[Photograph of a woman addressing the audience at the foundation laying ceremony of the Vedic Hindu Society's new temple]

Photograph of an unidentified woman addressing the audience at the foundation laying ceremony of the Vedic Hindu Society's new temple. The ceremony was held in Surrey, British Columbia (B.C.), and was attended by Shushma Datt.

The Vedic Hindu Society is a community organization based in Surrey, B.C. They are dedicated to promoting and preserving Vedic Hindu traditions. They offer a variety of cultural and spiritual activities, including religious ceremonies, educational programs, and community events.

Shushma Datt is a pioneer in the broadcasting industry in Canada, known as the first Indo-Canadian broadcaster in the country. Born and raised in Kenya, Datt earned a university degree from the University of New Delhi in India. She then began her career in journalism by working as a reporter for the Times of India. From there Datt moved to London, England, where she was employed by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Datt emigrated to Canada in 1972 and settled in Vancouver, where she broke new ground by hosting Indian programming on CJVB, where she was the first announcer to broadcast in Hindi and Panjabi. In 1987, Datt founded Rim Jhim, the world's first 24-hour South Asian radio station outside of India. In 2005, Shushma secured an AM license to launch RJ1200, now Spice Radio, further cementing her legacy. In 2007 Shushma Datt received the Influential Women in Business Award (BC) for her many accomplishments in broadcasting and multicultural programming. She has also received the Order of British Columbia (1992), the Queen's Golden Jubilee Commemorative Medal (2002), the YWCA's "Women of Distinction" Award and the Humanitarian Award from the Vancouver Multicultural Society. Datt is listed as one of the 150 most influential British Columbians by the Royal British Columbia Museum and the 100 most influential Indo-Canadians by the Vancouver Sun. Shushma's work not only transformed ethnic broadcasting but also paved the way for women and cultural understanding in Canada.