OCTD's Founder Member and Chief Advisor
Sri-Guggan Sri-Skanda-Rajah

Sri-Guggan Sri-Skanda-Rajah was a true blessing for Tamils in Canada in particular, and minorities of all kinds in general. He was honest, and a man of principle. The quality I admire most was his sincere care and love for downtrodden or marginalized members of society, and his lack of thirst for power or position. If not, he would have gotten the recognition he truly deserved. Sri-Guggan annai was more focused on resolving social justice issues to improve the conditions of all under-privileged groups.

Sri-Guggan annai insisted that I don't address him as "sir" as I felt compelled to do so because of his professional background and seniority, but always kept reminding me to call him as Sri-Guggan Annai. When he got upset, he took long drives to the Pittsburgh Venkatesan temple and offered to take me with him. I wish I took him up on that offer when I had the chance.

He had been a true father figure and a chief advisor for OCTD. We didn't even have to make the request, and he would voluntarily take care of the expenses and sponsored our events. Truly, this is an irreplaceable loss to all of us.

He was a pillar not only for the origin and growth of OCTD, but also for a number of other community organizations of Tamils and other minority groups including OBA-Canada's Jaffna Central College. As a few speakers mentioned at the funeral visitation, he treated everyone equally because he truly walked the talk.
Aug. 14, 1942 – Oct. 9, 2022 - Rest in eternal peace!

OCASI (Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants) presented a life-time Achievement award for Sri-Guggan Sri-Skanda-Rajah's contribution to the organization directly and to his 30 years of community service. Throughout his distinguished career, he served as Vice-Chair of the Ontario Human Rights and Pay Equity Tribunals, Commissioner on the Commission on Systemic Racism in the Ontario Criminal Justice System, and Member of the Refugee Division of the Immigration Refugee Board of Canada.

During his tenure at the Immigration Refugee Board of Canada in the 1980s, Sri helped ensure that a 5% acceptance rate of Tamil refugees eventually grew to more than 75% by 1984, following the 1983 massacre of Sri Lankan Tamils. Sri-Guggan was instrumental in the community response following the arrival in 1986 of 155 Tamil refugees off the coast of Newfoundland.

His exceptional service to the community was widely recognized. He received the Ontario Government 20 Years Volunteer Award and the Ontario NDP J.S Woodworth Award in 2000, the UARR's Dr. Wilson Head Award in 1994, and the prestigious OCASI Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades of dedicated service to the immigrant community.