Eric Rajah

Eric Rajah
AOE, MSM
Born (1958-01-12) 12 January 1958
Jaffna, Sri Lanka
EducationCanadian Union College (BTh)
Occupation(s)Advanced Systems (President and owner)
Organization(s)A Better World (President and co-founder)
SpouseCandyce Schafer
Children2
Websitehttps://ericrajah.ca/

Eric Rajah (born January 12, 1958) is a Sri Lankan-born Canadian businessman and humanitarian based in Lacombe, Alberta.

Early life and education

Eric Rajah was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, on January 12, 1958, as the eldest out of three sons to M. S. and Florence Rajah. In 1974, he and his mother and brothers moved to Vancouver, Canada, to join his father, who had immigrated earlier.[1]

Rajah graduated from Winston Churchill High School in Vancouver in 1976. He then enrolled in the business program at the University of British Columbia. In 1978, he transferred to Canadian Union College (CUC)—now Burman University—in Lacombe, Alberta.[1] He graduated with a Bachelor of Theology in 1981.[2]

Career

After graduating from college, Rajah served as the student finance officer at CUC and later worked in Red Deer as an accountant aiming to qualify as a chartered accountant.[1]

Rajah launched his business venture, 'The Computer Training Centre Inc' (CTC), later known as Advanced Systems (AS), in 1986, providing training on computer operating systems and business software for organizations and non-profits. AS is currently located in Lacombe and Red Deer, Alberta.[3]

In 1990, Rajah co-founded A Better World (ABW), an organization focused on supporting development in developing countries.[4]

Personal life

After becoming a Canadian citizen in 1985, Rajah married Candyce Schafer of Lacombe.[1] They have two sons, Brenden and Jaden.[5] He is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.[4]

Awards and honours

Alberta Order of Excellence

Rajah was inducted into the Alberta Order of Excellence (AOE) in 2011, gaining the Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2022.[1][5][6]

Meritorious Service Medal (Civil Division)

In 2021, Rajah and Leavitt were announced as recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (Civil Division) [MSM] from the Governor General of Canada for founding ABW Canada.[7][8] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rajah and Leavitt did not officially receive the MSM until May 2024.[9][10]

Honorary Doctor of Laws degree

In May 2014, Andrews University in Michigan conferred the honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) degree on Rajah. He was also the commencement speaker for two of the university's graduation ceremonies.[11][12][13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "The Alberta Order of Excellence: Eric Rajah". Alberta. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  2. ^ Ferrer, Myla; Perez, Aimee (April 2005). "Education with a Purpose". Adventist Review. 182 (14): 17.
  3. ^ "Our Team". Advanced Systems. 3 March 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  4. ^ a b "20 years to A Better World". Red Deer Advocate. October 29, 2010. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Eric's Story". A Better World Canada. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Queen's Platinum Jubilee medal". Alberta. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  7. ^ Clark, Darin (26 February 2021). "Lacombe organization receives medal from Governor General". Lacombe Online.
  8. ^ "Meritorious Service Decoration (Civilian) - February 2021 recipients". The Governor General of Canada. 22 February 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  9. ^ "List of appointees: Special Honours Ceremony - May 8, 2024". The Governor General of Canada. 8 May 2024.
  10. ^ "A Better World founders receive Meritorious Service Medals in Ottawa". Lacombe Express. 13 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Lacombe's Eric Rajah awarded honourary [sic] degree". Lacombe Express. 26 June 2014.
  12. ^ "Andrews U. commencement May 2-4". South Bend Tribune. 23 April 2014.
  13. ^ Steinke, Linda (June 2014). "Imagine It Better!". Messenger. 83 (6): 37.


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