Meet the Team

Simmy Cheema

Founder & CEO

Simmy Cheema

CEO

Simmy was born in Punjab, but as an “Army Brat”, moved frequently and lived in many parts of India where she learned to speak Punjabi, Hindi and English. Simmy’s career as a performer began at age 11, when she played the starring role in “Snow White and the 7 Dwarves”. An accomplished sitar player and vocalist, Simmy’s education was focused on the Fine Arts, for which she won scholarships.
Simmy loves adventure and traveled extensively before falling in love with BC and moving to Canada.

Her broadcasting career took off in 1995, she began hosting her own programs after which her distinctive style and melodic voice immediately won listeners over. Simmy is working as a radio host on RJ1200 and also a part-time support worker for abused women and children. She has a segment on OMNI as well. Simmy believes that everyone is born with a special gift that they have to share with the world. Her true passion lies in directing and producing Close Look and Desi Close Look shows. She strongly believes that “if you can conceive it, you can achieve it.”

Sahil Sharma

Co-Founder

“Innovation & Creativity” have no rules. That’s a rule!

Living by the rule above, Sahil Co-Founded the award-winning media based Social Enterprise, Close Look Productions- Canada. His exploratory & creative journey till date has reflected his authentic self through various roles from being a percussionist to acting in school plays, writing & recording poetry, advertising, & media production.

An MBA graduate from Vancouver Island University & a professional in Talent & Leadership Development (CTDP), Sahil is also the author of the book “Please Step Forward. You Are About To Change!” and an intuitive Tarot reader.

He lends & shares his vision of spreading the music of inspiration & talent around through Close Look.

Sahil Sharma

Co-Founder

Kevin Atwal

(1986-2015)

Kevin Atwal

(1986-2015)

Kevin Atwal was a young energetic, enthusiastic and positive 26 year old. He had spent 5 years at the University of Victoria studying a wide variety of fields. His moving away from home for school at the age of 18 in conjunction with life lessons and his studies had made him the strong willed, respectful grateful person he was till his last day of this life.

Kevin had many passions and interests that kept him, his friends and family entertained. Traveling, cooking, dancing and swimming were only the tip of the ice berg.

We may not see this talented gentleman around us anymore but we feel his presence around that motivates us to go forward & spread our love & his associated vision in this world.

Terri Siduquay

“Together we can make the world a better place full of love and happiness” -Terri

Terri Siduquay is a positive, loving, confident woman committed to living her passions! She is an actress, singer and model who believes in going for your dreams! Acting is her first love; she won “Most Inpirational Actress” at Frank Hurt and has worked on independent films. In June 2015, Terri was on the cover of Desi Today Magazine and is working on her new single “Love Mirage”.

She is currently Miss Surrey Petite 2015/16. Terri loves helping the community and others as together we can all make the world a better place full of love and happiness. She firmly stands by “being the change you want to see in the world”. She believes in living life to the fullest, enjoying every moment and following her heart! She also volunteers at Access Youth Outreach. Terri is excited to be a part of the Close Look family and support the community in their aspirations!

Terri Siduquay

Sukha Kang

Our Desi Close Look host, Sukha Kang came from India in 2007. He started driving a 5 ton truck and very soon opened his own company JVC Excavating and Demolition. He is a good writer and loves to sing too. Simmy believed in him and knew that one day he will shine like a star. Today he is well recognized in the south asian community.

Natalia

Natalia loves exploring new ways to epress herself artisitically and so when the producer of Close Look TV, Simmy Cheema asked her to join the Close Look team – Natalia jumped at the opportunity. It is a great way to share artists with the public and inspire viewers to devlop their talents as well. Natalia is very excited for this new journey in her artistic career.

Natalia is an award winning artist, winning several awards for composition and in her work for music education. She also holds nominations from the Vancouver Island Music Awards, CanadianMusic.com, and holds a nomination for the Grammy Music Education Award. She is active as a performer and music educator.

Natalia

Richard Tichelman

I joined Close Look not just because of the things they stand for and the people they help, but because Close Look as a family. A family that when I first met them they welcomed with open arms and I am blessed to be able to work with them.

Alysha Gill

Alysha was born and raised in Canada. After completing high school, Alysha moved on to receiving her diploma in Law Enforcement from the Justice Institute of B.C. In her spare time she enjoys volunteering, sports and going on adventures. Her passion is to help individuals struggling with mental health issues through her lived experience with it. She also hopes to help our younger generations reach their full potential and make their dreams become their reality.

I decided I wanted to be part of close look because I want to help youth become excited about their futures and motivate them to become something spectacular in life. I want youth to use their life experiences to assist them in reaching their full potential. Close Look helps inspires our youth to be the best they can be!

Alysha Gill

Dustin Gadek

Dustin Gadek joined CloseLook to support his friend Daniel Huespe. With a working relationship of over 7 years, Daniel and Dustin formed a sub contracting partnership called Dimentional Streaming Media. His focus is to assist in streaming, recording, filming and co-hosting events and programs featured within Close Look. To enable the program to be elevated by the subjects and people that inspire the talent of our youth and community.

