VICTORIA – Suman and Manjit Virk, who have worked tirelessly against bullying since their daughter, Reena, 14, was murdered 12 years ago, have been awarded B.C.’s highest honour for community safety and crime prevention.
Solicitor General Cash Heed presented the Virks with the Anthony J. Hulme Award of Distinction on Monday.
Since the death of Reena in 1997, the Virks have spoken many times in schools and at community events in an effort to prevent others from becoming the victims of bullying and violence.
“With amazing strength that inspired many, the Virks turned their personal tragedy into an opportunity to help others,” Heed said.
“Despite their heartache, they chose to do everything they could to ensure that no other family or child would suffer the horrible consequences of bullying.”
The Virks have developed a DVD about their experience.
Manjit Virk, who has also published a book titled Reena: A Father’s Story, urged people to spend “quantity time” with their children as well as “quality time.”
“Today as we all realize, there is a tremendous pressure put on young people,” Virk said.
“When we were growing up, things were, perhaps, not as complicated. Today they have the pressure of materialism. They have pressure to conform to peer pressure. They have commercialism in their face and . . . less affection and love and personal support from families and other resources. There’s family breakdown. There’s moral breakdown, and our young people are confused at times,” he said.
“I never thought we would be doing this type of work, but we felt very passionately and very strongly that we wanted others to learn from our tragedy,” Suman Virk said.
Victoria Times Colonist
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