Karan Devgan and the Brampton Citizen Award

In 2019, Karan Devgan received a Brampton Citizen Award. The award recognizes residents whose work and volunteering make a real difference in the life of the city.

What the award recognizes

Citizen awards honour people who give back: volunteers, organizers, mentors and community builders whose contributions often happen out of the spotlight. They are a way for a community to say thank you to the people who help it run.

The work behind the recognition

Karan's community involvement in Brampton covers several areas:

• Arts and culture. Through Flower City Bhangra and Flower City Gidha, he supports the folk dance traditions of Punjab, giving performers and young people a place to learn, practise and share them with the wider city.
• Community support. His involvement includes the Saath Foundation and community food programs that help families in Brampton.
• Cultural preservation. He has supported Preserve Arts and Culture Canada, which works to keep cultural traditions alive for future generations.

None of this work happens alone. It relies on volunteers, performers, families, organizers and local businesses who give their time, skills and resources. Recognition like the Brampton Citizen Award reflects that shared effort as much as any one person's role.

Building on earlier recognition

The award came a year after Karan was named to the Brampton Board of Trade's Top 40 Under 40 in 2018. Together, the two show the two sides of his work: building businesses, and building community.

Why it matters

Brampton has grown quickly, and so has the need for people willing to step up: to organize events, support newcomers, help families and celebrate the city's many cultures. Karan believes the people who benefit from Brampton's growth have a responsibility to put something back.

See all of Karan's awards and recognition, or learn more about his community work.