Vancouver FC is proud to represent the diversity in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, from Bowen Island to Harrison Hot Springs, and we are honoured to celebrate the people and cultures that helped to build this region. The Punjabi heritage is just one of the many cultures that make up this incredible province and has played an important role in the shaping of British Columbia. Today, the Punjabi culture can be seen throughout the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley and continues to share their vibrant culture in our communities.

VFC will forever be tied to Punjabi Canadians thanks to Shaan Hundal who became the first-ever goalscorer in franchise history. The Club and Hundal recently got the opportunity to build a deeper connection with the Punjabi community in B.C. by exploring the Punjabi Market in South Vancouver with help from the Punjabi Market Collective team.

“Punjabi Market feels like home because I have found myself through the market,” says Jag Nagra, Vice Chair for the Punjabi Market Collective. The Collective’s mission is to preserve and honour the history of this Punjabi landmark in B.C.

The Punjabi Market was originally formed on a stretch of three blocks in South Vancouver and opened its first shop in 1970, making this area the oldest “Little India” in North America. Over the course of two decades, the Punjabi Market was a vibrant place to do business while also drawing thousands of South Asians to the streets for diverse festivities.

The market reached its peak in the 1990s with more than 300 Asian shops existing in the stretch of 41st Avenue to 51st Avenue. However, the new millennia came with challenges, specifically economic ones, that forced many of these businesses and people to find new opportunities in Surrey. Now, artists and business owners created the Punjabi Market Collective in the attempt to revive the spirit of the Punjabi Market.

“There is so much history of our people here and the reason we are working here is so that the history does not get erased,” says Nagra.

While walking the streets of the Punjabi Market and visiting some of the businesses, Hundal had flashbacks of his childhood. The VFC forward grew up in Brampton, Ontario, which is currently the biggest Punjabi diaspora in Canada, but did not know that the history of Punjabi Canadians started in British Columbia.

“I feel like this whole street kind of keeps me in touch with where I’m from. I have lived in other places in North America and I have always been homesick quite quickly,” shares Hundal. “Moving to Vancouver, knowing how much of my community there is out here, kind of keeps me grounded and makes me love the city for what it is.”

After sharing a special evening learning more about his community and chatting about the importance of representation, Hundal felt reinvigorated and motivated to inspire the next generation of footballers. “I hope a lot of Indian communities come out to watch me play because it shows them that their kid or their brother, niece, nephew or whoever, can make it to this level with someone right in front of them doing it,” explains Hundal.

Nagra shares Hundal’s sentiment and is excited to see Punjabi Canadians succeeding in different facets and areas. “Young kids, even elders watching at home, will see someone like Shaan and say, ‘hey, there is one of us out there doing big things’ and I think that just encourages so many people.”

Hundal believes that showcasing his culture is key for representation and hopefully will offer a platform for Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities to continue sharing their own cultures.

“It’s important [to embody my Punjabi background] for other cultures because then you can see the similarities that it brings no matter what culture you’re from,” shares Hundal. “It’s important for each community to come out and support their own. I know we have many communities represented on our team that can get support from everyone in Vancouver.”

Vancouver FC is proud to build relationships and learn from the diverse cultures that are embedded in our communities. Come support Shaan Hundal and the rest of VFC’s team at our next home game on August 6th, when Vancouver faces Valour FC by getting your tickets here. 

Vancouver FC also would like to extend an invitation to all fans to attend the Punjabi Market Live celebration on August 27th hosted at the Punjabi Market. For more information on the Punjabi Market Live, please follow this link.