Because of Your Love, The Governor General of Canada Has Selected Me For Meritorious Service Decoration Award

What began as a first dance class, then grew into another, then more, eventually started to happen beyond the Yukon, across Canada, and beyond.

Me with the letter from the Office of the Governor General of Canada | Photo taken with my tripod

It all started in the beautiful territory of the Yukon, and at that time, I could never have imagined how this journey would unfold and continue to evolve in unexpected ways. What began as a first dance class, then grew into another, then more, eventually started to happen beyond the Yukon, across Canada. What began as a single video grew into another, then dozens more, eventually becoming hundreds of recordings that continue to this day. After relocating to the Yukon in 2012, I took my first step into teaching by offering a class to young learners at the Yukon Literacy Coalition in Whitehorse. From there, the classes naturally expanded to various locations throughout the territory, reaching more and more communities. Recently, I received an incredible honour — a letter from the Office of the Governor General of Canada, the Honourable Mary Simon, informing me that I have been selected as a recipient of the Meritorious Service Decoration (Civil Division). This prestigious award acknowledges the contributions I've made toward creating a lasting positive impact throughout the country.

When I first embarked on this path, I never imagined this day, let alone that my videos would reach and resonate with countless viewers across Canada and internationally. Even now, after all this time, the extent of this reach continues to amaze me, though I'm gradually becoming accustomed to this wonderful reality.

My journey to spreading joy emerged as a conscious response to my own experiences with sadness. In life, we often face a crucial choice when confronting difficulties: we can take the easier path, which often leads to negativity, or we can choose the more challenging route that, while initially more difficult, ultimately leads to greater fulfillment and rewards. Looking back, I'm profoundly grateful that I chose the positive path even though it was a difficult one in the beginning, as the results after these years have been truly remarkable and beyond my expectations.

I feel particularly fortunate that during the height of the pandemic, when the world was experiencing unprecedented changes and challenges, I found purpose in creating and sharing my dances online that carried messages of joy, hope, and positivity. The response from viewers has been incredibly touching - people began sending me heartfelt handwritten letters, hundreds of them, to my cabin in the Yukon. What moves me most is that some letters would reach me with just the simple address: "Gurdeep Pandher, A Cabin in the Yukon, Canada"!

This outpouring of love and support inspired me to embark on an ambitious cross-country tour, bringing these same messages of joy, hope, and positivity to people in person. The journey began on the East Coast, and I've had the privilege of traveling through Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba. My mission continues, as I still look forward to visiting Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.

Throughout my travels, I've been blessed with countless meaningful and heartwarming interactions with people during my joy sessions, each one reinforcing the power of human connection.

I am deeply honoured that the Office of the Governor General of Canada has recognized these efforts with this award. The formal presentation ceremony will be held in Ottawa in 2025. I am profoundly grateful for this recognition of my work in fostering unity and among people.

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Dear reader,

I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your readership, regardless of your subscription status.

If you can, write your thoughts in the comments below.

Cheerfully,
Gurdeep