RBC desiFEST 2009 Guest MCs
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NAME:: Rekha Sharma
HOMETOWN:: Vancouver 10 SECOND BIO:: * A Canadian actor born and raised in Vancouver * Appeared in feature films such as “The Chronicles of Riddick” with Vin Diesel, and the upcoming “Love Happens” with Jennifer Aniston * Best known for playing Tory Foster in “Battlestar Galactica” but has also appeared in numerous other TV productions such as “Dark Angel” with Jessica Alba and the hit WB series “Smallville” |
HOMETOWN:: Vancouver
10 SECOND BIO:: * A Canadian actor born and raised in Vancouver * Appeared in feature films such as “The Chronicles of Riddick” with Vin Diesel, and the upcoming “Love Happens” with Jennifer Aniston * Best known for playing Tory Foster in “Battlestar Galactica” but has also appeared in numerous other TV productions such as “Dark Angel” with Jessica Alba and the hit WB series “Smallville”
HOMETOWN:: Vancouver
10 SECOND BIO:: * Fans may know Simone through her television work on The Weather Network, CityTV and OMNI TV as well as an emcee for many local community events * She also co-hosts the Off The Wall RJ 1200 morning radio show with Dean Atwal
HOMETOWN:: Vancouver
10 SECOND BIO:: * Born and raised in the UK, Dean began his broadcasting career with a stint at BBC Radio One * Besides having worked with City TV and OMNI Television, Dean currently hosts the “New Driver’s Seat” hit TV show and co-hosts the Off The Wall RJ 1200 morning radio show with Simone Grewal.
HOMETOWN:: Vancouver
10 SECOND BIO:: * A graduate of BCIT’s Broadcast Journalism program, following several years of producing hard news talk shows he ventured into TV starting on Breakfast Television as a behind-the-scenes producer * His passion for entertainment and movies soon spawned a weekly Friday movie review of new releases dubbed “Thor’s Hammers”
HOMETOWN:: Vancouver
10 SECOND BIO:: * Has over 15 years of experience in performing arts, broadcasting, and community initiatives * Host of OMNI BC’s daily live South Asian show “Chai Time” and an arts and entertainment reporter for OMNI’s Punjabi news program * Also emcees events for organizations such as Big Brothers, United Way, BC Children’s Hospital, Canadian Diabetes Association and Heart and Stroke Foundation.
HOMETOWN:: Vancouver
10 SECOND BIO:: * Has been a freelance television host interviewing celebrities in Vancouver for over 12 years, and is also a member of the Vancouver Broadcast List * Founder of http://www.indianrolemodels.com where young people can contact successful Indians globally from all backgrounds
HOMETOWN:: Vancouver
10 SECOND BIO:: * Began her media career as an arts and entertainment newspaper reporter * Following a stint as a host/reporter on the South Asian television program Zindagi, she worked on the News Assignment Desk in the OMNI Television Newsroom, before becoming the host of Omnicity.
