Member Spotlight: Kumudu Walisundara

Hello, my name is Kumudu, and I’m a travel advisor with Expedia Cruises in Brampton. 

My love of travel actually began when I was a child. I was very fortunate to grow up with parents who valued education and had a great love for travelling. From a young age, they introduced me to different places, cultures, people, and experiences. Those childhood experiences opened my eyes to the world and created a love of travel that has stayed with me throughout my life. 

In 2001, I came to Canada from Sri Lanka to begin a new chapter in my life. I came with a Master’s degree in Food Science and Technology, professional experience, and the excitement, uncertainty, and challenges that come with starting over in a new country. 

Today, I work as a Nutrition Technician at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, where I work in the NICU. My career in healthcare is very meaningful to me because it allows me to care for people and make a difference in their lives. 

Alongside my healthcare career, I have continued to follow my passion for travel by working as an independent travel advisor with Expedia Cruises in Brampton. At first, these two careers may seem very different, but to me, they have something very important in common: people. 

Both careers allow me to listen, understand individual needs, and help make someone’s experience a little better. 

For me, travel is about so much more than visiting beautiful destinations. It is about learning, connecting with people, experiencing different cultures, and gaining a deeper understanding of the world around us. Travel has taught me that although we may come from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds, we often have much more in common than we realize. 

Coming to Canada as an immigrant also gave me a personal understanding of what it feels like to enter a new environment, meet people from different backgrounds, and build a life in a new country. That experience has made me appreciate even more how important it is for people to feel welcomed, respected, and included — whether they are travelling across the world or simply beginning a new chapter in their lives. 

As a travel advisor, I love listening to people and understanding what is important to them. Everyone has a different reason for travelling. For some, it may be a dream vacation. For others, it may be a family reunion, an adventure, a cultural experience, or simply the opportunity to see something they have never seen before. 

I feel incredibly fortunate to help people create experiences that are meaningful to them. 

I am also very proud and honoured to continue developing my knowledge and skills through ACTA’s continuing education program. I am currently a Certified Travel Counsellor and hold the CTC designation, which reflects my commitment to continuing to learn and grow within the travel industry. 

When I look back at my own journey, I see a beautiful connection between the little girl who discovered the world through travelling with her parents, the woman who left Sri Lanka to build a new life in Canada, and the travel advisor I am today, helping others discover the world in their own way. 

Travel has been part of my life since childhood. It has taught me about cultures, people, connection, resilience, and belonging. And today, I have the privilege of helping others experience that same sense of wonder and connection. 

Travel is my passion, and I love helping others create theirs.