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Voices of RPIA
In Our Community
Tala Bushnaq Manager, Client Relations
Brandon Singh Analyst, Investment Operations
SAILING I dove headfirst into sailing after a friend and I decided to join a club on the Toronto Islands about three years ago. What started as a spontaneous decision has become one of my favourite aspects of life in the city. From late May to late September, we take part in weekly intra-club races that feel like a midweek respite - a few hours where everything else fades out and I can only focus on the task at hand. In an age where multitasking feels constant, there’s something really grounding about that kind of single focus. What I love most, though, are the people. Our club has this way of bringing together a community that’s supportive, down-to-earth, and endlessly encouraging. It’s a do-it- yourself kind of world, where you get out what you put in. You learn quickly that teamwork isn’t just about pulling lines in sync; it’s about showing up, being reliable, and earning trust. And after every race, no matter how it went, we end up swapping stories, laughing about the close calls, and figuring out what actually worked. It’s become a rhythm I look forward to, a mix of challenge, teamwork, and calm that makes summer in the city feel a little more like home.
HOCKEY
Growing up in my hometown of Whitby, there was really only one sport to play: hockey. At least, that’s what it felt like if you wanted to fit in. My parents, somewhat new to the country, wanted nothing more than for me to belong and make friends. So before I even knew how to skate, they enrolled me in a hockey league at the age of five. I was easily one of the worst players on the team, but it was a great starting point. Everyone was so supportive and it taught me what teamwork was about and motivated me to improve. My coach always said, “The name on the front is a lot more important than the one on the back.” If I wanted to keep playing with the same group of friends, I knew I had to get better. That’s where my hockey journey began. I played five times a week from elementary school through high school. These days, I try to get back on the ice whenever I get some free time, whether for a friendly game of shinny or a skate with friends. Living in downtown Toronto means there are plenty of places to play pickup or rent a small rink for 3-on-3 games. I no longer play competitively, but hockey will always be part of who I am. I’ll never forget those early morning practices and the friends I made along the way. The skills and values hockey taught me, including grit, determination, and teamwork, are ones I carry with me off the ice as well.
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