Details: It is with deep sadness that we are mourning the tragic loss of Dr. Roshan Thomas, who was a generous and courageous individual and an exemplary Canadian. Roshan served as a director of the Canadian Pharmacy of Vancouver and in 2003 became the Club President for a brief period before moving her focus to the less fortunate in Afghanistan.
Roshan was instrumental in the launch of the Canadian Club Maple Leaf Youth Awards, formerly known as the Canadian SOARS Awards, in 2003. These awards recognize outstanding achievements of students in our province. In 2011, The Club invited Roshan to the Maple Leaf Youth Awards celebration, at which Trevor Linden was our special guest, to demonstrate the tremendous success of the awards program sparked by her vision for youth empowerment and leadership.
In 2003, Roshan, founded Afghanistan’s first independent school of excellence – SPARKS Academy. She recently joined us at a Club luncheon with Canada’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, The Honourable Chris Alexander. Roshan and Minister Alexander met years ago in Afghanistan during his posting in Kabul. Roshan kindly shared photos with Minister Alexander of his visits to her school that elicited an emotional response and a pleasant conversation as they fondly remembered those special times and children they helped.
We at the Canadian Club of Vancouver wish to express our condolences and deepest sympathies to the Thomas family. Roshan will forever be remembered for her courage, strength and compassion.