If you don't know...Harveen Sandhu

…Let me introduce you!

Harveen Sandhu is a professional actor and environmental and sustainability educator of Punjabi descent. She was born in Nairobi, Kenya and is now based in Ottawa, Canada where she has just finished her Masters in Education.

First off - if you’re needing to read something positive and beautiful in the midst of everything going on, here’s Harveen:

I grew up torn between two identities and spent a long time trying to hide away my Indian-ness. Oh, if I could go back in time...! Taking time out of performance gave me a chance to get closer to my actual self - and to fall in love with my culture, my heritage and the legacy of my ancestors. I am beyond grateful to be a Punjabi woman in this lifetime. There is unfathomable beauty, strength and wisdom in my culture - and I am committed now to sharing this with the world, for as long as I am given. #farmersprotest!

... I asked her some more questions!

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HALEY: In a sentence or two, what’s your work mission?

HARVEEN: My mission is to move beyond my own limitations - and to inspire and help others to move beyond theirs. And to help evoke more love and beauty in all of us.

HALEY: What are some favourite projects that you’ve worked on?

I played Elizabeth Darcy in a St. Louis production of Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley back in 2017 - and I had an absolute blast with my new American friends, living in this funky motel in a suburb of St. Louis during autumn, and right until Christmas Day. Playing Eliza Doolittle at the Shaw Festival in Peter Hinton's Pygmalion was a difficult but beautiful experience. Looking back, I realize I wasn't quite ready for it. I grew a lot after the fact - but isn't that always the way!? And most recently - I played Celia in a 70's musical version of As You Like It at Bard on the Beach in Vancouver, complete with 26 of the best Beatles songs. It was a truly magical summer by the ocean and under the mountains and the stars!

HALEY: Did you have any great mentors?

HARVEEN: I studied theatre at Ryerson Theatre School with the likes of Peter Wylde and Cynthia Ashperger, whom I adored. I have been incredibly blessed with so many phenomenal mentors of the years. I pinch myself often, when I realize who I have in my life. John van Burek has been like a father to me for years and years. For years I didn't make a decision without him. Ian Watson became a dear friend of mine during and after school (may he rest in the deepest Peace) and Peter Hinton opened the world of period drama to me in a way no else could.

But Lindy Davies from Australia truly changed my life when I trained with her at the CFC. I have not been the same since I met her. In fact, it was after working with her that I decided to take a much-needed break from acting, to carve out a more spiritual way of being and living for myself. Her work is so powerful and profound it affected the whole of my life - not just my acting. I am a better person for having been blessed with the presence and guidance of these incredible people - and so many more.

HALEY: What are you working on these days?

HARVEEN: Between researching, lesson planning and teaching with Genvironment, I am so grateful to be working on a number of fun things. I'm workshopping a very exciting new play with an absolute dream team, mentoring a bright young actress across the country, and I am honoured to be judging submissions for the 2021 Hollywood North Film Awards. In the New Year, I'll be collaborating with the newly founded Canadian Green Alliance to start an Education Department, with the aim of bridging the gap between theatre and sustainability.

And at all other hours of the day, I can be found baking (badly), working on perfecting my (very wonky) version of Liebestraum on the piano (I've been trying to play this one for over a year now), and committing to deepening my Yoga practice (slowly but surely).

HALEY: Who do you look up to?

HARVEEN: I look up to my mum, dad and my two brothers - the very best spiritual teachers I have. I so admire the tremendous life journey of Russell Brand (check out his amazing podcast, Under the Skin), the humanitarian service of Ravinder Singh Khalsa and Ellie Laks's immense devotion to animals (check out The Gentle Barn!) And one of my biggest acting inspirations has got to be, without a doubt, Canada's very own Deborah Hay.

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You can check out the organisation Harveen works for, Genvironment, here.