HOMETOWN:: Vancouver
10 SECOND BIO:: * Has been dancing for over 20 years, and is co-founder of the South Asian Arts and FootEdge dance companies * Besides winning trophies across North America, Raakhi had a 10 part bhangra dance show called “Bhangra Workout” on OMNI and performed with Russell Peters at the 2009 Juno Awards
HOMETOWN:: Vancouver
10 SECOND BIO:: * Currently a radio host for two popular radio stations, Radio Rim Jhim and RJ 1200 * Before moving to Canada, Nutan was a broadcaster on All India Radio * Has won numerous acting awards for both stage and screen, and has appeared in many movies and TV productions
HOMETOWN:: Vancouver
10 SECOND BIO:: * Former Miss World Canada and 1st runner up at Miss World, has spoken at the UN and travelled the world raising awareness and funds for a variety of causes * As a pilot, holds highest rank in the Royal Canadian Air Cadets as Warrant Officer First Class * Appointed a director on the Board of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation by the office of the Prime Minister of Canada to help eliminate racism in Canada
HOMETOWN:: Vancouver
10 SECOND BIO:: * Patron of the arts and producer of events such as Vancouver Celebrates Diwali and Vaisakhi * Founded the Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration in 2004 and currently works as a strategist for the Hamazaki Wong Marketing Group
HOMETOWN:: Vancouver
10 SECOND BIO:: * Started out as a traffic and weather radio personality, later hosting/producing a radio talk show called Reality Check * Was featured on the front page of Lower Mainland’s Kidda Magazine as the “The New Face of South Asian Media”
HOMETOWN:: Vancouver
10 SECOND BIO:: * A proud graduate of BCIT and host of the Drive Home Grind on RJ1200, the only top 40 South Asian radio station in North America * Has had the opportunity to interview some of the biggest names in the South Asian music scene, including Jazzy B, Sukshinder Shinda, Jay Sean, Raghav, Apache Indian, and many more
HOMETOWN:: Toronto
10 SECOND BIO::
Bobby Sahni has over 7 years of multicultural marketing experience with a specialization in the South Asian market. Bobby has had leading edge experience in developing, executing and managing diversity and multicultural marketing programs for a number of best-in-class corporations and has strong ties with multicultural business and community partners in Canada and internationally. When Bobby is not advocating for the South Asian community in the corporate world, he does so in the entertainment industry which he is most passionate about. He is an experienced Actor, MC, Agent and general “go-to-guy” for various local talent and producers and has helped many hard-working individuals receive the exposure and platform they deserve to shine. He has also given many keynote speeches on the growth and global appeal of Bollywood entertainment. You may have previously seen Bobby in one of many television commercial appearances for Wal-Mart, Beck Taxi, Alliance for South Asian Aids Prevention (ASAAP) or Rogers, or MCing The Centennial Foundation, RBC Desifest 2008, South Asia Calling (Harbourfront Centre) and numerous corporate galas and weddings. Bobby also made his silver-screen debut in a small (very small) role in Deepa Mehta’s Heaven on Earth and is currently the Entertainment Correspondent for South Asian Focus TV on RogersTV.
HOMETOWN::
10 SECOND BIO::
Dr. Dhalla brings extraordinary experience, passion, and perspective to her role as the Member of Parliament for Brampton Springdale in Canada’s Parliament. Dr. Dhalla made history in 2004 as the first South Asian Woman to be elected to federal parliament in the western world and was subsequently re-elected on January 23, 2006 and again on October 14th 2008 by the support of her constituents. She is one of the youngest women in Canadian Parliament and currently serves as the Official Opposition Critic for Multiculturalism and Youth.
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10 SECOND BIO::
Syerah Virani graduated from the University of London and was called to the Ontario bar n 1998. In 2006, Syerah acquired MyBindi.com, Canada’s leading website portal for all aspects of South Asian Arts, Entertainment and Lifestyle. As its CEO and Editor-in-Chief, she currently manages all of the company’s marketing initiatives and events, as well as overseeing the content of this dynamic online community.
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10 SECOND BIO::
Spider Jones is a Canadian author, journalist, and former boxer. Jones is a former three-time Golden Glove Champion and was inducted into the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996. Spider was even Muhammad Ali’s Canadian sparring partner.
Raised in Windsor, Ontario, Jones is an avid community activist and spends his life as a positive role model for both youth and adults alike. His top rated weekend talk show airs on CFRB 1010 AM from 4-6 PM on Sundays.
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10 SECOND BIO::
Sitara Hewitt is one of Canada’s most celebrated actors, known across the globe as star of the hit TV series Little Mosque On the Prairie in which she plays Dr. Rayyan Hamoudi.
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10 SECOND BIO::
Rupal Lakhani, Miss India Canada 2008, is not only an aspiring model, she is a talented media host and performer. As the current host for a new South Asian radio program, “Tonight AM 1430”, she is generating a growing Canadian-born Indian audience. Her talents, however, do not end here, she is a dancer/instructor with the renowned international dance institute, Shiamak’s Indo Jazz Dance Movement. Apart from the entertainment world, Rupal is a graduate in Political Science at the University of Toronto.
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10 SECOND BIO::
Raj Girn is the founder and publisher of Award-Winning ANOKHI Magazine, North America’s longest running fashion, lifestyle and entertainment quarterly for and on the South Asian community. It is the only magazine in the world that truely is a South Asian-Mainstream crossover, having done cover stories on celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, for example, Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan, John Abraham and Lisa Ray, as well as Jennifer Lopez, MYA and Nelly Furtado.
