In November 1995, the Mission City Council named a street Grewall's Terrace. It was the city's way of acknowledging the contributions of the Late Naranjan Singh Grewall.

The gesture seems fitting when you consider that, among his other accomplishments, Grewall helped pave the path for Indo-Canadians in provincial politics.
Naranjan Grewall's life was not your typical success story.

He came to a small British Columbia mill town from an even smaller village in northern India. He fought for fair wages and safe working conditions and, years later, opened his own mills. Supported by the working-class masses, he rose to political power quickly and died just as suddenly.

Known as "Giani" to his friends, Naranjan Grewall is believed to be the first Indian ever elected to political office in North America. Grewall was born in East Punjab. He came to B.C. in 1925 and in 1941 moved to Mission City, a small mill town in the Fraser Valley.

Grewall worked as a millwright at Fraser Mills and was elected a union official.
He came to own and operate six sawmill companies and established himself as one of the largest employers and most influential business leaders in the area. 

After being in Mission for almost a decade, Grewall decided to run for political office in 1950.
He competed against six other candidates in Mission's board of commissioners election. Grewall topped the polls that year and took out the following notice in the local newspaper: "Thank you all citizens of Mission City," the notice read. "It is a credit to this community to elect the first East Indian to public office in the history of our great dominion. It shows your broad-mindedness, tolerance and consideration."

He was elected to another two-year term in December 1952 and was unanimously elected chairman of the board by his fellow commissioners for the year 1954.

After losing his MLA bid in 1956 to SoCred Labor Minister Lyle Wicks, Grewal began receiving threats.
Fires were set at his mills and his house was set ablaze.

On July 17, 1957, while on a business trip, Grewall was found dead in a Seattle motel. He had been shot in the head.
Although local police ruled it a suicide, Grewall's family believes he was a victim of foul play.

Grewall was survived by his wife and three children, who left Mission City shortly after his death.
Despite the suspicious circumstances of his death, Grewall's story is more notable for his legacy of community involvement than for his untimely demise.

To read other stories of Indo-Canadian pioneers, download the free digital edition of the 100 Year Journey book at www.100yearjourney.com or search 100 Year Journey in the App store on your favourite mobile device.