Swamini Shivapriyananada
Swamini Shivapriyananda is our Senior Swamini for Chinmaya Mission Toronto – Shivalaya. Inspired by Pujya Swami Chinmayananda, Swamini Shivapriyananda completed the brahmachari course in Bombay in 1986 and was posted as Acharya of Chinmaya Mission Toronto. She received sannyasa initiation (diksha) from Pujya Swami Tejomayananda on Shivaratri in 2003. Swaminiji teaches adults and youth through lectures, seminars and workshops. Also, she conducts stress management courses as well as relaxation training. Swaminiji is an inspiration and guidance behind our Bala Vihar® success.

Devji

Born in Canada, Sevak Dev Singh was exposed to spirituality from a young age through Bala Vihar and satsanga. After completing a BBA at the University of Toronto and working for several years as a  chartered accountant and certified internal auditor, he developed a strong interest in a life of service and was at the same time reintroduced to Chinmaya Mission through the Chinmaya Yuva Kendra. Happy to meet many like-
minded people, Devji eagerly became an active member expressing a strong thirst for knowledge.

Under the guidance of various mentors and local acharya Swamini Shivapriyananda, Dev approached Swami Tejomayananda about joining a Vedanta course. He joined the second Residential Vedanta Course in Trinidad and Tobago in 2013 under the tutelage of Swami Prakashananda.

Having studied Sanskrit and Vedanta for almost two years, Dev decided to make his primary aim serving at the ashram in Toronto, Canada, where he is currently posted
with his wife Sevak Gina Singh.

Gina ji

Born in Accra, Ghana, Sevak Gina Singh was introduced to Chinmaya Mission at a young age through local Bala Vihar programs. After moving to India and then Canada for higher studies, her interest in spirituality and involvement in Chinmaya Mission grew steadily from teaching Bala Vihar and attending study groups in Toronto to finally entering deeper Vedantic studies.

Gina completed a degree in psychology and management from McGill University as well as a Montessori teaching diploma and worked in both fields. Under the guidance of Swamini Shivapriyananda, Gina received blessings from Swami Tejomayananda to join the second Residential Vedanta Course in Trinidad and Tobago in 2013.

After almost two years studying Vedanta and Sanskrit, having been moved deeply by the love and divinity demonstrated by her Acharya, Swami Prakashananda and other spiritual leaders, Gina decided to serve the Mission full time and was assigned to return to Canada to continue Mission work in Toronto, where she resides currently with her husband Sevak Dev Singh.