About Me
Joshua was born and has lived his whole life in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Attending elementary and secondary school until June of 2021 with the HWCDSB, he continues to further his education through his attendance at Carleton University in Ottawa where he will be pursuing a Hons. BA Political Science with a specialization in judicial studies and public law.
Always being an active member within his community, Joshua continues to work to improve the lives of all through listening, taking notes, drafting policy recommendations, and acting on what members of the public what to see to better their lives in all different ways. He continues to advocate for what is best for all in his community with a main focus on youth mental health and suicide prevention.
Passionate about mental health and the well-being of others, Joshua has been an active youth mental health advocate and has worked to help not only raise awareness but also push for changes to improve the mental health of youth. This includes with a community association he started in 2020. Joshua has also drafted reports for increased youth suicide prevention and mental health that have helped to provide insight into key issues from a youth perspective. Working to ensure that suicide within Canada and his community is reduced, Joshua continues to advocate daily for youth mental health and suicide prevention. Joshua has sat on councils with Unsinkable/Unsinkable Youth and provided input into mental health issues relating to youth, as well as is a member of Frayme as a Groundbreaker for mental health.
Community Leadership
Joshua is currently leading the Youth Mental Health March Canada as President after founding the community association in 2020. He is also a current member of Hon. Filomena Tassi, P.C., M.P. (Minister Responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario) Youth Council where he also leads a team focused on mental and physical health. He serves on the National Youth Advisory Council of the Mood Disorder Society of Canada as well as on the National Youth Advisory Council of the National Initiative for Eating Disorders (NIED).
Joshua is the Executive Assistant and Director of Operations to Sam Bhalesar, the National Secretary of the Liberal Party of Canada, where he continues to help aid in advocating for a wide range of issues for people in Canada as well as oversees the Office of Sam Bhalesar and daily operations between all teams. Joshua also currently serves as the Vice-President of the Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas Provincial Liberal Association, a Vice-President of the Flambrough-Glanbrook Federal Liberal Electoral District Board, and serves as the Chief of Staff and Executive Assistant to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian South Asian Women's Chamber of Commerce.
With mental health policy and the well-being of others being at the top of his mind in all of the work that he does, Joshua is also actively involved in the Roots of Hope initiative with the Canadian Mental Health Association (Hamilton Branch) and the Suicide Prevention Community Council of Hamilton where he is working to provide input to reduce suicide in Hamilton and bridge the gap between youth and adult services. Joshua has also sat as a Council Member with Unsinkable / Unsinkable Youth and works as a Groundbreaker with Frayme's National Network of people with lived experiences. He continues to advocate for increased access to mental health services, and for decreased suicide within his community and in Canada.
Joshua previously served as the Chief of Policy at the Youth Political Assembly where he and others work to encourage youth to raise their voices and get involved in politics where they are able to better their community for everyone. Joshua has also held past positions within his school and community such as his school's Ambassador for revisions to the MYSP with the HWCDSB, an executive member of the Student Council, as well as being the leader of multiple school clubs. Joshua was his school's Student Mental Health Lead.
Volunteer Work
Past and current volunteer work includes work done with the Good Shephard, the De Mazenod Door Outreach, volunteering with Bishop Ryan's Breakfast Club serving food to students who need it, and general volunteer with the Catholic Women’s League of Canada (Our Lady of Assumption Parish Branch). Joshua also volunteers with the Hamilton Fire Department during the November Food Drive yearly.
It should also be noted that some work done in current leadership positions is also done on a volunteer basis.
Awards and Recognition
Joshua has received the Bishops Award for Devotion of Service (2017), Director’s Award of Excellence for School Mission/Vision (2019), the Patrick J. Daley Memorial Award for Personal Examples and Work that Contribute to the Corporate Life of the School and Community (2021), and the Paul and Helen O'Sullivan Award for Community Involvement (2021).
Joshua continuing contributions to his community have also led him to be nominated for the Lieutenant Governor’s Community Volunteer Award for Students (2021), and the June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Voluntarism (2021).