Karma for Kiran | The Karan Project

We all have a story. Every story contains five key elements; characters, plot, setting, conflict and resolution. The story I am about to share with you is no exception. This story begins in 2010 when Kiranbir Bhangu (Kiran) immigrated to Canada to lay the foundations and build a better life for her son Royce (3 months old at the time) and husband Karanpal Bhangu (Karan). A highly educated professional with a Masters Degree in Commerce (among many accomplishments) left all that she had and knew behind to build an incredible future for her family in Canada, one of the safest, happiest, and highest rated countries to live in the world.

Investing even more into her education Kiran grew, furthered her college education in 2012 and soon thereafter established herself as a leader and tremendous contributor to the Edmonton Educational Community. Kiran was delivering tremendous value to the Canadian society and began the necessary processes to obtain permanent residency visas for herself, her son Royce who was now 5 and her husband to reunite with her in Canada.

During the immigration process for Royce and Karan, Kiran brought smiles and tapped into the hearts and minds of hundreds of students in her role as a teacher. Kiran is thatteacher that brings smiles to every student's face. She engages their minds by way of their hearts that blossom into incredible and bright young people. Her students run to her each morning; arms outstretched to greet her with hugs. The tremendous impact she has on these little beings cannot only be seen, but you can feel it too.

On August 11, 2015 after 6 years of an ocean separating Kiran from the loves of her life; she could finally squeeze and hug Royce and Karan as they arrived at the Edmonton International Airport. The sacrifice and the dream of a safe, healthy, and thriving life was finally here!!

The happiness and love exuding from this reunited family will melt your heart. This was everything they had worked their entire lives for...meaning, happiness, and love. They were all they had, and everything they needed. They are a remarkable story of strength, persistence, and character. The next chapter finally included the most important characters in their lives, a setting of freedom in so many respects, and a plot that included endless sunshine, blue skies, and green grass.

December 17, 2015 brought their very first family holiday concert at Royce's school. The couple beamed with pride and held each other with unbelievable love as they marked yet another first for their young family. Laughter, tears, and camaraderie connected the couple and their young son to their community that evening. Husband, wife, best friend, son...their everything together at last… relishing in what so many of us take for granted each and every day.

Karan drove his family home after a festive evening of memories, tucked them both in with a kiss, and slipped away to work. This was the 31st day of proud employment in Canada for Karan. He exuded a vibrance for life. He loved engaging with the people who entered his life each and every day. He routinely took bottles and cans to the less fortunate he met each day at work, engaged them in a deep conversation about who they were and what was important to them. Karan was a brilliant man, and an incredible human being with unwavering compassion.

At 7am on December 18th, 2015 Kiran awoke to a telephone call that would crumble the very foundation of her world. A call that we wish upon no one! Karan was senselessly murdered by three armed gunmen after he'd given them all the money in the store where he worked. That glow of exuberance and passion for life that Kiran carried had all been robbed. It disappeared in an instant as tragedy cast it's dark shadow. I can still feel the heaviness in my heart, and have never been a part of a community that has been so passionately heartbroken.

After 6 months of incredible grief and sorrow, Kiran made the choice to take her passion for Karan and shift her energy into doing everything she could to protect and ensure that other families of night shift workers have their loved ones returned home safely each morning. With this, The Karan Project was born. Protecting lives behind the counter is Kiran's focus and purpose. In the months since The Karan Project was born the community and national support has been incredible. The Honourable Christina Gray, Minister of Labour has invited and engaged The Karan Project in a very important ongoing dialogue, as well as a stakeholder working group to improve night shift worker safety.

Royce's 7th birthday and a father's day without his father have passed since that tragically horrible day in December of 2015. Now as we approach the 1-year anniversary of Karan's senseless and tragic murder, Kiran and Royce grasp for strength each day to continue to make a difference and deliver value to the world.

The strength and resilience that Kiran demonstrates is one in which needs to be shared with the world. Kiran has touched my life, Royce brings smiles, laughter, joy and makes the world a better place for my family. The impact that they have had on the world will never erase or change the unimaginable tragedy that has painted their world, but the story that they have chosen to live is remarkable. The impact that Kiran and The Karan Project is having and will have in protecting husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, mothers, and fathers who provide a living for their families through the night, is one that I ask you to share with everyone you know.

Please share Kiran's Story. As many plan to gather with family over the holidays, please share the inspiration to do what only the perspiration can accomplish and make the choice to have an incredible and positive impact on the world just like Kiran!!

Let's show Kiran the power of the human spirit!

Previously aired interviews with Kiran:

http://globalnews.ca/news/2772104/i-dont-want-anybody-else-to-go-through-this-macs-murder-victims-widow-speaks-out/

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/widow-of-mac-s-shooting-victim-demands-more-security-for-overnight-workers-1.3642409

http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/widow-of-man-killed-in-edmonton-macs-store-robberies-launches-awareness-project-on-fathers-day-weekend

https://twitter.com/christinandp/status/744268438017736704