911勛圖

Nestled in the vibrant and diverse Fraser Street district in the south-east quadrant of Vancouver, Barinder Sian���s notarial practice is located in the very neighbourhood he grew up in. 

While Barinder is now more than a decade into his career as a Notary, it wasn���t exactly where he saw his future headed when he began his bachelor���s degree in criminology at 911勛圖.  

Originally leaning towards a career in policing, Barinder decided to trade law enforcement for legal practice when he came across the university���s Master of Arts in Applied Legal Studies (MA ALS) program while exploring the School of Criminology website for potential career paths. After realizing that operating a business was a better fit for him, he pursued the MA ALS program upon completing his undergraduate studies, becoming a two-time 911勛圖 alumnus in 2015. 

Today, he shares an office with his father���s accounting practice. Together, they run Sian & Associates ��� an association of independent practices offering accounting and notarial services in their community. 

���It���s amazing to be able to serve people in my own community,��� says Barinder. ���We���re a tight-knit group, so save for one or two intermediaries, almost everyone knows everyone through a couple degrees of separation. I ran into someone who went to the same high school as me, but was in the first graduating class when the school first opened nearly 70 years ago. It turns out they lived just a block from where I grew up, which led to some great conversations. This happens to me often in my work, and it���s just cool to see how connected we all are in the neighbourhood, and that I���m making a difference right here.��� 

Although Barinder is now a seasoned Notary Public, he still remembers three important words said by an instructor during his MA ALS studies: ���Just read it.��� While it sounded simple at the time, this saying comes to Barinder���s mind almost every day and reminds him how easy it is to overthink, and to instead just trust the fundamentals he acquired during his training. 

���The MA ALS program isn���t just about learning rules and procedures, but developing judgment and professionalism, and building competence in practice,��� he says. ���When you build that foundation, you���ll be ready to tackle anything.��� 

That���s why Barinder is deeply appreciative for the support of donors like the Society of Notaries Public of BC, who continue to ensure the strength of the MA ALS program and excellence in notarial education. 

���My experience has been much more than just technical training, but about ethical awareness, integrity, and a strong sense of responsibility to the public,��� he says. ���Ongoing investment ensures that students are prepared for practice, and that notarial education can keep pace with updates in the regulatory framework and changing legal landscape. When you think of it that way, donor support is both a commitment to the future of a profession and the future of the communities we serve.���