional lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil- Waututh First Nations, Sangeeta enjoys long walks in the many beautiful trails in her neighbourhood, and kayaking in the nearby rivers and inlets to get closer to the migratory birds and whales.

The potential of libraries to provide knowledge, insight, comfort, safety, joy, peace, and so much more, is vast. Their role in helping to guide and lead us through social, environmental, and other change, is tremendous. Reflecting who we are and who we want to be as individuals, families and communities, extraordinary. I feel extremely fortunate to live in a community that values and supports libraries and feel privileged to contribute to its growth.

Fast-forward to today, and I am honoured to be the Council representative on the Board to ensure that the many ways libraries serve our communities — including and especially some of the most marginalized — continues to be strong, inclusive, and welcoming.

I am honoured to lead the staff at Burnaby Public Library in providing caring and expert service to the citizens of Burnaby. We believe that all people are readers and learners, we take pride in connecting people with the information they need, and believe in the power of a story to change lives. We are very lucky to work with a Library Board and City Council who understand the critical role that a public library can play in building an inclusive community that welcomes and encourages the ideas and aspirations of all citizens.