About Us
Sumit Ahuja, Founder
Manpreet Dhillon, Secretary
Barinder Bhullar, Chair
Sumit Ahuja is a recovering alcoholic and addict. After his addiction almost took his life in March of 2017 Sumit attended a residential treatment center and achieved sobriety. Sumit's personal mission to assist anyone dealing with addiction to find help and understanding and break the cultural of secrecy that surrounds addiction.
Barinder Bhullar, Chair
Manpreet Dhillon, Secretary
Barinder Bhullar, Chair
Barinder’s desire is to create world where everyone has the equal opportunity to succeed. Barinder is an community builder and Passionate about youth and mental health causes. As a senior executive and strategic advisor, Barinder brings over a decade of experience in complex public policy, and a proven ability to build relationships with stakeholders worldwide.
Manpreet Dhillon, Secretary
Manpreet Dhillon, Secretary
Manpreet Dhillon, Secretary
Manpreet Dhillon is passionate about liveBIG as she would like to reduce the stigma around getting help for the disease of addiction. Manpreet is the CEO/Founder of Veza, a long time supporter of women's empowerment and equal pay and has been on various boards.
Eric Wallace-Deering
Robin Gill, Treasurer
Eric Wallace-Deering
Eric was inspired to support LiveBig by the experiences of friends and family members who struggled with addiction. Eric currently works in government relations for a Canadian natural resource company following an earlier career in the provincial government as a political advisor.
Gary Pooni
Robin Gill, Treasurer
Eric Wallace-Deering
Gary Pooni was inspired by the stories of how LiveBig facilitates direct positive change in people’s lives through their network of support and shared experiences. Gary is the President of Brook Pooni Associates and is a strong supporter of building up local communities through his various board work including the Indo-Canadian Friendship Society and his other volunteer organizations.
Robin Gill, Treasurer
Robin Gill, Treasurer
Robin Gill, Treasurer
Robin is passionate about reducing the stigma around addiction and mental health in general. From early on, she was taught to support those who may not feel they have a voice, and to help make that voice louder. LiveBIG supports the opportunity to do just that.
Letter from Sumit Ahuja
My name is Sumit. I'm a person in long term recovery and for me that means I haven't had a drink or used a drug since March 3, 2017. I'm grateful for every day since then.
Throughout my journey, I have learned a lot about myself and the disease of addiction. Where addiction taught me to bury and mask my feelings, recovery showed me I can reach out and get help. I have learned that internalizing or burying feelings creates significant health issues and fuels the fire of addiction. I learned that the appearance of strength can be a recipe for disaster - one that ultimately resulted in me wanting to end my own life in March of 2017.
The path to that day was marked with a pattern of numbing my feelings. For me, drinking and using weren’t the problem; they were the solution to the way I was feeling. They numbed me from reality. The feelings of shame, guilt, anxiousness and fear were blissfully taken away – but it was temporary. It was delaying the inevitable. My feelings got worse when I was not drinking or using. Each time added another layer of shame and guilt, which pushed me further down into the depths of my addiction. This is the vicious cycle. I had alienated myself from family and friends. I felt isolated and alone. I felt I couldn't reach out for help as I was too embarrassed of judgement. I could not sleep. My brain was constantly full of destructive thoughts. I knew I needed help – I just could not reach out for it. I lost hope. Life without hope is meaningless.
A life without hope means a false life built on appearances. I call it the perfect `Facebook Life`. To the outside, I looked composed; but on the inside, I was dead and hated myself. My employment and personal life suffered – I lost an opportunity to advance my career, and my wife left me, taking with her my two beautiful children. All of those material items I adored could not combat the sadness I felt when coming home to wasted potential and an empty home.
I finally had enough. As I stood on the balcony of a Vancouver hotel my choices became crystal clear. With the help of my friends and family, I finally realized the pain of the consequences I had endured in my addiction were enough to make a positive change.
I have been graced with so many gifts in my recovery. I have reconciled with my wife and have my two children back in my life full-time.
These gifts inspired me to create the LiveBIG Society. Through my work in this organization and through my supportive program of recovery, I am meeting hundreds of people with the same story, just different facts. I want to help people who face similar situations. I am hopeful that the perspective I have gained can be of assistance.
LiveBig stands for Live with Boundaries, Integrity and Gratitude. I did not live like this in my addiction. Boundaries are compassionate self-care. Integrity is acting the same way when no one is around. Gratitude is being thankful for what I have and not want I want.
Life has slowed down for me. The chaos I felt has dissipated. The first step is reaching out for help, individually or as a family. Through LiveBIG, we can help you find you the resources to start your new life. Please help us get people the treatment they need to give them back their hope.
Sincerely,
Sumit Ahuja Founder, LiveBig Society
