August 23, 2026
Message from the President
Dear CTCC Family,
As we move deeper into summer, I’m glad to share the highlights from an eventful few weeks across our Chamber.
We held our 3rd Quarterly Meeting on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. A key highlight of the meeting was the selection of our Nomination Committee for the 2026/2027 Board, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who volunteered their time and expertise to serve on it.
Our CTCC Women’s Committee hosted a Rise & Align yoga event on Sunday, July 26, 2026, giving members a refreshing morning of movement and mindfulness together.
Our homeland was severely affected by flooding and Cyclone Ditwah in June 2025. In response, CTCC organized a special fundraising auction during our Christmas Mixer 2025, and through the generous contributions of our members, the current Board raised $7,660, equivalent to approximately LKR 1,838,400 as of July 2026. During his visit to Sri Lanka in July 2026, our VP Finance, Suresh Tharmalingam, formally handed over these flood relief funds to Tacawec-Media Mallavi, ensuring this support reaches those who need it most.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to announce a Boat Cruise event on Saturday, September 26, 2026, in partnership with the Canadian Tamil Alumni Network at Enterprise 2000, 176 Cherry Street, Toronto — free of charge for our corporate members.
Alongside these highlights, our monthly AI Seminar series and biweekly Speaking Club continue to run as scheduled, with more members making great use of them every month.
None of this would be possible without you. Thank you for continuing to make this Chamber the vibrant, resilient community it is.
Warm regards,
Ari A. Ariaran, CPA
President, Canadian Tamils’ Chamber of Commerce
Humanitarian Relief Initiative
The Canadian Tamils’ Chamber of Commerce (CTCC) has always stood firmly with our homeland, particularly during times of natural disasters and humanitarian crises. Whenever our people in the North and East of Sri Lanka face hardship, CTCC is committed to stepping forward and supporting affected communities.
Our homeland was severely affected by flooding and Cyclone Ditwah in June 2025. In response to the needs of those impacted, CTCC organized a special fundraising auction during its Christmas Mixer 2025. Through the generous contributions of our members, the current Board successfully raised $7,660, which is equivalent to approximately LKR 1,838,400 as of July 2026.
Following a careful review and assessment of the needs across affected areas, CTCC selected Mullaitivu District as the focus of this humanitarian initiative, with the goal of helping flood-affected families rebuild their livelihoods and regain stability.
As part of this effort, CTCC decided to deliver its humanitarian assistance through the Technological, Aesthetic, Cultural and Women Empowerment Centre (TACAWEC) in Pandiyankulam, Thunukkai, Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka.
On July 28, 2026, CTCC Vice President of Finance, Suresh Tharmalingam, travelled to Mullaitivu to officially launch this humanitarian initiative. During his visit, he closely observed TACAWEC’s work and reviewed its processes, including how beneficiaries are identified and selected, how assistance is distributed, and how the progress and challenges of each initiative are monitored.
CTCC is committed to maintaining ongoing oversight of this humanitarian program and will continue to monitor the effectiveness, transparency, and impact of the assistance provided through TACAWEC.
We sincerely thank all CTCC members and supporters who generously contributed to this humanitarian initiative. Your compassion and commitment have made it possible for CTCC to extend meaningful support to families in our homeland who are working to rebuild their lives after the devastating floods.
Together, we continue to stand with our people and support the rebuilding of our homeland.
 |
 |
Nomination Committee
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the following individuals for volunteering their time and expertise to serve in the current year’s Nomination Committee:
- Santha Panchalingam – Past President
- Glenn Tappenden – Advisory Committee
- Venu Puvirasan
- Kalyani Sathianathan
- Nagendran Balakrishnan
Thank you, Ken Kirupa!
After three remarkable years of service, our Executive Director, Ken Kirupa, stepped down at the end of April for personal reasons. Ken has been an absolute pillar of this organization — his leadership, dedication, and passion for the CTCC have left an indelible mark on everyone he worked with. At our 3rd Quarterly Meeting, Easa Para Esantha handed over a “Thank You” message card to Ken on behalf of the members, in appreciation for his years of service.
 |
 |
 |
Quebec Sub-Committee
Board has appointed the following members to the Quebec Sub-Committee for a two-year term, effective September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2028:
- Niroshi Nathan — Chair
- Christina Kumaravelu
- Denesh Logeswaran
- Khoushikan Vigneswaran
- Raj Thayaparan
- Saravanabava Srinivasan
- Shopika Somasundaram
Boat Cruise
⛴️ All aboard! Join us for our Boat Cruise on Saturday, September 26, 2026, in partnership with the Canadian Tamil Alumni Network — Enterprise 2000, 176 Cherry Street, Toronto, 5:30 PM. Free for corporate members. Spots are limited — register today!
Rise & Align Yoga by the Women’s Committee
Join the CTCC Women’s Committee on August 30th for another morning of movement, mindfulness, and connection. Whether you joined us last time or this is your first session, come take a moment to slow down, breathe, move, and reconnect.
🌿 RISE & ALIGN
📅 August 30, 2026
📍 CTCC Business Centre
⏰ Registration: 9:30 AM | Yoga: 10:00 AM
🎟️ $10 per person
CTCC Business Centre Rental
Host your events at the CTCC Business Centre!
Take advantage of our exceptional venue, now available at updated rates starting June 1st:
- Saturdays: $500
- Sunday to Friday: $450
Together, let’s make your events memorable and impactful within our vibrant community.
To Book Our Venue:
Call Ari A. Ariaran at 416-293-1616 or Santha Panchalingam at 416-200-5470
Or visit our website: https://ctcc.ca/business-center-booking/
Corporate Members Area
The Canadian Tamils’ Chamber of Commerce congratulates Kumaran Nadesan, Chief Executive Officer of Computek College (one of the Chamber’s longstanding sponsors) on the recent launch of his debut book, The Impolite Canadian: Why Playing Nice Is Costing Us the Future (2026).
In his book, Kumaran challenges one of the country’s most enduring myths: that politeness is a virtue in all situations. Drawing on his extensive experience in government, community mobilization, and now business, Kumaran makes a sharp, convincing case that Canada’s quiet deference is holding it back — economically, diplomatically, and culturally. The Impolite Canadian is available for purchase at all major retailers, including on Amazon.ca.
Kumaran is no stranger to the Chamber — you can watch his Member Spotlight interview with the Chamber here.
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Our Sponsors
Disclosure: The Canadian Tamils’ Chamber of Commerce would like to emphasize that we are not responsible for the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the information provided in this e-newsletter. The purpose of our e-newsletter is to share information and updates with our valued readers. However, it is important to note that the content presented here is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice or official statements from CTCC. We strive to ensure that the information we share is reliable and up to date. Nevertheless, we strongly encourage you to independently verify any information or news provided in this newsletter before making any decisions or taking any actions. It is essential to contact the relevant source or consult with appropriate experts for obtaining the most accurate and reliable information. CTCC assumes no liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this newsletter or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information, and any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. Thank you for your understanding and continued support of our e-newsletter.