Civic employee and host of Desi Ottawa TV show honoured by mayor for work helping new Canadians

POSTMEDIA NEWS

Jatinder Chadha accepts the Mayor’s City Builder Award from Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and City Coun. Jan Harder. Submitted photo/Postmedia News

OTTAWA — An Ontario man has been recognized by the mayor of Ottawa for his “outstanding contributions” to new Canadians and his local South Asian community.

Jatinder Chadha, a project manager with Transit Services at the City of Ottawa and founder, producer and host of the television program Desi Ottawa on Rogers Television is the latest recipient of the capital’s City Builder Award.

Chadha was honoured before a recent City Council meeting by Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and City Coun. Jan Harder for his “outstanding contributions to the community as a volunteer, fundraiser and advocate for new Canadians.”

Since 2000, Chadha has organized many community events in the National Capital Region to galvanize the South Asian community and assist members of the community to become acclimatized to Canadian culture, providing advice and guidance.

He has also spearheaded other benevolent efforts, raising $10,000 in contributions for relief of the Haitian earthquake in addition to organizing collection drives for the Ottawa Food Bank.

The Mayor’s City Builder Award is a civic honour created to recognize an individual, group or organization that has, through outstanding volunteerism or exemplary action, demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to making Ottawa a better place today and for the future. This may include lifelong service, outstanding acts of kindness, inspiring charitable work, community building or other exemplary achievements. Individuals, groups or organizations may be nominated by members of City Council or the public. The award is presented at the beginning of each council meeting.

Tags: City Builder Award, Desi Ottawa, Jatinder Chadha