Today, we pray for Mr. Speaker, Hon. Raj Chouhan. Give him ears to hear the whispers among the shouts. Give him the heart to elevate the voices that need to be heard. Grant him wisdom and strength as he administers decorum. May he be an example to all, speaking with grace and calmness. Father, be with Raj and remind him that You are near. May he hear Your voice in the still moments of the day. Lord, in Your power, hear our prayer. Amen.
Raj Chouhan, a five-term member of the B.C. legislature was voted by his peers to be the house speaker in 2020. Chouhan, who immigrated from Punjab in 1975, is the first British Columbian in this position of South Asian ancestry. Raj immigrated to Canada in 1973. As a student in India, Raj was actively involved in student union activities. Upon his arrival to Canada, Raj was greatly impacted by the plight of other immigrant workers and the wide disparity between the rich and poor in a prosperous country. This contributed to his ongoing advocacy for community and social justice for workers. Raj is the founding president of the Canadian Farmworkers’ Union and served as the director of bargaining for the Hospital Employees Union for 18 years. Raj also served as a member of the Labour Relations Board of B.C. and the Arbitration Bureau of B.C. A founding member of the B.C. Organization to Fight Racism, Raj has also served as the vice-president of B.C. Human Rights Defenders since 2003. Raj has taught courses on human rights, the B.C. Labour Code and collective bargaining since 1987.