Kyle Vermani

Kyle is a teenage boy born in Vancouver who loves to be socially involved. From the age of six Kyle has had a keen interest of music and is currently training in Indian Classical form. Kyle believes in trying as many new things as possible and hopes to pursue a career involved with business. With his work at CloseLook, Kyle hopes to bring talent and stories to the community.

Kyle Vermani

Nesan Furtado

Nesan Furtado is an aspiring journalist who is currently in the process of obtaining a joint major in Communications and Interactive Arts and Technology at Simon Fraser University. Placing his education and work ethic into everything he does he strives to one day get himself into the broadcast booth as a play by play commentator in a major league sport.

Outside of school Nesan enjoys quiet evenings with a cup of tea and any type of new music he can find. He is excited to be apart of the close look family and is dedicated to hearing of the many walks of life that exist in his home town.

Sanjana Karthik

Sanjana Karthik is a grade ten student from Semiahmoo Secondary. She dedicates her time to volunteering, where she has accumulated over 400 hours and spends time playing badminton and attending choir practice. She tutors, and provides her leadership services to Volunteer Club, Study Circle, and Medhopeful at her school. She reached some of her personal and professional goals, by creating her organization called Your Words Matter To Us, co-founding an upcoming mental health app called myEsprit, and creating mental health campaigns through the BC Youth Council.

Above all, her passion lies in writing poetry, where she writes for Reclamation Magazine, Bc Youth Council, and GenZ Writes. She has had the opportunity to have her work published in various places, and is grateful to say that she has had work read by the Mayor of Whiterock, and shared on Radio Bula Masti.She is so grateful to be hosting her own show on CloseLook called the Reality Is, and is grateful to be able to combine her passion for advocacy, mental health, public speaking and writing all together!

Sanjana Karthik

Alysha Brar

Graduated with a Bachelors in Psychology, and minor in Criminology and Counselling, Alysha uses her knowledge in social justice issues, coupled with social service experience, to support those wishing to create change in their life, on their own terms.

She believes in creating an inclusive environment, so youth and adults feel comfortable to connect with their inner wisdom, in order to talk about challenging topics. In order for us to break societal/cultural barriers, we, as a community, must have the courage and support to speak out.

Daniel Huespe

Daniel has the attitude that there’s a solution for every problem you just have to dig hard enough, that has served him well over the last 7 years of not only hosting, but Producing and video editing as well. Daniel Joined CloseLook with great ease because the values that Simmy and the team has is inline with his own. Daniel is here to elevate those who don’t often get the recognition that they really deserve- those who are often in the background making the wheels turn. He loves what he does and does what he loves…

Daniel Huespe

Jasneet

Jasneet loves to explore different types of art medium, from traditional paintings to digital artworks. It was later in 2006, she began to pursue graphic design. Along the way she picked up all sorts of art jobs like mural paintings to sketching wedding dresses.

In Close Look Jasneet found other people like her who are passionate in what they dream to achieve. Close Look created an environment for the youth to thrive and pursue their dreams. Their commitment and dedication to helping anyone inspires Jasneet to do the same.

Swarup Ghosh

Creative Director

Swarup possesses in-depth knowledge in the field of content strategy and creation for Tv, Radio, Digital, Radio, Music, On Air Promotion, Post-Production and Creative Team Management. And that’s close to 16 years of work experience in media and broadcast industry. He enjoys the dynamism of the creative world and his creativity, energetic personality, team management, critical thinking and decision-making skills lend them well to take new challenges whenever required.

Swarup is a Postgraduate graduate in Business Administrations from Welingkar Institute of Management, Mumbai. He has also completed Editing and Sound Engineering certification from Mumbai Polytechnic University. Swarup has completed LinkedIn certifications in Digital Marketing, Video Content Strategy, Advertising Foundation, Brand Strategy, Storytelling for Advertising Campaigns. Swarup loves Music, Reading, Cricket and Spiritualism. He believes creativity makes life more fun and more meaningful.

Swarup Ghosh

Creative Director

TJ Poddar

Currently studying Computer Engineering at Simon Fraser University, TJ’s passion has always been in the technology field. A young entrpreneur, he has taken on running his own Web Development company, FinTech Creative.

Tejash loves learning and trying new things, and hopes that he can use his passions to make a positive difference.

Muskan Poddar

Muskan was introduced to Close Look after participating in the 2019 Talent Show, and has since enjoyed meeting the team and volunteering for Close Look. Her hobbies include singing, participating in drama club, baking, and volunteering for various events at her school.

She believes that youth can work together to make a difference in the community, and hopes to take part in encouraging youth to speak up.

Muskan Poddar

Our Supporters

We want to thank all our supporters and sponsors who believe in making a difference in someone's life. We have received tremendous support from Surrey Honda, John Volken Academy, FinTech Creative, MJM Furniture, Avenue Dental, N G Sidhu Law, ONYX Led Floor, Isle of Mann, Zenterra, One Step Solutions, Balwant Mann of Canada Financial, Moe Khan, A1 Sports, Ideal Signs & the City of Surrey.

We are also thankful to honorable Ken Hardie and honorable Jagrup Brar for continuing to believe in our initiatives.