About Sumu Sathi (Founder)
Get to Know Us
Professional Journey
Sumu Sathi (Founder) is a deeply committed Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers, bringing nearly 20 years of heartfelt dedication to supporting individuals and families through life's challenges in both government and not-for-profit sectors. She holds certifications in EMDR, CBT and DBT and brings both evidence based approaches and culturally informed practices to therapy. Sumu brings an anti-oppressive, feminist, decolonial and, trauma informed approach to her social work practice. Driven by her passion for the arts, mental health, and intersectional feminism, Sumu will start her PhD journey in the Faculty of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University in May 2026, where her research explores the transformative power of creativity and healing in the lives of women and marginalized communities.
As the first racialized Chair for York Region & Long-Term Care - CUPE905, Sumu stood as a beacon of hope and strength for almost 4,000 public servants during the pandemic. She also co-founded the Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour Collective Human Rights Committee with CUPE905, driven by a passion for justice and equity. In 2017, she was honoured to contribute to post-war socioeconomic development in Sri Lanka as a Leadership facilitator. Her community work, which has touched many lives, has been recognized in publications like Toronto.com, NOW Toronto, and the Toronto Star. A proud graduate of the Leadership in Social Justice Fellowship led by U of T and United Way, and a former President of the Tamil Students Association at U of T Scarborough, Sumu's journey is one of relentless pursuit of equity and inclusion. In 2023, she was awarded the Alumni Inclusion Excellence Award from the esteemed University of Toronto-Scarborough, a testament to her unwavering commitment to these values. She was invited to be a TEDx speaker for the University of Toronto in 2025 to deliver a talk on 'Imagining New Possibilities.' Sumu holds a B.Sc. from U of T, a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Manitoba, and a Master’s in Social Work degree from U of T. As an activist and advocate, Sumu's heart beats for social justice, which she believes is an essential part of practicing social work.
Beyond her professional achievements, Sumu embraced her creative spirit as a TV host, producer, dancer, and theatre actress within the Tamil Canadian community. Her passion for acting led her to act in five Toronto-based films with film festival credits and shine as a model on CityTV. With a heart full of love for diversity, she champions body positivity and tirelessly advocates for the representation of people of colour in the arts, fashion, media, and social justice arenas.
Personal Journey
Sumu proudly embraces her identity as a Tamil Canadian. Her father, with immense courage and love, escaped the civil war in Sri Lanka, dreaming of a safer, brighter future for his family in Canada. They found their new beginning in Scarborough, in one of Toronto's low-income neighbourhoods during the 90s. As a teenager, Sumu faced a myriad of challenges, from adapting to a new culture and language to navigating academic hurdles in high school. She also grappled with body image issues and the emotional toll of their forced migration. Witnessing gang violence and seeing her friends battle mental health and addiction issues added to her struggles. Her parents, like many immigrant families, held the hope of her becoming a doctor. However, Sumu's journey through socioeconomic and cultural barriers led her to a heartfelt calling in social work. As she delved deeper into her cultural and spiritual roots within her practice, she became profoundly aware of the lingering effects of colonization on racialized communities and the way it manifests in our mental health through intergenerational trauma.
In her personal healing journey, Sumu has found solace and growth by blending traditional therapies like CBT with the nurturing embrace of Somatic Therapy. Embracing her spiritual practices, she also finds joy and expression through acting, dancing, modelling, travelling, strength training, and cooking, each becoming a cherished part of her path to wellness. Sumu deeply believes that every soul experiences trauma and healing in their own unique way, and that everyone deserves the freedom to shape their own healing journey with love and compassion.
