Careers and Profiles

Harjit Sajjan is a retired Lieutenant-Colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces and former Vancouver Police Detective, known for his four overseas deployments (Bosnia, three to Afghanistan) where his cultural understanding helped reduce Taliban influence, earning him the Meritorious Service Medal. He served as Canada’s Minister of National Defence, leading significant changes and becoming the first Sikh to command a Canadian army regiment (British Columbia Regiment), while also being recognized for his innovative solutions, like spear heading the creation of a more inclusive gas mask.

Chief Petty Officer Second Class Kanwardeep Singh Nijjer, CD, joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1990 and has served for over three decades in the Royal Canadian Navy. He currently serves as a Senior Human Resources Manager at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt in Victoria, British Columbia. His career includes service aboard HMCS Mackenzie, Kootenay, Restigouche, Vancouver, and Calgary, as well as operational deployments on Operation IMPACT to Iraq (2019–2020) and Operation ARTEMIS to Bahrain (2023–2024) in support of international security operations.

CPO2 Nijjer has demonstrated a strong commitment to leadership, diversity, and mentorship within the CAF, serving as Co-Chair of the Defence Visible Minorities Advisory Group from 2017 to 2023. He remains actively engaged in community outreach and recruitment initiatives and has received several honours recognizing his service and contributions, including the Admiral’s Bravo Zulu, the Chief of the Defence Staff Commendation, and the United States Joint Service Commendation Medal.

Sarbjeet Singh Nijher joined the CAF in 2012, immediately upon graduating from Sandalwood Heights Secondary School in Brampton, ON. He enrolled into ROTP and and completing his undergraduate degree in at Royal Military College of Canada in 2017 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He was Commissioned as an Officer with the rank of Second Lieutenant.

Sarbjeet was then posted to Moose Jaw, SK to complete his pilot training. Upon receiving is wings and a promotion to Lieutenant, Sarbjeet was selected to fly the Griffon helicopter out of 439 Combat Support Squadron, in 3 Wing Bagotville, QC. After a few years, Sarbjeet was selected to complete Fighter training in Cold Lake, AB. Sarbjeet is currently flying Fixed-Wing Search and Rescue out of Comox, BC.

Captain Mani Bhatti was born and raised in Brampton, Ontario. In 2007, he took the oath and joined the 7th (Toronto) Regiment, Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery while in Grade 11. His early career was defined by mud, noise, and hard lessons that built resilience and character. Serving as a Sergeant and commanding a 105mm C3 Howitzer remains one of the most meaningful experiences of his career, shaping his leadership style through strong mentorship and equally powerful examples of ineffective leadership.

He later transitioned to Influence Activities Company at 32 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters, working in the information domain at the tactical level. This role led to a deployment on Operation IMPACT (Task Force Middle East), supporting capacity-building with the Lebanese Armed Forces. In 2020, with a growing family, he joined the Canadian Forces Health Services Reserves as one of the first uniformed Nurse Practitioners. Since then, he has served across a wide range of environments from a training Role 2B field hospital, to maritime operations on Operation REASSURANCE (Maritime Task Force), to Canada’s northernmost station in the Arctic.

Captain Seerat Pershad was raised in Scarborough, Ontario and joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2003. In 2006, he transferred to the Cadet Instructor Cadre as a Land Element (Army) officer. He earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Toronto in 2008, followed by a Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 2011. Throughout his service as a CIC officer, Capt Pershad has held a wide range of leadership roles at Cadet Corps and Squadrons, including Administrative Officer, Training Officer, and ultimately Cadet Unit Commanding Officer.

In 2017, Capt Pershad was awarded the Commanding Officer’s Commendation by the Commanding Officer of The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada for demonstrated excellence within the Regimental family, including leading a regimentally sponsored tri-service field training exercise at CFB Borden. He has since served as Commanding Officer of 2881 Queen’s Own Rifles RCACC, 62 Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment) RCACC, and 132 Spitfire RCACS, becoming the first Sikh Commanding Officer for each unit. In 2025, Capt Pershad assumed command of 557 Lorne Scots RCACC in Brampton, an Army Cadet Corps of over 160 cadets, and continues to serve the youth and community of Brampton.

Lieutenant Colonel Deep Singh Bains has proudly served in the Canadian Armed Forces as a reservist for nearly three decades. He enrolled as a medic with 23 (Hmailton) Field Ambulance in 1996. After several years as a non-commissioned member, he was commissioned as an officer and later transferred to 25 Field Ambulance in 2014. He was active with 32 Canadian Brigade Group’s Influence Activities Company and served on numerous domestic operations and an international deployment. He deployed on Op RECUPERATION -1998 Ice Storm, Op TRILLIUM RESPONSE – 2016 in Muskrat Dam, Op LENTUS – 2017 Quebec floods, Op LASER -COVID-19 response, and most recently on Op IMPACT in 2024, where he served in Baghdad, Iraq as a senior leadership advisor with NATO Mission Iraq.

A graduate of the Joint Command and Staff Program (2023), LCol Bains has also built a meaningful career in public education and currently serves as a public school principal. He currently serves as the Commanding Officer of 25 (Toronto) Field Ambulance. He remains committed to institutional stewardship, inclusive leadership, and ensuring the Canadian Armed Forces reflects the strength of Canada’s diversity.