Balraj Kahlon is at the forefront of supporting British Columbia’s vulnerable international students. In 2019, he co-founded One Voice Canada to address student abuse and exploitation. The organization assists students and migrant workers, primarily from South Asia, in navigating bureaucratic processes. It also provides emotional support, legal aid, immigration assistance and guidance to resolve disputes.
Genesis: I was involved with a Sikh-led organization called Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen, where we served free meals to the homeless in Vancouver. There, word spread around the organization about the challenges faced by international students. We realized the situation was more complicated than we thought.
Need: I assumed international students needed basic guidance and support with essentials, given how expensive life is away from home. But their challenges run much deeper: many individuals face serious issues, such as labour exploitation, sexual abuse from employers and landlords, and suicides. I focus on exploitation cases — employers who haven’t paid them and private colleges that won’t return their tuition [after a student withdraws to transfer elsewhere.]
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Impact: The most rewarding part of my work is being able to make their journey, even in a small way, a little easier for them and their parents. Our efforts have highlighted the challenges faced by international students, but the necessary systemic changes haven’t happened. For example, provincial governments must adequately fund post-secondary institutions to ensure colleges don’t become overly reliant on international student fees. Private colleges that fail to offer legitimate diplomas and depend entirely on international students should be shut down. Responding to public frustration, politicians have finally acknowledged that poorly managed immigration contributes to the housing crisis, and have begun to implement changes. Reforms are welcome, but it’s disheartening to see politicians addressing community problems only when they become political problems.
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This article first appeared in Broadview’s July/August 2025 issue with the title “Balraj Kahlon.”
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