Darshan Sritharan

My commitment to giving back comes from my dad.

He  left Sri Lanka at just 17 years old during the civil war. Before eventually building a life in Canada, he spent time sleeping in abandoned cars in France. He came from very little and despite everything he  went through, he never stopped helping others.

He always told me, "I'd rather you be a good person who helps everyone than be rich and do nothing with it."  Watching him live those words is why I volunteer today.

When many Tamil families arrived in Scarborough decades ago, they came with very little. This community gave them an opportunity to build a new life. Scarborough's hospitals cared for our families. Our schools educated our children. Our neighbourhoods became home. Over the last 40 years, we've worked hard, raised our families, and built something together.

Now it's our turn to give back.

That's why I'm proud to serve as Chair of the Tamil Radiothon supporting SHN. At this year's launch event, our community raised $50,000 in just two hours – the strongest launch in Radiothon's history. That generosity comes from a simple belief: if you don't help, who's going to help?

My own connection to SHN goes back to the very beginning. I was born at Birchmount Hospital. My two children were born at Centenary Hospital. And Scarborough General stitched me up more times than I can count.  

When I think about my life, I realize it's been mapped across Scarborough and its hospitals.  

I grew up across from Thompson Park, went to school at David and Mary Thomson, spent weekends at Scarborough Town Centre, and was surrounded by people from every culture imaginable. Scarborough wasn't always easy. It's a community built by people who have overcome obstacles, worked hard, and looked after one another. Growing up here taught me resilience, humility, and the importance of community.  

Years later, when my first son was born during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the circumstances were unlike anything we'd ever experienced. Even then, the physicians, nurses, and staff cared for our family with incredible compassion. Moments like that remind you that these hospitals are more than buildings – they're the people who show up when you need them most.

Supporting SHN isn't just about repaying the care my family received. It's about investing in Scarborough's future. It's about making sure the next family arriving here, the next child being born here, and the next generation growing up here has the same opportunities mine did.

Scarborough has always faced an uphill battle. My parents’ generation climbed to build a new life here. My generation has the opportunity to build on what they started.

Now, it’s our turn to help Scarborough keep climbing.