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Asa Singh Johal, Vancouver, Canada, Sawmills Owner, worth billions

 

BIO

Nov 20, 2015

Asa Singh Johal own two sawmills and a remanufacturing plant in Washington State in the US. Over 500 employees work at several of his operations today.

Today in BC, Canada, Asa Singh conquered the throne of a billionaire, winning the name of Lumber Mogul in the lumber industry in British Columbia and the role model of philanthropy.  Even his net worth is now measured in the billions but he always so humble, no ego, and chooses to live a modest lifestyle. 

His company is specializing in the manufacture of high quality cedar lumber products from forest products and is recognized as an industry leader in the production of premium Western Red Cedar products from trees grown on the west coast of British Columbia. Since 1962, his company has built its successful business through sustainable resource management, innovative manufacturing initiatives, engaged employees and strong relationships with customers and suppliers.

In 1905, Partap Singh Johal (Asa Singh’s father) came to Canada  and went back to India in 1919 after working in saw mills. Partap Singh Johal married and try his luck along with his wife and infant son  (Asa Singh) in 1924. They left  Punjab by taking a cargo ship to Hong Kong and keeping a dream to reach Vancouver, BC, Canada.  After getting health certificates in Hong Kong, they continued their journey  by Canadian Pacific steam ship to Vancouver through turbulent blue sea.

Balwant Sanghera, a retired School Psychologist and  Community Activist ,  who is also decorated with the many Canadian Awards wrote to NRIpress:

                        Prominent businessman and philanthropist Asa Singh Johal arrived in Vancouver, B.C., and Canada with his parents on February 15, 1924. The one and one half year old baby was destined to become one of the most respected and outstanding citizens in his adopted country.

Asa began to attend a school in the Marpole neighbourhood at an early age. He recalls that he was the only Indo-Canadian student in the school. The school had a large number of Japanese students. He states that during his two years at that school he didn’t learn anything. His father, Partap Singh Johal, wasn’t happy about Asa’s lack of progress in school and moved him to David Lloyd George School in Vancouver. Eventually, he quit school at age 14 and went to work. His first job was as a spare clean up guy at the giant Fraser Mills which had 1,500 employees at that time.

                        After working for a few years, Asa made enough money to travel to India in 1948 and got married to Kashmir Kaur from his neighboring town Bundala (District Jalandhar). Upon his return to Canada, Asa got busy in gaining experience in the business he liked and excelled in. Initially, he bought a truck to haul wood. However, his ambition to build a sawmilling business always kept him motivated. Eventually, Asa and his family started a mill in 1962 on Mitchell Island in nearby Richmond. This laid the foundation of a very successful Terminal Sawmill Group of Companies. Over the years, Asa’s hard work, business sense and expertise has made him as one of the leading businessmen in the province. In addition to the Terminal Sawmill, to-day Asa and his family are the proud owners of two sawmills and remanufacturing plant in Washington State in the U.S. as well as Mainland Forest Products, a company Asa bought in 1974. Close to 500 employees work at several of these operations.

                        Asa Singh Johal has not only excelled in his business acumen but also he stands at the front line of philanthropy. This soft spoken stalwart of the Indo-Canadian community has donated millions of dollars to various worthwhile causes and organizations. Be it the Children’s Hospital, UBC, Cancer Society, or any other cause, Asa is there to help. He has donated more than $4 million to the BC Children’s Hospital so far and has committed to donated $100,000 in each of the following four years. Furthermore, Asa and his family have donated $1.5 million to the Cancer Centre beside the VGH. On top of that he has donated generously to UBC for various projects including scholarships for students. He donated land substantial funding for the India Cultural Centre of Canada’s Gurdwara Nanak Niwas on Richmond’s Highway to Heaven (#5 Road). He is the founding chairman of India Cultural Centre of Canada.

                         The Johal Family answered the call/request for an auditorium in Asa’s hometown Jandiala (Jalandhar) by building an impressive auditorium at a cost of $165,000 at Girls Higher secondary School. This school serves more than 750 students over an 18 kilometer radius around Jandiala. Along with Balbir Jawanda and Sohan Basi, I had the honour to participate in the opening ceremonies at the school in February earlier this year. It is an impressive facility designed to serve the growing needs of the school. The school principal and other prominent members of the town expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Johal and his family for this generous gift to the school. Not only that, whenever   there is a worthwhile cause Asa and his family are there to help.  Once talking to this writer, Asa mentioned that it gives him great pleasure when he is able to help the causes dear to his heart.

                        Asa keeps himself active physically, mentally and socially. He is an avid traveler. After getting married in India in 1948 he didn’t visit the country of his birth for 24 years. So he went back in 1972 and liked it so much that he went every year after that for ten years. He has travelled widely all around the globe. In a recent conversation with this writer Mr. Johal stated that Venice (Austria) and Switzerland are some of his favorite places. The family go to their condo in Palm Springs quite regularly. The family is looking forward to visiting a number of places in South and Central America including the Panama Canal.

The Johal family’s acts of kindness have earned Mr. Johal various awards and recognitions. These include Order of British Columbia, Order of Canada.

  • The highest civilian honor of the province: He was awarded Doctor of Law by the University of British Columbia for his generosity and community service.
  • He is the first and only Indo Canadian billionaire being noted as one of British Columbia’s most prominent businessmen and outstanding citizens
  • He was in the board of governors of University of British Columbia for 3 years and is the director of BC children’s hospital.  

 

                             

       

               

                     

 

Asa Singh Johal

Asa Singh Johal, 94, Terminal Group of companies including two sawmills and a remanufacturing plant in Washington State, employing more than 500 people has made Asa Singh Johal.s net worth is now measured in the billions

 

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