The Punjabi Chamber of Commerce is starting a new chapter in the Waterloo region to better support the growing Punjabi business community there.
They will officially kick off their Western Ontario chapter with an event in Waterloo on Aug. 13. This marks the organization’s first move outside the Greater Toronto Area.
“Kitchener-Waterloo is the Silicon Valley of Canada and our community is a big part of the talent powering Google and Microsoft,” said Harsimran Grewal, president of the chamber’s Canadian operations and Toronto chapter.
“A lot of our people and many business owners have settled in the region over the last decade,” he said.
Harsimran Grewal is president of The Punjabi Chamber of Commerce’s Canadian operations and Toronto chapter. (Harsimran Grewal/Linkedin)
The chamber estimates that there are about 5,000 Punjabi professionals and business owners throughout Waterloo region. According to the region’s 2024 immigration profile, Punjabi was listed as the third most common mother tongue among immigrants in Waterloo region.
“The growth there is very real, even if it’s not always visible, and it’s reached a point where the region deserves its own space to connect,” Grewal said.
The nonprofit group has been active in Canada for around three years, organizing networking events for entrepreneurs and business owners. Grewal mentions that about 25,000 people have joined their events over the past year.
The organization recently introduced paid memberships and now holds monthly events in Brampton and Toronto.
Gurpal Singh owns Home Taste Indian Restaurant, with locations in Kitchener and Waterloo. Since he opened his first restaurant in 2018, Singh has noticed rapid growth within the Punjabi business community in Waterloo region.
“Businesses have grown a lot. When we came to Kitchener back around 2018, there were very few Indian restaurants,” he said.
Singh notes that while his restaurant serves everyone, he sees a chance for stronger ties among Punjabi-owned businesses.
“We have worked with other Punjabi businesses, especially near the university area. We are connected with university student groups as well,” he said.
“Having one of these for Punjabis, where you can at least raise your voice and discuss your concerns, it’s good.”
‘We amplify what’s already there’
Grewal emphasizes that this new chapter aims to support existing business organizations instead of competing with them.
“Think of us as a conduit that makes those exciting existing resources easier for our community to actually reach. We amplify what’s already there. We don’t duplicate it while still creating a professional home for our diaspora,” he said.
He mentions that the chamber plans to collaborate with other local chambers by connecting members to services they might not know exist otherwise.
“Some people just don’t even know how to access existing chambers. So we want to be that conduit that helps people bridge that gap,” he said.
Grewal believes this Punjabi-focused organization isn’t meant to divide; instead, he views it as part of Canada’s broader business landscape.
“I would see us as a partner rather than as competitors because we’re all Canadians trying to do right by every Canadian out there.” p >LISTEN | Punjabi Chamber of Commerce opening in Waterloo region:
The Morning Edition – K-W5:59Punjabi Chamber of Commerce opening in Waterloo region p >
Toronto-based Punjabi Chamber of Commerce is expanding into Waterloo region. Harsimran Grewal talks more about this expansion.
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