New YouTube video “A Noble Death” out now!

Happy Remembrance Day everyone. Today as we take the time to reflect, honour and pay tribute to our heroes, I wanted to share my newest video which features one of my most famous poems. On Remembrance Day we celebrate, commemorate and recognize the veterans of the past who fought and lost their lives in WW1 and WW2 for us all to enjoy the freedoms we have today. We also acknowledge the current Canadian military personnel and defence forces, as well as all surviving war veterans and soldiers. Our nation would not be what it is today without their sacrifices. We thank them for their daily services and bravery to our great country. 🥀🪖🎖️🇨🇦🍁❤️

https://youtu.be/xX93X9C5bCk

This poem may seem familiar, that’s because I’ve shared it here before. But this is the first time it’s in video form. You can also read A Noble Death here. 

This is a very special poem of mine. This is a poem I wrote back in 2010 from the perspective (POV) of a World War 1 soldier. Originally this was written for a history assignment back when I was in school. A couple years later this poem went on to win second place in the Royal Canadian Legion’s annual poetry contest. Please enjoy this tribute to our wonderful heroes.

New YouTube video out now! “Halloween Night” poem.

New YouTube video up now!  Check out my poem, “Halloween Night”. This is a poem I wrote a long time ago in 2004. I reworked it in 2012 and recently made some final adjustments. You can also read it here. Enjoy! 

 

 

New YouTube video out now: 'Ghost from the Past' poem!

It’s September 30, which means today is Orange Shirt Day & National Truth and Reconciliation Day. 

Last year I shared a poem titled, Ghost from the Past, that I wrote back in 2022. You can read it here.

You can also read my personal Land Acknowledgment here. 

Now you can also see it in my newest YouTube video here! https://youtu.be/6sUxD-FE25w 

2022 OTIP Educational Support Staff award - A look back two years later

 

It's hard to believe it's been two years since I received the 2022 OTIP Education Support Staff Worker award. As I reflect on this, it seems so crazy how fast time flies. It literally feels like it happen last week. 

It was such an honour to be chosen as the recipient of the big honour from among the thousands of nominations OTIP received from all across Ontario. Moreover, I was even more honoured and humbled to be the first (and so far only) person of colour to receive award, as well as being the first person from Toronto and the youngest person to ever receive it. I am proud to be the person who has shattered this glass ceiling and to be an inspiration and representation for others in visible and radicalized minority groups. 

See the original post with photos from the incredible event here:  http://vickrambachan.blogspot.com/09/2022-otip-support-staff-award

Published in 'Winter's Melody' - New Book coming soon!

Some exciting news to announce today!  This winter my new poem, Lament Through the Eagle's Eyes will be published in a brand-new collection by the Polar Expressions Publishing titled, Winter's Melody.  

This book is composed of poetry by talented Canadians from all across the nation. I am honoured to once again be featured in Polar Expressions annual collection. 

The book will be available just in time for the Holidays season and would make a great Christmas gift for the avid reader in your life. 

Winter's Melody is available for pre-oder now exclusively from Polar Expressions Publishing shop: https://polarexpressions.ca/Shop.html 

Be sure to order your copy(s) now!  

Published in 'Seaside' - New Book coming soon!

Some exciting news to share that I received today!  This winter my new short story,  The Waitress will be published in a brand-new collection by the Polar Expressions Publishing titled, Seaside. 

This book is composed of short stories by talented Canadians from coast to coast to coast. I am honoured to once again be featured in Polar Expressions annual short story collection. 

The book will be available just in time for the Holidays season and will make a great Christmas gift for the avid reader on your list. 

Seaside is available for pre-oder now exclusively from Polar Expressions Publishing's shop: https://polarexpressions.ca/Shop.html

Be sure to order your copy(s) now! 

ETFO International Humanitarian award 2024

As I posted about back in May, I am honoured to be the 2024 recipient of the ETFO (Elementary Teacher's Federation of Ontario) International Humanitarian Award!

Click here to see that post from a few months ago http://vickrambachan.blogspot.com-2024-etfo-international-humanitarian 

See the media release from ETFO from earlier today: 

https://www.etfo.ca/news-publications/media-releases/etfo-announces-its-2023-2024-award-winners 

https://www.etfo.ca/about-us/awards-scholarships/2023-24-award-recipients 

I want to thank ETFO once again for this incredible recognition and honour. 

