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( To view Hemant's words in Gujarati, please click here )
My name is Hemant M. Shah. I was born, raised and educated in Bombay, India. There I learned many of the skills in trading and transportation of goods while working in our 110 year old business. These skills I still use today in my current business, HIR International Ltd.
I first traveled to Canada and Winnipeg in 1974, on behalf of my family's business; I took the opportunity to visit my two brothers who had already immigrated to Canada. Spending time in Winnipeg, I was impressed with its vitality and the opportunities available, I decided it would be a wonderful place to live. So in 1977 I came to live in Winnipeg, the friendly city, in the friendly province of Manitoba became my home.
Winnipeg appealed to me for a number of reasons. First having come from a family business built upon trading commodities, the geographic location of Winnipeg, being the center of North America seemed ideal. Secondly, the people were astute in business, tempered with warmth, and a patient and helpful attitude. These attributes made me feel instantly comfortable. The third reason I liked the thought of living in Winnipeg had to do with the philosophy Winnipegger's have about culture. It became apparent from the first visit that Winnipeg was the place where I could retain some celebration of multiculturalism, in fact in Winnipeg, it really happens! There was no prejudice, only a need to prove yourself as a human being. You may think that my last comment was trite, to make you think something other than what I felt, but you are wrong. You have to remember that I traveled half way around the world, leaving family, friends, and familiar surroundings, to bring a new wife to Canada and start to build our future. In case you didn't know I am basically a salesman, and if you think I'm not good at it, try to convince your wife to travel across the world, to a strange land, leaving temperatures hovering around 35C and arriving in Winnipeg in February with temperatures around -30C. The welcome and warmth of the people helping us adapt to our new home soon overcame any thoughts of temperature.
I worked in a number of places when I first arrive, so I could improve my skills in dealing with the Canadian businessperson. In 1982, I started my own company, HIR International Limited, a trading house, exporting Manitoba products and services overseas.
Bob Kipp of Kipp Kelly had traveled to India in 1970 and sold my family's company a machine. He gave me my first Winnipeg business opportunity, a chance to prove my abilities to the business community. This first success was very important in developing HIR into a viable business.
Winnipeg has a very close-knit business community and this credibility opened many other opportunities. A number of people offered advice and assistance along the way. Graham Weber- External Affairs Canada, Rene Frey-Manitoba Industry, Trade and Tourism, Kitch Wilson- Cubex, and Ed Buchyk a dear friend. On the home front Daria Gawronski - Industry Canada who took my wife Hina and me under her wing and made us part of Winnipeg. A person of Ukrainian extraction helping a couple of Indians. We had some strange suppers - Paneer cheese and perogies! It was from these people that I really learned the warmth of Winnipeg. I will never forget the lessons these kind people taught us about the people of Winnipeg. From this I developed a sincere sense of being an ambassador for Winnipeg and Manitoba. As I travel, I tell all my business contacts about Winnipeg and Manitoba, and they grow to appreciate the opportunities available for them here.
The Winnipeg business community is very competitive and you have to work hard at being a success in this city, but it is also a team. Over my years of working and living in Winnipeg, there are many examples proving me correct in choosing Winnipeg as my home. My two sons enjoy the best of environment to grow in. The open warmth of Winnipeg and it plethora of cultures and experiences, enables them to maintain links with their native culture, openly, without fear or negative comments. My wife Hina and I enjoy an active social life with the array of people available within our community. The feeling of respect and camaraderie found in Winnipeg are without equal. During my extensive travels throughout the world I extol the virtues of Winnipeg, Manitoba and the fertile place it is to live and do business. Through these activities, I have been able to create three Memorandums of Understanding with business groups in India, and have contributed to making Manitoba and Winnipeg the focal point for the Indian business community desiring to work in Canada. The business community has welcomed and supported my efforts in a number of ways. In 1990 I won a Manitoba Export Award, and in1993 the Immigrant Entrepreneur Award for my efforts in supporting Winnipeg business overseas. I sat for 4 years as a member of the Board of Directors of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and developed the India Trade Committee which I have the pleasure of chairing.
To Winnipeggers I say thank you for allowing me to live and participate in a wonderful life, and if you don't believe me, do like I did, move somewhere else for a while and you'll see why people come to Winnipeg and stay.
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