Skanda Navaratnam, 40, Toronto, 5 Sept 2010

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http://nationalpost.com/news/canada...-his-friends-knew-hed-never-abandon-his-puppy
Victor Ferreira
February 23, 2018

Who was Bruce McArthur's sixth alleged victim? When 'Skanda' vanished, his friends knew he'd never abandon his puppy

Skandaraj Navaratnam was a staple of Toronto's Gay Village. He worked as a landscaper with Bruce McArthur and his friends say he was into older, bigger men

The man described by friends as a fixture of the city’s LGBTQ community knew McArthur well. They would be seen chatting at Woody’s or the Black Eagle bar where McArthur’s friends didn’t call him Bruce, but “Santa.” Navaratnam worked with McArthur as a landscaper and, according to the CBC, the two dated in 2000.

Navaratnam was last seen on Sept. 6, 2010, leaving Zipperz, a now-defunct nightclub in the heart of Toronto’s Gay Village — a neighbourhood he called home after coming to Canada from Sri Lanka as a refugee. It wasn’t like Navaratnam, who went by “Skanda,” to leave and not tell his friends — especially because his disappearance left a newly adopted puppy alone at his home.

Navaratnam was “happy all the time,” Snider said. His friends describe him as “charming.” Navaratnam would chat up anyone he’d see sitting alone at the Black Eagle — his mainstay — and invite them to join his group of friends. Navaratnam loved going out to dance, so after a few drinks at the Black Eagle, a typical night out would usually lead to dancing at Zipperz

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https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/20...osen-as-pride-toronto-2018-grand-marshal.html

Outspoken voice for Bruce McArthur’s alleged victims chosen as Pride Toronto 2018 grand marshal

Haran Vijayanathan, the executive director of the Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention (ASAAP), has been an active member of the Ontario LGBTQ community for more than 18 years.

Vijayanathan said learning about the murder of Skandaraj Navaratnam, McArthur’s first alleged victim to date, hit close to him. Navaratnam, like Vijayanathan, was Sri Lankan, Tamil and gay. His death was Vijayanathan’s “worst nightmare” — as an openly gay teenager, he had wondered if anyone from his community would care or notice if he died.

In a previous interview, Vijayanathan told the Star he had offered to collect the remains of the victims on behalf on their families — many of whom are not based in Toronto — and perform proper funeral rites.

rbbm.