Jonah Kawarsky, MBS, the Executive Director of Global Brigades Canada, combines a strong foundation in biomedical science with a passion for community development. A graduate of the University of Guelph, Jonah’s academic background lays the groundwork for his dedication to health and community service.
He first became involved with Global Brigades when he founded the Medical Chapter at the University of Guelph in 2018, leading them on Brigade to Panamá in 2019. Adapting to the pandemic, he led the chapter for two TeleBrigades to Honduras in 2020 and one in 2021. He was Campus Chairperson from 2019 to 2021, helping establish two additional chapters on campus (Engineering and Business) and leading the Eastern Student Leadership Conference in 2020 and 2021. In 2021 and 2022, Jonah worked as a Volunteer Engagement Manager, connecting campus chapters with the greater Guelph Community. He served on the GB Canada Board of Directors from February 2022 to November 2023.
Jonah was inspired to begin his journey with Global Brigades after learning about the holistic model and yearlong community programs such as Community Health Workers. He believes that GB’s long-term goals are sustainable ways of lifting communities out of poverty.
Looking to the future, Jonah is focused on furthering Global Brigades Canada’s impact through partnerships with other Canadian non-profits and increasing the presence of chapters and brigades on university campuses. Outside of his professional life, he enjoys rock climbing, camping, and photography.