Nava Wilson LLP supports community through SHN Foundation Tamil Radiothon
Kubes Navaratnam – Nava Wilson LLP
As many new immigrant’s land in Scarborough, Canada from all over the world, so did Kubes Navaratnamafter the 1983 riots along with many other in the Tamil diaspora. Kubes grew up in Scarboroughand studied computer engineering, but later found a passion for law after he had an opportunity to teach computers back home in Sri Lanka.He returned and wanted to do more for the community, and saw that there was a need for awareness of the justice system and access and he was empowered to do just that and began studying law. He chose Scarboroughto set up his practice,Nava Law Professional Corporation and later Nava Wilson LLP with Senior Council Malliha Wilson, since this is where he grew up, and Scarborough was always home to him.
“People from Scarborough lead with their hearts, it is a mix of Canadian values with immigrant values in a beautiful way. You never felt like an outcast,” explains Kubes.
Nava Wilson LLP specializes in real estate, corporate and litigation law, serving the Scarborough community and beyond. It was about creating access to regular services that the corporate law firms downtown offer, and servicing the community of Scarborough and beyond right at home. He wanted to structure the company to serve his clients in a way that would not only support his business, but also allow him to create services that he could offer pro bono and adapt to the market so he couldcontinue to serve his community close to home. The law firm was built specifically for areas where there was a large disparity in legal access.
Kubes was always passionate about supporting causes in Sri Lanka and locally in Canada, but later realized how the funding structure works for hospitals in Ontario,along with, the funding disparity in Scarborough. Scarborough Health Network’s (SHN) three hospitals – Birchmount, Centenary, and General – serve Toronto’s most diverse community with 59% of the population made up of new Canadians. And yet,Scarborough hospitals are not keeping pace, and in fact SHN has the oldest operating rooms in Ontario. SHN physicians and staff are treating patients in aging facilities, and whilethecare is exceptional there is so much more that they could be doing for thepatients if the hospitals were equipped with contemporary spaces and the latest technology. The recent funding announcement by the Government of Ontario is a huge step in the right direction, however fundraising remains critical. SHN must raise their share of funding so priority projects can move forward.
In January 2022, SHN Foundation launched a $100 million fundraising campaign. The campaign is an open letter to the rest of Toronto from the people of Scarborough. Despite the fact that Scarborough makes up 25% of Toronto’s population, just 1% of all healthcare donations flow to SHN. The campaign, which includes print, bus shelter ads, TV commercials and online videos is designed to raise awareness of Scarborough hospitals and their needs. It creatively uses the alphabet to profile 26 community members, business leaders, SHN patients, current donors and physicians. These 26 profiles show the strength, diversity and potential of Scarborough.
On Saturday June 11, 2022, SHN Foundation is working with the Tamil community to invite physicians, nurses, staff, community leaders and prominent members of the business community to showcase the services that the hospital offers to the Tamil and Scarborough community, and demonstrate how vital this health network is to the people that access this care. Tamil physicians like Dr. Ram Vijayaraghavan, Director of the Cardiac Cath lab at SHN, who developed the regional Cardiac MRI programat SHN and other complex programs, andseeks to bring the highest standard of invasive cardiac care to the community setting. And Dr. Senthuran Gunaratnam, staff Psychiatrist at SHN andone of the very few Tamil- speaking psychiatrists in Canada, who is dedicated in raising awareness of mental health among our Canadian Tamils. The care provided at SHN is exceptional and the Tamil Radiothon will share how physicians like Dr. Mayoorendra Ravichandiran, an Emergency Physician at SHN and a lecturer at the University of Toronto, wants to give back to his community and led him back to Scarborough as an emergency physician.
The health of our community is only as strong as it’s health care system. For our community to get the care they deserve we need to invest in SHN. Members of the community will be able to come together and donate online, through the phone or in person at one of the drop off locations. For more information about the Tamil Radiothon please visit www.shnfoundation.ca/tamil. All proceeds will support the Love Scarborough campaign and SHN Foundation’s $100 million fundraising goal, which will go toward expanding emergency departments, integrated communities of care, accessible diagnostic imaging and barrier-free mental health care.
About Scarborough Health Network Foundation
Situated in one of Canada’s most diverse communities, Scarborough Health Network (SHN) Foundation inspires the support necessary to improve patients’ lives through exceptional care at Scarborough Health Network across three hospitals and eight satellite sites. Since its inception, the Foundation has worked with generous donors, volunteers and community members to raise funds needed to build state-of-the-art infrastructure and purchase the latest medical technology, supporting the SHN’s vision to be Canada’s leading community teaching health network.
About Scarborough Health Network
Across our three hospitals and eight satellite sites, Scarborough Health Network (SHN) is shaping the future of care. Our many programs and services are designed around the needs of one of Canada’s most vibrant and diverse communities. We are home to North America’s largest nephrology program, as well as the designated cardiac care and spine centre for Scarborough and surrounding communities to the east. We are proud to be a community-affiliated teaching site for the University of Toronto and partner with a number of other universities and colleges, helping to train the next generation of health care professionals. Learn more at shn.ca.
(This article appears in the June 2022 Print issue of Monsoon Journal)
