Canadian yoga teacher, social entrepreneur, filmmaker and former beauty queen
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| Declined by Qcne 4 months ago. |
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Annu Gaidhu |
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| Born |
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada |
| Education | Toronto Metropolitan University (Child and Youth Care, M.A.) |
| Occupation(s) | Yoga instructor, filmmaker, youth advocate, former beauty queen |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Known for | Trauma-informed care, Finding Spirit (2016), Miss India–Canada 2014 |
| Website | www |
Annu Gaidhu is a Canadian child and youth care practitioner, yoga instructor, and documentary filmmaker, known for her trauma-informed work with youth and her 2014 Miss India–Canada title. She wrote, narrated, and acted in the documentary film Finding Spirit (2016), which explores trauma and cultural identity through yoga practices.
Early life and education
[edit]
Gaidhu was born and raised in Mississauga, Ontario as the youngest of three siblings. At age 22, she became Toronto’s youngest certified yoga instructor.
[1][2]
She later earned a Master of Arts in Child and Youth Care from Toronto Metropolitan University, joining the program’s inaugural international cohort. This was Ontario’s first graduate degree in Child and Youth Care, launched in 2016 with just 40 students in its initial class.[3][4][5][6]
Her academic work explored embodied pedagogy and intercultural engagement, and her master’s thesis examined identity formation in child and youth care practice.[7]
She also co-authored a peer-reviewed article with Dr. T. Edwards, Child and Youth Care—The Enhancement of Praxis: Theory to Practice or Theory vs Practice, which critically analyzed the gap between academic theory and frontline practice in the field.[8]
Gaidhu’s contributions to trauma-informed child and youth care have been cited in Canadian academic literature including Dr. Kiaras Gharabaghi’s Child and Youth Care Across Sectors, Volume 2: Canadian Perspectives, which highlights critical, decolonial, and intercultural approaches to child and youth care practice in Canada.
[9]
Gaidhu began participating in cultural pageants in her late teens. In 2009, she was crowned Miss Kohinoor International, a Toronto-based international beauty competition for South Asian women.[10]
In 2012, she and several other contestants publicly raised concerns about fairness, transparency, and representation in South Asian beauty pageants, an issue that was investigated and covered by The Toronto Star.[11]
In 2014, Gaidhu won the title of Miss India–Canada at the 24th annual event, which recognizes leadership, cultural expression, and community engagement among Indo-Canadian women.
[12][13][14]
Her performance, which combined yoga and Bharatanatyam, was noted by media outlets and contributed to her winning the crown.[15] She also received the sub-titles of “Sears Miss Pure NRG” and “Miss Congeniality” during the competition, which featured Bollywood actress Preity Zinta as a guest judge.[16]
Following her win, Gaidhu described the platform as an opportunity to promote yoga and mindfulness education for youth in both India and Canada, and to advocate for women’s empowerment through mindfulness-based practices and community service in an interview with SHE Canada Magazine. [17][18] In reflecting on her experience, she cited cultural representation and family heritage as core motivations for her participation. [19] [20]
In 2015, Gaidhu was cast in a national advertisement campaign for Bell Canada and also featured in a modelling campaign for Sears Canada.[21]
Youth wellness and Refugee advocacy
[edit]
Following her pageant win, Gaidhu founded the Healing Hearts Project in 2015, a trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness initiative aimed at supporting marginalized youth in refugee communities across India and Canada.[22] The project emphasized intercultural solidarity and trauma-informed care, receiving media attention from Desi News Magazine for for its unique integration of community wellness and cultural healing practices.[23]
Imprints Magazine, published by the Faculty of Community Services at Toronto Metropolitan University, profiled the initiative as a model of student-led philanthropy. The article described how Gaidhu “leveraged yoga as a culturally grounded tool for healing and empowerment among Tibetan refugee youth, combining mindfulness with tangible support to foster resilience and community connection.”[24]
In 2016, Gaidhu received the Children’s Rights Award from Toronto Metropolitan University for her contributions to trauma-informed, youth-centered wellness education. [25]
That same year, she was a finalist for the International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) Volunteer of the Year Award, recognizing her impacts through international volunteerism.[26]
She also organized and led the first International Day of Yoga event at Toronto Metropolitan University, titled One World OM, which brought together youth in Toronto’s High Park neighbourhood to celebrate community through yoga. BlogTO described it as “a community yoga gathering celebrating global unity.”[27] In recognition of her efforts, Gaidhu was selected as a Yoga Alliance Grant Recipient in 2016 to support her community work for International Day of Yoga.[28]
In 2014, then-university president Sheldon Levy praised Gaidhu as “a role model in the community for [her] strength of character, talent and generosity.”[29] In an interview with Desi Today Magazine, Gaidhu described yoga as “a bridge to compassion and healing,” and was profiled as a “Yoga Queen” for her advocacy and outreach. [30][31]
In 2020, Gaidhu placed second in the female category for Canada in the global My Life – My Yoga video blogging competition, hosted by the High Commission of India–Ottawa in partnership with the Ministry of AYUSH and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, commemorating the sixth International Day of Yoga.[32].
She regularly speaks at conferences and community events on trauma-informed yoga, Ayurveda, and mindfulness practices.[33][34][35][36][37][38][39]
Documentary: “Finding Spirit”
[edit]
In 2016, Gaidhu wrote, narrated, and starred in Finding Spirit, a documentary film exploring trauma recovery, yoga, and cultural identity. [40]The film weaves together personal storytelling with community-based healing and features Tibetan refugee children engaging in Buddhist teachings and mindfulness practices.
