A small black passport sits in Kumaran Nadesan’s hands. It’s like a portal to another life. On its inside page is a date he has carried with him for nearly three decades: July 30, 1997, the day he landed in Canada. 

“That stamp was a new lease on life,” he says. “It truly was.” 

Kumaran was fifteen when he arrived in Toronto after years of displacement from the Sri Lankan civil war. “We were part of a Tamil community that faced structural genocide,” he says. “Like many others, we left in search of safety and a chance at a future.” Canada delivered it for my family. 

Their first home was in the Tuxedo Court housing complex in Scarborough, Ontario, a place that shaped his Canadian identity. For Kumaran, it was a place of both struggle and possibility. “There is no middle ground in Tuxedo Court,” he says. “I have friends who passed away from gang violence and others who went to great schools. You either rise or you fall. Scarborough taught me resilience. It taught me to never give up.” 

Over time, that sense of belonging deepened. Kumaran earned his degrees, built a career in the public sector, founded companies and grew into a community leader. Through it all, he held onto a grounded sense of responsibility that came from his journey. “At the core of it, I am a Canadian citizen,” he says. “With that comes the responsibility to help shape this country with the experiences I bring.” 

Today, he is the Co-Founder and Deputy Chairman of the 369 Global group of companies, a son, brother, husband, father and proud Canadian. His own story gives him a clear view of Canada’s future. “Immigrants are not a challenge to solve,” he says. “They are Canada’s strength. They bring drive, ambition and a global perspective. They help this country grow.” 

His belief in newcomers is one of the reasons he supports the Institute for Canadian Citizenship financially. “I am excited by the ICC,” he says. “Belonging can’t be manufactured from Ottawa. Citizenship comes to life in real places. I wish I had the ICC’s Canoo app when I first came to Canada,” he says. “Experiencing the country helps you understand where you fit in it.” 

ICC’s research is equally important to him, especially on the subjects of immigrant retention and economic integration. These are not abstract issues. They reflect the experiences of families like his, families who stayed, contributed and helped build the country. “Canada has so much potential,” he says. “ICC is helping unlock it.” 

2025 marks twenty years since Kumaran became a Canadian citizen, a milestone he meets with gratitude and duty. “My journey since 1997 has given me the opportunities my parents dreamed of,” he says. “Now I have the ability to give back and help others find the same sense of belonging.” 

Kumaran’s donation to the ICC is a way of honouring that journey and shaping the path for those who come after him. “Service is part of my faith and part of my responsibility,” he says. “We should all try to leave this country a little better than we found it.” 

Kumaran’s story reminds us of what immigration brings to Canada. It brings strength. It brings possibility. It brings people who come here to build, contribute and give back. 

He calls Canada a place of “unrealized potential.” His life and generosity show how immigrants bring that potential to life. 

By Mojoyin Adigun