Greetings! My name is Ganesh Navaratnarajah. Above is a picture of my late father and me. I wanted to introduce myself and share my story with you.
I was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka. After spending a few years in the Middle East, my family moved to Montreal, Canada. In 1986, we relocated to Scarborough, Ontario, to start a new chapter in our lives.
I grew up like any other average kid and attended G.B. Little Jr. Public School. I was fortunate enough to win the French award in 1987 upon graduating from grade 6. Looking back, I realize how blessed and lucky I was to have a wealth of mentors and leaders in my life.
From my parents to my older sisters, I was always encouraged to give my best in everything I did. My life took a significant turn when my father, after intense negotiations, convinced my mother to purchase a computer for me. It was a 486Dx33 with 4MB of RAM—a colossal amount at the time! This system was at the pinnacle of PC technology. Initially, I struggled with the PC, but after a few days and weeks, I became proficient. Over time, I began disassembling and reassembling the PC, upgrading it with various parts like a new video card, more RAM, and a CD-ROM drive. As the PC evolved, so did my knowledge.
After graduating from Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) as an Aerospace Engineer, I had the choice of working as a Junior Design Airfoil Engineer or venturing into the emerging field of Information Technology (IT). I chose the latter. Little did I know that most of the knowledge I would acquire would be self-taught, all stemming from that first PC: the trusty 486DX33.
Today, I am grateful to say that my old PC has opened numerous doors for me. I have had the privilege of traveling the world on various IT consulting initiatives and running a successful consulting business.
In honor of my father, whose name was ‘Nava,’ I have named my annual golf tournament after him: The Nava Cup. All proceeds from this tournament go towards purchasing laptop computers or funding programs that combine digital literacy and youth. We proudly partner with the Boys and Girls Clubs of East Scarborough (ESBGC) and the IMANI program from UofT Scarborough.
My father always instilled in me the importance of trying, regardless of the odds. We have chosen to make a difference in the lives of the kids in the community where I grew up.
Thank you for coming out to support our Golf Tournament. Let’s not make the Nava Cup just a fundraiser but a movement