Vignesh first settled in Thunder Bay in 2016, originally coming from India to study as an international student. He was the only student on his flight and upon arriving, had bumped into a family who was there to great another student who was supposed to be on the flight. As that family helped him reach the residence and settle in, he quickly felt welcomed into the community. Since then Vignesh has paid it forward and continues to help others, whether that is through the Student Union at Confederation College or with Thunder Bay Counselling.

He played tennis and the violin for nine years and intends to pick it up once again. What ultimately brings him joy is being around people and having good conversations. He considers himself an optimistic person and one who cares deeply. “I have a very unique perspective and world view; being able to see things objectively, applying different lenses and opinions to find common ground among groups whom may not always see much in common with one another which has been quite beneficial in some of my roles where mediation, community development and systems change are at the forefront.”

Having done the drive from Southern Ontario and back a few times, Vignesh doesn’t have one favourite spot in particular but simply loves driving around and enjoying all the natural beauty the region has to offer.

Vignesh likes to keep himself busy - “I currently am a volunteer for the Thunder Bay Counselling CHOICES program. I am also one of the cabinet member for GenNext Thunder Bay, apart from 3 separate and distinct jobs that I work which all bring me a sense of connectedness to the community of Thunder Bay… I came to feel even more grateful and content for the things, people and opportunities that I have been fortunate to have around me.”

One item he couldn’t live without is his phone - it keeps him entertained with movies and music and more importantly keeps him connected with family and friends, no matter the distance.

As someone who came from across the globe, the question of why Thunder Bay has been asked of him a number of times. Now, in response, he replies why not Thunder Bay? With shorter commute times, access to anything you would need to live, and saving financially, the ultimate reason for Vignesh - “the most important factor for me is the experience I have had with the community and its members themselves.”