The West Shore community is mourning the loss of a well-known businessman and developer this week.

Jog B次元官网网址淛ogiB次元官网网址� Raj Jaswal, the owner of Jaswal Lumber Ltd. and developer of several properties in Langford, passed away on Sunday, Jan 28 at the age of 79 years old, after losing his two-and-half-year-long battle with cancer.

B次元官网网址淗e touched a lot of people in his time. He was a very generous man. He was down to earth,B次元官网网址� said Bob Gill, JaswalB次元官网网址檚 son-in law. B次元官网网址淗is family was so important to him. He was old school, he did business on a handshake.B次元官网网址�

Born in a village in India called Bham in 1938, Jaswal first immigrated to Victoria when he was 17 years old. Shortly after, he returned to India and married his wife, Sheila. The couple then returned to the Island in 1962 and moved into a mobile home in Colwood.

When he was just starting out, Jaswal used to sell lumber from his station wagon. Finally after purchasing three acres along Sooke Road, he opened Jaswal Lumber Ltd. across from the former Glen Lake Inn, which serviced hundreds of residents in the western communities and beyond for 40 years.

A few years after opening Jaswal Lumber, Jaswal made the transition from businessman to developer and, according to Gill, built one of the first apartment buildings in Langford in the form of a three-storey, nine-unit apartment on the same property as the business. In 1992, he relinquished Jaswal Lumber and leased the property to Lumberworld, and went on to build 26 townhouses and a 42-unit condo building currently known as Lameena Terrace in 2013.

Now, heB次元官网网址檚 being remembered as a hard-working man who put his family first.

Stew Gordon, owner of Gordon B次元官网网址楴B次元官网网址� Gordon Interiors that specializes in commercial and residential projects, has known Jaswal since he was young and worked with him on several projects over the years.

B次元官网网址淗e was a very honourable man and an icon to Langford,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淗e was the old handshake fella, you just shook his hand and the deal was done B次元官网网址� He helped a lot of people out.B次元官网网址�

Mayor Stew Young said during his first couple of years in municipal office, Jaswal often had conversations with him about ways to bring more infrastructure to the city.

B次元官网网址淲hen I was younger, I learned quite a bit from him. It was sad to see him pass away,B次元官网网址� said Young, adding Jaswal would often introduce him to people who were looking to invest in Langford. B次元官网网址淗e was quite active in the early days. I still remember him driving around in his grey truck and knew who he was. He was a great contributor to our community and a good family guy.B次元官网网址�

Jaswal is survived by his wife Sheila, three daughters, Lata, Meena, and Cindy, and six grandchildren.

Like us on and follow us on

kendra.wong@goldstreamgazette.com