Rukshika Krishnamoorthy was recently awarded the Lincoln M. Alexander Award, an honour bestowed on youth leaders in the province who demonstrate exemplary leadership in working to fight racism and discrimination and who promote equity and inclusion in their communities.
Krishnamoorthy’s service has been varied and covers a wide range of initiatives, organizations and personal projects, all of which heavily emphasize the importance of mental health and self-betterment.
Now enrolled at York University’s Schulich School of Business, the recent graduate of St. Aloysius Gonzaga Catholic Secondary School's upbringing and education in Catholic values across multiple schools within the Dufferin-Peel Catholic board has heavily influenced her charitable work.
“In high school, I was a part of chaplaincy where we did a lot of work that dealt with community and fundraising. I have always seen things in the sense that God made us all equal and that we should love each other no matter what and so that has always been my go-to phrase to remind myself that while we may be different, we are all still equal,” Krishnamoorthy said.
That way of thinking caught the attention of the Government of Ontario, which highlighted Krishnamoorthy’s work as part of its annual Lieutenant Governors’ Legacy Awards. She was among 14 recipients recognized across four different awards named after former Lieutenant Governors — the Alexander award, James Bartleman Indigenous Youth Creative Writing Award, David C. Onley Award for Leadership in Accessibility and the Hilary M. Weston Scholarship. These awards cover each former leader’s work on anti-racism, the arts, accessibility and mental health research respectively. Krishnamoorthy received a $5,000 cash award.
“I remember my guidance counsellor mentioning that she was going to nominate me for something, but it was already the summer after graduation and so when I got the call I was shocked,” she said. “I do not do things expecting a reward, but when you get one it gives you a feeling that you are making a difference and that people are seeing it happen.”
One of the most prominent of her many social projects comes in the form of online mental health resources created by Krishnamoorthy and distributed across the board. The school board routinely selects two students from each school to participate in its Student Mental Health Champions program, where they are tasked with creating and sharing resources that support mental health.
In the summer going into her Grade 12 year, Krishnamoorthy chose to focus on creating materials that advocated for better self-love and appreciation tailored to holidays such as Valentine’s Day and Christmas.
The themes of self-love and mental health support are also a personal motivation for Krishnamoorthy, who shared her experiences with bullying and discrimination growing up.
“After I faced instances of racism and discrimination, I knew that I had the ability to make a difference and for my younger siblings, I wanted to be that change so they wouldn’t have to face that as well,” she said. “I felt called to do something that would ensure that everyone feels welcome and to bring awareness to these types of issues because I feel that awareness is always the first step.”
Krishnamoorthy was also recognized for her work in providing online tutoring to young students in Sri Lanka through a business she started as part of the Ontario Summer Company program. Once again, she answered her call to service without hesitation as both education and support of her heritage hold meaning far deeper than receiving recognition or awards.
“My parents always told me to embrace who you are, your culture and be proud of your heritage. My parents actually came (to Canada) because of the Tamil genocide in Sri Lanka,” she said. “Education is very important, because it allows people to break away from the cycle of poverty and I found that (in Sri Lanka) it is not often highlighted as something important, so I wanted to make it something important and accessible as much as I could.”
She is also the under-18 co-chair of the Kids Help Phone National Youth Council where she currently assists in incorporating beneficial youth voices into the organization’s ongoing mental health work.
Looking forward, Krishnamoorthy hopes that she can continue to advocate for as many as possible with the same work ethic and compassionate heart that was instilled in her as a student.
“It is important that I find something that I like that will help make a difference in the world and make sure everyone can feel welcomed and respected,” she said. “In the end, I want people to embrace their uniqueness and not have to feel like they have to hide who they are to fit in.”