December 15, 2025
The following story, published on International Volunteer Day, December 5, 2025, reflects the commitment and excellence of one of our Baycrest volunteers. We are delighted to share Dr. Shaira Wignarajah's story.
"I really wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Baycrest”
Today is International Volunteer Day and Baycrest is proud to highlight the remarkable journey of Dr. Shaira Wignarajah, a former youth volunteer whose early commitment to service helped shape her path as a healthcare leader. This year, Dr. Wignarajah was nominated by Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Sylvia Jones, for the King Charles III Coronation Medal, recognizing her outstanding contributions to Ontario’s healthcare system and her unwavering dedication to community service.
Dr. Wignarajah became a Baycrest volunteer in 2010. For more than eight years, she gave her time and heart to support residents living with dementia, an experience that shaped her understanding of person-centred care and inspired her medical career.
“It's a little surreal,” she reflects. “To receive this award made me realize that in a way, I really wouldn't be here without Baycrest.”
Dr. Wignarajah started volunteering in Grade 9, as part of a school partnership. She “stumbled upon” Baycrest as her placement organization.
Now, she credits the organization for igniting her love of community service.
“Baycrest was the first place that acknowledged me as more than just a Grade 9 student looking for volunteer hours. It saw me as a person with something to contribute to the facility.”
And contribute she did. With a friend, Dr. Wignarajah introduced the Glitz and Glamour manicure program.
“Some of the residents didn't have that service always available. So, I simply went to my manager at that time, told her about the idea, and she was immediately open to it. There were just so few hurdles to implement our idea,” she recalls.
“Being able to create the program and create space for residents to socialize, to form community, which we now know is extremely important for mental health in general, made me realize ‘huh, I do have a voice in this place’.”
Dr. Wignarajah went on to create a job shadowing program where volunteers observed a Baycrest staff member for a day, to learn about the day-to-day aspects of the role. Later, she became the president of the Baycrest Youth Council. Not only to be of service to those in the community, but to also give youth that same ability to do so.
“It was the first time I learned about leadership. Learning that a leader is not just someone at the head of the table, but rather someone that makes sure every person at the table is heard. Those learnings early on at Baycrest were such an opportunity; I was able to transfer them to what I do now.”
Today, Dr. Wignarajah is a fourth-year paediatrics resident at Queen's University, focused on improving access to equitable, high-quality care for all. She also volunteers in the community, primarily around the creation and promotion of evidence-based health information that is linguistically appropriate for various populations in the community.
“The King Charles III Coronation medal for me was a reminder of where it all started. A reminder that it's important to pay it forward,” she says.
“I'm just so eternally grateful to Baycrest, because it gave me a platform to do what I'm able to do today. And I think that's such a privilege.”