Gurdeep Pandher is known for spreading joy and positivity through bhangra - a traditional form of dance from the Punjab region of India.
Throughout the pandemic, the Yukon resident toured across Canada and shared his joyful videos on Twitter. He also encouraged TransLink riders to don facial coverings by showcasing his bhangra skills on the SkyTrain, on a bus, and outside of a SkyTrain station while sporting a mask.
Now, the social media sensation will bring smiles to the faces of passersby from high above Granville Street.
Pandher is now featured on a massive billboard downtown, dancing with a beaming smile on his face. The billboard reads: "Taught people to dance. Moved the whole country."
In a Twitter post, the popular performer thanks YouTube Canada for the nationwide billboards that will appear in major cities including Vancouver, Toronto, and Montréal.
Bhangra star inspires Canadians during pandemic
Pandher has been practising bhangra most of his life, punctuated by small breaks every now and then, but he turned it into a full-time job during the pandemic, teaching it online to help those who felt cooped up.
In the summer of 2020, the Yukon resident took two months off work to travel around British Columbia and visit his parents, who live in Abbotsford. Along the way, the social media star took a side-trip to Vancouver Island that included a stop in Victoria and a visit to Long Beach.
Right after he received his COVID-19 vaccine, Pandher recorded himself joyfully dancing on a frozen lake in the Yukon, much to the delight of his adoring fans.
With files from Pedro Arrais and the Canadian Press
