Remembering Asa Singh Johal, Billionaire, Sawmills Owner, Canada
Los Angeles/July 15, 2026
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh
Asa Singh Johal passed away on July5,2021. Unfortunately, he had lost his loving granddaughter Roop earlier. His beloved grandson Sanjay left for his heavenly abode soon after Asa ‘s death. Thus, the Johal family has lost three of their loving members in a few years. In their memory, the Johal family had initiated a Sehaj Paath at India Cultural Centre of Canada Gurdwara Nanak Niwas,8600 #5 Road, Richmond. A large number of friends, relatives and well-wishers of the Johal family came to the Gurdwara on Sunday, July 12 to pay respect to Mr. Johal and his grandchildren-Roop and Sanjay Johal. These losses have been devastating for the Johal family. We pray for the departed souls and for strength to the Johal family to bear this unbearable loss.
After the Bhog of the Sehaj Paath, the Gurdwara’s keertani Jatha played/sang hymns from Shri Guru Granth Sahib ji and prayed for the departed souls. On behalf of the Gurdwara management committee, Secretary Balwant Singh Sanghera welcomed the attendees and paid tribute to Asa Singh Johal. As everyone knows, Asa Singh Johal was one of the most prominent pioneers in the South Asia community. Over the years, with hard work, perseverance and dedication, he managed to establish a formidable lumber enterprise-Terminal Forest Products Ltd-on Richmond’s Mitchell Island. This Richmond-based enterprise has provided employment to thousands of people over the years. Not only that, this lumber baron and his family have donated millions of dollars to public institutions including UBC, Vancouver General Hospital, BC Children's Hospital, Richmond Hospital and BC Cancer Society etc.
Mr. Johal and the Johal family have made a tremendous contribution to the establishment, construction and maintenance of Gurdwra Nanak Niwas situated on Richmond’s Highway to Heaven. Among other charitable work, Mr. Johal and his family were kind enough to build an impressive auditorium for Government Girls Secondary School at their ancestral village Jandiala in Jalandhar District of Punjab. Asa Johal and his family’s generosity have earned him numerous awards and recognition at the local, provincial, and national level. Last year, on September 12, 2025, a beautiful park near his Terminal Forst products and along the Fraser River on Mitchell Island was dedicated to him as Asa Johal Neighbourhodd Park by the City of Richmond. At this park dedication, Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie paid a very fitting tribute to this great Canadian. These tributes were followed by planting a tree in this park in Mr. Johal’s name.
The large crowd on Sunday, July 12 at Gurdwra Nanak Niwas was a testament to Mr. Johal’s and his family’s unique contribution to Richmond, BC and Canada. This generosity was again evident on Sunday, July 12. Gurdwra Nanak Niwas ‘s domes needed a new paint job. It cost $30,000. On Sunday, after the function at the Gurdwara, Mrs. Kashmir Kaur Johal and the Johal family presented a cheque for $30,000 to the Gurdwara management committee to cover the cost of the new paint job of the domes. On behalf of the management committee, President Mr. Mohan Singh Sandhu and Secretary Balwant Singh Sanghera gratefully thanked Mrs. Johal and the Johal family for this very generous donation.
BY: Balwant Singh Sanghera, Secretary, India Cultural Centre of Canada Gurdwara Nanak Niwas, Richmond, Cañada
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