Scattered Seeds 3

It finally feels like summer. And with the welcomed warm weather, we’re diving right into pre-production of Scattered Seeds!

We’ve just finished our initial interviews with the four candidates, and we’re in the process of constructing the storylines for each vignette.

It’s been inspiring to hear stories of people leaving everything familiar and giving their lives to a new community. What stuck out most to me is that the four candidates truly live out this idea of contribution; this idea of sowing. It is part of who they are.

We’re so excited about the people who are involved in the project! So excited, we want to introduce them to you.

Kitti and Jamjit Karunyaspon were born in Thailand and came to Canada in 2000. They came here hoping for better education and more opportunity for their two young boys. They didn’t speak a word of English.

Struggling to communicate was one of the hardest parts of immigrating, says Jamjit. The family was isolated because of the communication barrier, but when they joined Project Literacy things started the change. Kitti and Jamjit are now advocates and promoters of Project Literacy.

In 2007 the couple opened a Thai restaurant in downtown Kelowna called Bai Thong. That same year they became Canadian citizens.

Karnail Singh Sidhu grew up in Kalala, a small agricultural town in India. Karnail along with his parents and siblings moved to Canada in 1993 because of the aftermath of the 1984 assassination of India’s president.

Karnail’s initial life in Canada was all about survival. Him and his brothers and father worked odd jobs doing anything they could, from picking brussel sprouts in the dead of winter, to doing people’s taxes.

When Karnail got a job at Summerhill winery, he knew this was the kind of work he wanted to do. Agricutlure was in his blood, he says.

Today Karnail owns Kalala Winery in West Kelowna, an organic vineyard that is recognized across the world.

Olga Osipova is originally from Russia, but studied music in Germany before she immigrated to Canada in 2003.

Olga grew up in a musical family, and since she was young she was trained in classical piano. She knew she had a future in Russia, playing in the huge music halls and touring as a classical musician.

But she always wanted something different.

Since she’s been in Canada Olga has dedicated herself to her art, playing across British Columbia and Canada. She says to move a person through art is the greatest thing she can do. Olga also teaches essential skills at the West Bank First Nation.

Prenesh Govender has a unique heritage. He’s of East Indian descent, but was born and grew up in South Africa. Him and his wife Charmaine both grew up in the midst of apartheid, and have stories that many Canadians can’t even imagine.

Prenesh said his father instilled in him a love of learning, something he’s in turn teaching his
three kids. After beginning his neurosurgical study in South Africa Prenesh came to Toronto for a year of extra training.

That year has turned into 8.

Prenesh works at the Kelowna hospital as a neurosurgeon, and dedicates his time to teaching undergraduate and postgraduate medical students.

Prenesh’s two daughters say when they grow up they want to be neurosurgeons too. His four year old son, Tejan, wants to be Sidney Crosby.



-Emma Smith