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10 SECOND BIO::
Parminder began his media career in radio, and started his TV career by reporting for OMNI’s Punjabi program Chardi Kalaa, which he currently co-hosts. Parminder’s interest in sports and multiculturalism recently led him to becoming the national voice of CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi broadcast. In addition to covering the NHL regular season, Parminder will continue to provide coverage of the NHL playoffs right to the Stanley Cup Finals. Parminder has also become the Punjabi voice for the Toronto Raptors, calling the LA Lakers vs Toronto Raptors game from the Air Canada Centre.
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10 SECOND BIO::
Nazneen Contractor trained at the University of Toronto and the Stratford Birmingham Conservatory for Classical theatre. The Mumbai born actress (who lived in Africa and London before immigrating to Canada) has performed leading parts in such Stratford Festival productions. A classically trained ballerina, Nazneen has appeared in many television programs including, one of the leads in award winning drama The Border, as well as, Othello: the Tragedy of the Moor.
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10 SECOND BIO::
Mohit is the award-winning co-host of Bollywood Blvd. on OMNI Television, one of Canada’s top entertainment talk shows. He’s also a producer at CityTV and a film reviewer for many media outlets including Flow 93.5 FM.
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10 SECOND BIO::
Khush is a 14 year veteran of the Canadian media industry who studied at Ryerson University and spent time with CBC before starting out as a community reporter at OMNI, later reporting on crime, business and issue-oriented stories as well as producing and anchoring sports segments.
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10 SECOND BIO::
Before moving north to become host of CANOE Live on SUN TV in Toronto, Janette began her career in news at the ABC affiliate in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She spent six years as a reporter and weekend anchor after graduating from the University of Michigan with a B.S. in biology and Latin. Because of her extensive work in the community, Janette was also honored as an inaugural member of the Future 40, Northeast Indiana’s forty most dynamic people under the age of 40. She was also featured on the cover of the premiere issue of “Fort Wayne Woman”.
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10 SECOND BIO::
Jake Dheer is Station Manager for Rogers TV, serving the Dufferin-Peel region with three television studios that produce daily local programming which is in-depth and engaging. Jake is a strong community activist who has held and continues to hold leadership roles on boards of several organizations. Recipient of several awards and recognitions in the broadcast industry and for his community support, Jake was also chosen as Mississauga’s 2005 Citizen Of The Year. His jovial and enthusiastic style of emceeing has led him to emcee several high profile events across the Greater Toronto Area.
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10 SECOND BIO::
‘Poster Girl of OMNI Television’, known for her impeccable Hindi pronunciation, host of Badhai Ho and the English language entertainment news show Bollywood Boulevard telecast every Sunday on OMNI 2. She is involved in many community service initiatives as well. Please welcome one of the most popular television faces in Toronto – Geetika.
HOMETOWN::
10 SECOND BIO::
Dalton Higgins is a broadcaster, National Magazine Award-winning journalist, and author whose third book Hip-Hop World will be out Fall 2009 on Groundwood/House of Anansi. He is a also music programmer at the Harbourfront Centre, Canada’s Centre of Contemporary Culture.
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10 SECOND BIO::
Asis Sethi began her work with OMNI as a reporter on Chardi Kalaa, soon joining OMNI News – South Asian Edition and Badhai Ho. Asis graduated with honours in Film & Television Production at Humber College, and is the Art Director for Bollywood Film-Fare Canada magazine. Asis has also directed, written, and produced many projects including The Colourful Crown, a documentary film based on the turban which was screened at film festivals and aired on OMNI Television.
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10 SECOND BIO::
Angie Seth is the lead News Anchor for OMNI News South Asian Edition. Over the years she has covered stories on a variety of subjects and had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s most interesting personalities. Recently she won the 2008 CEMA (Canadian Ethnic Media Association) Award for her feature story on the Provincial Election and what kids have to say about it. Angie also writes for the Canadian Association of Journalists, participates in a number of fundraising events, and is an accomplished runner.
