A consummate entrepreneur, Bobby Sangha couldn’t see himself working for someone else for very long.
Growing up, Sangha and his brother would often help out with the family building maintenance and janitorial business in Kamloops. While still in high school, he was learning the managerial ropes supervising and training employees for L&J Diamond Maintenance.
“Business has always been in my blood,” he said.
But his parents wanted Sangha and his brother to go to school and find a “stable job” and supplement their income with the business “if we had to.”
Knowing that health care was going to be increasingly in demand, he decided to complete a diploma in respiratory therapy from Thompson Rivers University and worked as a respiratory therapist for a dozen years, primarily at Surrey Memorial Hospital.
But he couldn’t totally step away from the family business. He stayed on as vice-president of business development, and between 2001 and 2006 he was instrumental in growing the business to include operations in 10 different communities in B.C. and Alberta.
About 12 years ago, after winning a contract to provide housekeeping services at a retirement home, he saw the opportunity to provide services to the ever-growing seniors living market. “The whole ambience, being with seniors – it was very intriguing to hear their stories and provide service to people who helped build our country and society over the years. That was the big thing that jumped out at me, and I wanted to be part of it.”
In 2010, he founded CareCorp Seniors Services, providing management for various retirement and nursing homes, including nursing care services, housekeeping and laundry and dietary services. In just a few years, the company has grown to employ nearly 400 staff working at four seniors living residences in B.C.
Sangha continues to see opportunities to grow, and his aim is to eventually become an owner-operator of retirement homes.
“Some people have suggested I need to slow down, but I just can’t do it. In my mind, if the opportunity is there, it may not be there tomorrow. So I’ve got to jump on it.”