Finding Spirit was screened at the Canadian Diversity Film Festival and the Love International Film Festival, and received an Award of Merit from the Accolade Global Film Competition in 2017.[41]
In July 2020, Gaidhu was featured in MindShare Learning’s “Learning Moment” series, where she reflected on the film and discussed the importance of trauma-informed wellness programming for youth, particularly in the context of the COVID‑19 pandemic. The feature highlighted her work as a documentary filmmaker, certified yoga instructor, and child and youth care expert.[42]
- ^ “Annu Gaidhu crowned Miss India‑Canada 2014”. India.com. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ Khalil, Nouman (25 August 2014). “Mississauga woman crowned Miss India‑Canada”. Brampton Guardian. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ “About the Master of Arts in Child and Youth Care”. Toronto Metropolitan University. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
- ^ “Alumni Testimonials – Child and Youth Care (MA)”. Toronto Metropolitan University. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
- ^ “Child and Youth Care (MA) Program Overview”. Toronto Metropolitan University. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
- ^ “The Chronicle – Fall 2017” (PDF). Ontario Association of Child and Youth Care. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
- ^ Gaidhu, Amandeep Annu. (2017). Self in Child and Youth Care: The Case for International and Intercultural Perspectives. Ryerson University, ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 10857240.
- ^ Edwards, T., & Gaidhu, A. (2020). Child and Youth Care—The Enhancement of Praxis: Theory to Practice or Theory vs Practice. Toronto Metropolitan University Research Repository.
- ^ Gharabaghi, Kiaras (2024). A Hard Place to Call Home: A Canadian Perspective on Residential Care and Treatment for Children and Youth. Toronto Metropolitan University. p. 15. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
Citation of Annu Gaidhu appears on page 15.
- ^ “Canadian South Asian Beauty Pageant Cheats Winners of Prizes & Money”. Suhaag. Metroland Media Group Ltd. 24 October 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
- ^ Talaga, Tanya (23 January 2012). “Beauty pageant winners left with broken promises, bounced cheques”. Toronto Star. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ “Mississauga beauty Annu Gaidhu crowned Miss India-Canada”. Femina. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ “Annu Gaidhu wins Miss India-Canada”. South Asian Post. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ “Miss India Canada 2014 grand prize”. Asian Pacific Post. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ “Annu Gaidhu is crowned Miss India‑Canada 2014”. 17 August 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ “Annu Gaidhu crowned Miss India‑Canada 2014”. India.com. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ “A Chat with Miss India-Canada, featuring Annu Gaidhu”. SHE Canada Magazine. December 2014 – January 2015. p. 48. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ “A Chat with Miss India-Canada, featuring Annu Gaidhu”. SHE Canada Magazine. December 2014 – January 2015. p. 49. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ “And Miss India-Canada 2014 is … Annu Gaidhu”. Indo-Canadian Voice. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ “Mayfield Village Now Under Construction”. New in Homes. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ “Are You the Next Miss India-Canada?”. Suhaag. Metroland Media Group Ltd. 13 April 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
- ^ “Miss India Canada’s yoga project aims to heal hearts”. Suhaag. 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ “Meet Annu Gaidhu!”. Desi News Magazine. No. 10. October 2014. p. 30. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ “Student’s Philanthropy Powered By Yoga featuring Annu Gaidhu”. Toronto Metropolitan University. January 2016. p. 40. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ “Children’s Rights Certificate awarded to Annu Gaidhu by TMU, 2016” (PDF). Retrieved 6 July 2025.
- ^ “2014 Miss India Canada up for international volunteer award”. Suhaag. 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ “One World Om – International Yoga Day”. BlogTO. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
- ^ “Meet the 2016 International Day of Yoga Grant Winners”. Yoga Alliance. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
- ^ “Letter from Ryerson University President Sheldon Levy to Annu Gaidhu” (PDF). 25 November 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
- ^ Bachan Rai (February–March 2015). “Yoga Queen Spreads Good Vibes”. Desi Today Magazine. Vol. 6, no. 1. p. 15. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ Bachan Rai (February–March 2015). “Yoga Queen Spreads Good Vibes”. Desi Today Magazine. Vol. 6, no. 1. p. 16. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ “High Commission of India Certificate of Merit” (PDF). Retrieved 6 July 2025.
- ^ “Rotary District 7070 Newsletter November 2016” (PDF). November 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
- ^ “Healing Psychological Trauma: Self in Ayurveda”. Global Ayurveda Conferences. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ “Healing from Inside, Out” (PDF). AAPNA. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ “Trauma‑Informed Mindfulness Training for CYC Professionals”. CYC Assets: Child and Youth Care Educational Resources. May 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
- ^ “Brief Program – Use of Technology and Community-Based CYC Practices” (PDF). University of Victoria. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ “Toronto National Women’s Show 2022 A Mindful Moment with Annu Gaidhu” (PDF). National Women’s Show. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ “Healing From The Inside, Out: Trauma Informed Mindfulness Training for PTSD” (PDF). AFHTO. 22 October 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ “Finding Spirit (2016)”. Peliplat. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
- ^ “Awards of Merit February 2017”. Accolade Global Film Competition. February 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ “A MindShare Learning Moment with Annu Gaidhu”. MindShare Learning. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
