Mohinder Singh Takhar, a pillar of the Terrace community, passed away on the morning of Mar. 19 from Alzheimer's.
Lovingly known as Mo, he and his family moved to Terrace from Prince Rupert in 1970 after immigrating from India in 1959, and has been as a driving force in the region ever since in real estate, business, philanthropy and local politics.
Takhar began in the trucking business, hauling logs with his first company Takhar Trucking in 1970 before setting up a small sawmill, Terrace Precut Mill, on Braun Street. He was elected to city council in 1983 and served for 10 years, contributing as an active member on numerous committees over those terms.
Rick McDaniel is a Terrace resident who worked with him in different capacities over the years, including for his trucking company. McDaniel was a close friend of the Takhar's.
"He did a lot for the community, but he also did a lot for the people," said McDaniel. "My now wife met him in the early 90s before she met me. She was a single mom at the time and she was struggling. She was cleaning their house for them and before Christmas, Mo came up to her and said, 'You got little kids and everything, and Christmas is around the corner.' He gave her $200."
"That money made Christmas for my wife and her kids," he said. "I know that my wife is not the only one who had that kind of experience with Mo. Yes, he was a very good businessman, but he also had a very warm and generous heart. He valued people above anything anything. He saw stuff in people that maybe other people did recognize."
"When my father passed away, everybody said all sorts of heartfelt things, but Mo came to see me at my office a few days after," said McDaniel. "He just came in, sat down and said to me, 'You know, you think you don't have a dad anymore. Well that's not true, I'm your dad now. Anytime you're struggling with something and normally you would call your dad, you come see me.'"
"I took him up on that and he was there for me when I had those times of uncertainty, stress or worry," he shared.
Takhar made significant contributions to the community over the years, including donations of around $20,000 to the Terrace Sportsplex and the REM Lee Hospital Foundation for the purchase of the hospital’s CT scanner. He was also the 2006 recipient of the Order of Terrace, a fraternity of merit that recognizes people who have made a positive and significant difference in the community.
Takhar’s initiative and contribution helped construct the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple in 1978, and purchased the Gobind Mall in 1995. He helped to start the Terrace Lumber Company in 2005 along with other investors, and served as B.C.’s northwest liaison on the Timber Export Advisory Committee.
"Through Mo, I learned what hard work was. He taught me how to work 14 hours a day," said Jugdeep Takhar, Mo's son. "But not by being mad about it, but because you want it get it done. You have a challenge in front of you and you want to get it done."
Takhar and his wife, Darhsan Kaur, moved to Surrey in 2018 so they could be closer to their family.
"They moved on the same block as my mom's brother and one of my mom's best friend's, and they just had our own little community there," said Jugdeep. Darshan passed away on Oct. 19, 2023.
Comments poured in on Facebook from people whose lives Takhar touched.
"I think what's most interesting about the comments is the diversity of people those comments are coming from," said Jugdeep.
Moving to the region in the late 50s, his son and McDaniel shared that Takhar overcame racism to became a pillar of the community.
"Every single one of them, he made an impact on their lives. It's very rare to know that kind of person," McDaniel said.
"I was fortunate to get some one on one life advice from Mo Uncle. His insight and passion for his community and development was so commendable," wrote Kamal Buttar-Siemens, a financial planner and community volunteer. "Truly a legend! Thank you to his family for sharing him with all of us."
"Mo was a good man, gave to the community in many ways. Always had time for a talk, always fair to me, even when we disagreed on something," wrote Steve Smyth, former Peterbilt manager..
"What a huge community pillar we've lost," wrote Gary Maltin. "Condolences to his family and the many many people he touched. I felt extremely privileged to know him. Well spoken, intelligent and always generous with his time, he will not be forgotten."
The family is holding a funeral for Takhar this Sunday in Surrey.
Takhar survived by daughter Kindy Hari, son-in-law Raj Hari, grandsons Nav and Payton Hari, his son Jugdeep Takhar, grandsons Hastyn and Gradyn Takhar and grand daughter Amryn Takhar. Takhar is also survived by two brothers and four sisters, including his brother Pete, whom he had an incredible bond with, shared Jugdeep.