2024 OPSBA Achievement Award of Excellence

Today I was honoured to receive the 2024 Ontario Public School Boards' Association Achievement Award of Excellence!

https://www.opsba.org/what-we-do/achievement-award-award-of-excellence 

https://www.opsba.org/what-we-do/awards-programs/

https://www.opsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/OPSBA_AnnualReport_2024.pdf

"The OPSAB awards are presented annually to volunteers of school boards for outstanding, exemplary and/or unique contributions to the overall well-being of the school or community through in-school, board-wide, extra-curricular and/or volunteer activity. 

The OPSBA Achievement Award recognizes the outstanding contributions of non-teaching staff, parents, volunteers and community partners involved in education in the member boards. This award provides an opportunity to raise awareness and promote the importance of celebrating excellence and the necessity of recognizing the work of all members of the education community. Outstanding, exemplary and/or unique contributions to the overall well-being of the school(s) or community(s) through in-school, board-wide, extra-curricular and/or volunteer work or contributions. 

The award is intended to support and enhance the present individual member boards’ awards programs and at the same time raise the profile of the OPSBA awards program in the local boards, schools and communities. The award plaque will be prepared by OPSBA and supplied to the local board for presentation at the appropriate board determined occasion and location." 

Announcing the launch of my YouTube channel!

You may recall back in 2019 I mentioned I had something big coming that I was working on, and that I would be making an announcement soon. Unfortunately, as 2020 came the Covid-19 pandemic hit and threw everything off.  

I am delighted to announce today that I have officially started my YouTube channel recently!  I created the channel back in 2020 but didn't do anything with it as all the ideas I had wouldn't have worked at the time. 

I've had a lot of ideas for content and what the videos would look like. I am excited to finally make this happen. So stay tuned for lots of great content to come with my poetry. Be sure to subscribe to my channel, watch, like and share the videos! 

My Personal Land Acknowledgment

It's June 21, Happy Summer Solstice!  In celebration of National Indigenous Month, and of Indigenous People's Day today, I wanted to share my own personal Land Acknowledgment that I wrote a few weeks ago. 

I acknowledge that I am situated on land that was called Turtle Island and inhabited by the Indigenous peoples, who were the first caretakers of this land before colonialism. I acknowledge that though I am a first generation born in Canada and call this land my home, my family immigrated from South America in hopes of a better life here in North America. I am thankful for the opportunities I am afforded in Canada and I am committed to making things right in our ongoing efforts and work towards reconciliation for the cultural genocide committed in residential schools across Turtle Island by the European colonialism and the Catholic Church. As a faithful and devoted Christian, I am ashamed of what the Catholic Church did and emphasize that it was wrong and not the way of Christianity. Those individuals were not real Christians but evildoers claiming to be. As a descendant of slaves and a son of immigrants, I empathize with the pain and suffering indigenous people have endured and I am dedicated to ensuring nothing like this ever happens again in the future as we move forward towards a nation and world of peace and acceptance of all people. I acknowledge that no nation or race holds dominion over another; all people, land and things belong to God. 

Back in September, on Orange Shirt and National Truth & Reconciliation Day, I shared my poem Ghosts From the Past, which you can see here. http://vickrambachan.blogspot.com/2023/09 

2024 OSSTF Lamp of Learning Award

On Thursday May 2, 2024 I received some very exciting news, now I am excited to share that great news with everyone. Today I received the OSSTF Lamp of Learning Award! 
I am so humbled and honoured to be this year's recipient of this prestigious award and be recognized by the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation.  The award's presentation ceremony was held this morning in Toronto. It was an honour to meet the OSSTF president and vice-present and be presented with the award by them. 

https://osstfupdate.ca/2024/06/19/member-awards-presentation-june-2024-provincial-council

"The Lamp of Learning Award, a silver replica of the symbolic educational lamp, is presented each spring to a non-member resident of Ontario who has made an outstanding contribution to public education in the Province." 

I am extremely proud to be the 2024 recipient of this incredible honour; out of the thousands of nominations OSSTF received from across Ontario they chose me. Winning this award doesn't mean it's over, my work in education is just beginning. I remain committed and dedicated to all students and schools I work with and to continue fostering and maintaining an equitable, safe and welcoming environment where students can learn and thrive, both in classrooms and in extracurriculars. I remain dedicated to ensuring students have lots of opportunities to engage in educational, exciting and rewarding extracurriculars, sports, clubs and programs. 

Thank you to OSSTF for this amazing recognition, and thank you to the TDSB (Toronto District School Board) for allowing me the opportunity to do all that I have done in various schools over the past 16 years. 

Here is a short video from the OSSTF's awards ceremony on June 7, 2024.

Interview with Atmosphere Press!

