Series 8 - Consulting, advisory and editorial work

Textual, graphic, publications, 1.34 m

After his arrival in Canada in 1967, Professor Sugunasiri quickly gained a reputation as an expert on matters relating to intercultural issues. He was sought out by the federal government, in particular the Department of the Secretary of State, for advice on issues relating to multiculturalism. In 1991-1992 he played a leading role in the discussion of the preamble to Canada’s Constitution that was carried out through an Ad Hoc Interfaith Working Group. He also advised the Ontario government for advice on a variety of projects, ranging from multiculturalism to school materials. In 1982 he set up a free-lance writing, research and consulting business, Sugunasiri Associates, and later, in 1995, the Buddhist Counselling and Consulting Services.

While a doctoral student at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Professor Sugunasiri edited Grandiose, the student newspaper, from 1974 to 1976. From 1981 to 1983, he sat on the editorial board of Multiculturalism, and from 1987 to 1993 he was a member of the editorial board of the Toronto South Asian Review. Beginning in 200x, he edited the Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies. He was a contributor of information and material to the Multicultural Faith Calendar (1986-2011), and also to a number of other multifaith calendars.

In addition to his own editorial projects, Professor Sugunasiri was an advisor to a number of other projects, one of the earliest being a proposal to create a revised photo typesetting keyboard in Sinhala.

Restricted in part.

For access to B2015-0024/051(09) and (10), consult the University of Toronto Archivist. All other files are open.

Some of his activities, such as his work with the Multicultural History Society of Ontario, can be found in Series 12: Media.

He also edited three books, the files for which can be found in Series 10: Manuscripts and publications, and advised other authors on their works.