Interesting Canadian: Ash Singh

Interview conducted by David Griffith

Having been voted as one of Asia’s Best Young Entrepreneurs in 2009 by Business Week magazine, Ash Singh is certainly an interesting Canadian. Not only is Ash the Managing Director of Interactive SG, a creative New Media Company, but he’s also a huge Slingers fan.  We caught with Ash for a little Q&A.


1. Has basketball always been one of your interests, and how did you get involved with the Slingers?

ASH> I grew up watching Michael Jordan so I have always been a basketball fan. I played basketball in school with aspirations of playing professionally. I realized (through repeated lectures from my parental figures) that statistically it wouldn’t make sense. So I got into business instead. I was a sponsor of the team in the first season 5 years ago and then invested into the team. I have been sitting court side since day 1.

2. It looks like the team has finally established a loyal fan base. Were there times early on that you questioned whether a professional basketball team in Singapore would survive?

ASH> Like any business startup, it takes time to establish yourself and you need to give yourself enough time to overcome the challenges that the market throws at you. Getting the word out and getting the press to write about us (without paying them) was a challenge. The Slingers have a good management team lead by our Chairman Mark Chang (founder of Jobstreet.com) and Michael Johnson (who manages the operations) who
have managed to overcome such obstacles.

3. You clearly have a lot of interests and business endeavors, what’s been your most satisfying venture and why?

ASH> Good question - its like asking a mother which child she likes best! I am blessed to have a good core team of people. The journey of working with them and creating new ventures is the most satisfying.

4. How often do you manage to get back to Canada and what are some of the things you miss most about living in Singapore?

ASH> My whole family is back in Toronto so I try to go back once a year. Last year, I went back during winter time and my wife Samran (a Singaporean) was not a happy camper!  I miss family, Toronto Maple Leafs, Tim Hortons Coffee and Donuts, Pizza Pizza, and ice skating .

5. What can we expect from Ash Singh in the future, what are some of the things you’re now working on?

ASH> We run a digital media ventures company so we are creating new ideas regularly. One project I am excited about is an e-clothing company called Neumodo.com - check it out!

6. And finally, who do you think will win the ABL title this season?

ASH> Singapore Slingers!

Great Canadian Yard Sale

By David Griffith

The dogs were hot, the beer was cold, and the goods were sold.  With more that 20 individual sellers at the Canadian International School’s Tajong Katong campus, the second annual Great Canadian Yard Sale was a great success as money was raised for The Run for Hope.

As the clock struck twelve-noon the gates at the front of the CIS opened up and the buying frenzy began.  After an hour most of the selling had finished and people were left to relax and enjoy delicious hot dogs and cold beer.

Many thanks to all those who donated their un-wanted items to charity, and to all those who lent a hand in organizing this year’s event.  Finally, a special thank you to Brewerkz for donating the ice-cold suds, Santa Fe for the tables and canopies, and the Canadian International School for loaning the premises,
barbecue and chairs.  Start stock piling your stuff and we’ll see you next year!

Dragon Boating: ANNUAL SINGAPORE RIVER REGATTA

Text by Laurel Sherwood, Canadian Dragons Representative

Screams of “Harder! Stronger! Longer!” could be heard all up and down the banks of Boat Quay a few weeks ago, as it played host to the annual Singapore River Regatta. Hundreds of paddlers and teams from all over Singapore and parts of Asia gathered here for the 300 metre races, which included men’s, women’s and mixed boats. Everything went as one would
expect. People came, people paddled, people… BUT WAIT! Before going any further, it might be a good time to mention something that you may or may not find interesting… erm… WE WON!
That’s right! We owned the river, taking home the gold medal in the ‘Inter-International Business Community mixed-20 race.’ No one expected us to even get close and yet we blew the competition out of the water and … Oh, wait a second. This isn’t hockey. Must be modest. Must not show off! Canadian Mode: On.

Yes, the well-spelled cries of “C-A-N-A-D-A” echoed throughout downtown Singapore and well into the night as we celebrated our best result in several years. Even before we received the solitary finger raised (no, not in that way) by our mole in the Official’s Tower to signal our position in crossing the finishing line, we already knew we had paddled our hearts out. We were all partially deaf from our cox screaming “We are leading” for much of the second half of the race, although he had gone suspiciously quiet in the last 50 metres which must have spurred us on. As word filtered through that we might have done quite well, we all avoided tempting fate as we knew that these races can sometimes go down to photo finishes with the last paddle stroke deciding the winner. Once on shore, the word got out and the cheers went up.

At the same time, our girls – the newly christened ‘Iron Butterflies’ – also put in a top notch performance in the Women’s 10s category. Unlike the Mixed 20 boat, which was competing against mere Expat teams in paper-light boats, the ladies were in the mix with teams from all over Singapore and in boats that weighed a ton. Nevertheless, these butterflies flew in formation and won the Bronze medal in the Minor Final, an excellent result for a team-within-a-team that was only put together a few months before the race. We’ve known for some time that the Canadian team was an equal opportunity employer but now we really see they are a force to be reckoned with and the back bone of this team!


So now begins the next season and we are looking for new recruits. Interested in joining the team? Check out our website at www.canadiandragons-sg.org .

Invisalign - the invisible and comfortable way to straighten teeth

By Specialist Dental Group

Apart from restoring function or resolving pain, many patients visit the dentist to enhance the aesthetics of their teeth and resulting smile.  When it comes to straightening crooked or crowded teeth, one of the exciting innovations is Invisalign – a series of clear, virtually invisible removable custom-molded aligners.

Orthodontists use 3-D computer imaging technology to plan and map the complete treatment. Patients are required to wear each aligner at least 20 hours daily for about two weeks, before being replaced by the next aligner in the series until the final desired position of the teeth are achieved.

The main features of Invisalign are;

·         Invisible – you can straighten your teeth without anyone knowing!

·         Removable – you can easily remove the aligners for meals and then after brushing/flossing, put them on again

·        Comfortable – movements of the teeth are gradual, and the smooth surface results in no abrasions

Depending on the complexity of the case, the length of Invisalign treatment can range from 6 months to 2 years. You can continue to smile throughout Invisalign treatment without feeling self-conscious about your teeth.

If you have been looking for other alternatives to straighter teeth, but are hesitant about conventional braces, Invisalign may be a good option to consider.  A thorough initial consultation and examination with an accredited Invisalign dentist or orthodontist will confirm if you are a suitable candidate for Invisalign.

 Specialist Dental Group is a corporate sponsor of the Canadian Association of Singapore (CAS). CAS members enjoy a special rate for dental services. For details, send an enquiry via http://www.specialistdentalgroup.com or call 6733 7883.