I recently had an interview with Atmosphere Press to discuss my writing.  I talk a bit about one of my books, a collection of poetry I completed and a couple of years ago and am currently seeking publication for. 

I also share a little about my writing process, what inspires me and my passion for creative writing, and the audiences I write for. 

Check out the interview here: https://atmospherepress.com/interview-with-vickram-bachan 

Also be sure to check out and support my GoFundMe page, to help with the cost of entry fees for writing competitions. https://gofund.me/26d48914 

2024 ETFO International Humanitarian Award Non-member recipient!

On Thursday April 18, 2024 I found out some very exciting news. I was informed that I would be receiving this years ETFO Non-member International Humanitarian Award. I received the award on Wednesday May 15, 2024. I am truly honoured and humbled to be the 2024 winner of the Elementary Teachers Federation Ontario International Humanitarian Award! 

"This award may be granted each year to an individual or a group of individuals who do not hold ETFO membership, but have given outstanding service to supporting children in the global community. The recipient shall receive acknowledgement by ETFO and a Certificate of Recognition from the union's president." 

For more information on this award, check out ETFO's website here: https://www.etfo.ca/about/etfo-awards 

 

I will be featured in their Federation's Annual Meeting later in August. This is the media release from ETFO. Visit their website for more: https://www.etfo.ca/2023-24-award-recipients

"The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) has presented its 2024 International Humanitarian Award for a Non-ETFO member to Vickram Bachan. This award is presented annually to an individual or a group of individuals who do not hold ETFO membership but have given outstanding service to supporting children in the global community. 

Bachan, an Educational Assistant with the Toronto District School Board and member of CUPE Local 4400, has enthusiastically implemented several exciting programs to engage and serve students’ needs, as well as the needs of children locally and around the globe. He started the Harry Potter & Fantastic Beasts Fan Club, the Poetry for Hope Writing Club, spearheaded the United for Ukraine Food Drive, ran a poetry book writing project during the pandemic called Planting Seeds of Change, and started the Dobby's Socks and Gloves Drive.

At each of the schools he has worked at, Bachan innovates by setting up one or more programs that particularly benefit the students of that school. The projects either give services and aid, such as clothing and food for Ukrainian refugees and the homeless in Toronto, raise money for organizations like the Lumos Foundation, or spread the values of the Toronto District School Board, including globalism, anti-poverty, anti-racism, peace, education, and sharing with the less fortunate. 

Bachan has a passion for literacy, the curriculum and working in classrooms, and has a way of bringing out the best in his students, helping them find their courage and voices. He is a champion of inclusivity, equity, and supporter of mental health initiatives. His compassion, kindness, and leadership have benefited children locally and worldwide. His ability to inspire a love of learning in students of all backgrounds and abilities is inspirational and admirable." 

Thank you very much to ETFO for this incredible recognition!

Help Fund my Creative Writing Journey

I hope everyone is safe and well following the exciting once in a lifetime Total Solar Eclipse yesterday.

As you no doubt know by now, there's nothing I love more than filling a blank page with the ink of a pen and creating something brand new that never existed before for the world to read, enjoy, be entertained and inspired. I write poetry, short stories, novels and recently began a course on script-writing. I have been seeking to get published with no success yet, but with hope and determination you will one day see some or all of the books I am working on in stores and on bookshelves soon.

In the meantime however, I am looking to participate in writing competitions, mainly poetry and short story contests. Now the thing about this, is that while some are free to participate in, most of them have an entry fee which can cost from $25 to as much as $50 to participate. While this may not seem like much, for me it adds up a lot over time to participate in all the contest I want to enter. So this is where you come in, with your help and support I can be able to participate in more of these fantastic writing competitions. Remember that no donation is too small, it all adds up. With all of your contributions added together, I will be able to compete.

You can support me with this by visiting and donating to my GoFundMe page and contributing to the campaign! Check it out here at the link below where more information is provided. 

Help Fund Vick's Creative Writing Journey: https://gofund.me/9c0b812b  

I also have other GoFundMe pages for some other dreams, goals and ambitions of mine. You can read through them for yourself and make donations by clicking these links:

Help Vick Educate the Future Generations (University tuition): https://gofund.me/e7a19807  

Help Vick get to Work Safely and On Time (get a car): https://gofund.me/0faf989a  

Thank you very much for your kind generosity, time and consideration. Your donations are much appreciated, more than you'll ever know. Your contributions will enable me to get more of my writing out into the wider world and hopefully inspire more people with it. 

Merry Christmas 2023!

 Merry Christmas 

Everyone!!!