Naz Sohni Uppal

Naz Sohni Uppal has experience in co-hosting and producing television, since 2012 and hosting and producing radio since 2006. She has had a flourishing media career in Canada. Her work has been to positively represent the South Asian-Canadian Diasphora.

In addition to her on-air radio shows that aired 6 days a week, she hosted the station's 5 hour New Year’s Eve Party coverage from 2012 – 2020; the live on-air (radio) pre-game, mid-game, and post-game music parties for Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi Edition; and she planned, organized, and executed major radio events like the Bollywood Dance Recital in West Edmonton Mall with 500 audience members. With her on-air television roles, she presented on three programs with OMNI TV - Culture Avenue Alberta, Culture Avenue Ontario, and V-Mix Ontario; and did background work on Focus Punjabi Alberta. At City TV, she presented as "the Bollywood Girl" or her formal title "Western Canada's Bollywood News Expert." She also wrote content for a very famous national South Asian wedding magazine, called Suhaag.

Naz recalls dancing to Bollywood songs with her older sister, dupattas and all, at the young age of 4. One performance she vividly remembers was their performance to the song, Saat Saheliyan. That led to her and her siblings performing mini plays, like a re-enactment of Cinderella, in their living room while her parents video recorded it all. They were one of the first in their social circle to have a video camera and they still have a VHS tape of the performances somewhere. Naz also recalls listening to music, singing, and writing song lyrics in her teens. She used to share them with her friends. And she was so excited when her gym teacher allowed her and her classmates to choreograph dances to songs during gym class. As a young adult, Naz was always back stage at every concert that flew through Edmonton. From this opportunity, she has had the privilege of meeting many of the most famous Bollywood and Punjabi celebrities and artists while she was just in her early 20s. And now she is the first person in Canada to speak about and present Bollywood entertainment on traditional mainstream Canadian television – CityTV. Naz has created a unique space for South Asian cultural contributions across genres of media by spotlighting South Asian music, movies, and culture and she’s doing it with heart and soul.

Naz has won Edmonton's Top 40 Under 40 Award, many Canadian Ethnic Media Awards, CTV's Heritage Hero Award, A seat plaque in Triffo Theatre, MacEwan University, and her junior high just named a Television and Radio Award after her.

Naz was born in Montreal. Naz moved to St. Albert, Alberta at the age of 11 and she is now based in Edmonton.

Naz Sohni Uppal has built her career around sharing stories of people from communities that are finding a space and place for their culture and identity in Canada. Naz is the founder of a series of 22 fictional and funny short stories about what it’s like growing up South Asian in Edmonton. The series is called Summayah’s World; she writes and presents in schools. She is also the key founder of a drama club for South Asian teens in which students workshop these stories. She is always excited about participating as a writer in schools, performing her storytelling in classrooms, or speaking at Career Days.

Naz has always been very passionate about chasing her dreams and about helping others chase theirs. She has also taken time to mentor and educate young people interested in a radio and television career. Her willingness to create opportunities for future generations speaks to her character.

In her spare time, Naz enjoys travelling to new locations, playing badminton, swimming, and is an avid indoor and outdoor adventure-seeker. Naz loves collecting music and she has a massive collection of music from both North American and South Asian artists.

Future plans in the industry include: hopefully continuing her on air work in radio and television. But also sharing her series of 22 fictional and funny short stories about what it’s really like to grow up as a South Asian teen in Edmonton. Currently she shares them in various junior high classes across Edmonton.