Anup Singh Jubbal, MSM
Born 1935 in Lucknow, India, Mr. Anup Singh Jubbal made the long trek to Canada in 1968 where he initially resided in the beautiful city of Kamloops. He later moved to the Greater Vancouver area in 1986, and currently resides in the Lower Mainland where he manages his organization.
As a businessman, Jubbal’s primary focus has been property investment and development, and import/export.
Between the years 1974 and 1980, Mr. Jubbal traveled the globe three times in the pursuit of business opportunities. He also managed to find the time to take part in Canadian Importers Association trips to Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Philippines, and China. He participated in trade fairs in Chicago, Iran and Kuwait. His work in property investment and development was based mainly in Kamloops before he later shifted the focus of his efforts to importing and trading goods that were for sale throughout Canada.
The desire to help others inspired Mr. Jubbal at a young age, drawing him to groups such as the Boy Scouts. During his time in India, he was a Saint John Ambulance attendant, and he has been a Rotary member since 1986. He raised large sums of money in 1988 for the Rotary International campaign to eradicate polio, a devastating disease that affects children in numerous countries.
In 1989, Jubbal founded an organization committed to preventing blindness among impoverished citizens in rural India, and has dedicated his life to this noble cause for the past 29 years.
Originally named Project Eyesight-India, Jubbal continues to take the lead as President and CEO of its successor organization Canadian Eyesight Global. Supported by Rotary International, Rotary Clubs in Canada and India, CRCID/CIDA Canada, local eye hospitals, and tenacious volunteers, Jubbal has worked tirelessly to provide care for those in need.
A vast number of people have been treated, thus far, for avoidable blindness, and thousands and thousands of free cataract surgeries have been performed in rural sections of India. Jubbal and Canadian Eyesight Global are currently in the process of establishing an Eye Hospital and Blindness Prevention Care Centre near Amritsar, India. To promote Canadian Eyesight Global’s efforts, Jubbal has organized booths at Rotary International Conventions in Birmingham (2009), Montreal (2010), New Orleans (2011), Bangkok (2012), and Lisbon (2013).
Affiliations
Past Affiliations and Memberships: Kamloops Chamber of Commerce; Canadian Importers Association; Canadian Exporters Association; Montreal Board of Trade; Surrey Board of Trade; Rotary Club of Burnaby-Hastings (President in 1997 and 2001).
Present Affiliations and Memberships: Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver; Rotary Club Surrey-Guildford; Canadian Eyesight Global (President and CEO, Founder).
Awards and Recognition
1988: “Distinguished Service Award” from the Rotary International Global Polio Eradication Initiative, presented by Hon. John Fraser, Speaker of the House of Commons, Canada
1993: Rotary International “Service Above Self Award”, presented by the President of Rotary International, Clifford Dochterman
1997: “Meritorious Service Medal”, presented by the Rt. Hon. Roméo LeBlanc, Governor General of Canada
1998: “Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce Humanitarian Award”, presented by the Hon. Paul Martin, Federal Minister of Finance, Canada
2005: “Outstanding Community Service Award” of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver
2006: Nominee for The Surrey Board of Trade “Business Excellence Award” in the Not-for-Profit sector
2006: The Surrey Leader Newspaper “Community Mentor Award”
There have been several other awards and recognitions bestowed upon Mr. Jubbal over the years, and his work has been commended by many notables, including former Governor Generals of Canada, Prime Ministers of Canada, past Premiers of BC, and other dignitaries. His work has been featured on radio and television, as well as in newspapers and magazines, including Reader’s Digest (January 1998).