George Brown Polytechnic is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous peoples who have lived here over time. We are grateful to share this land as treaty people who learn, work and live in the community with each other.
George Brown Polytechnic’s Community Worker program is celebrating a remarkable milestone—50 years of preparing students to become agents of change in their communities. As the largest and longest-running program of its kind in Canada, the Community Worker program has maintained an unwavering commitment to social justice and human rights since its inception in 1975.
From grassroots vision to national leader
The program's origins trace back to the early 1970s, when Don Feldman and Bill Vine, working in George Brown's Addiction Counsellor program, recognized the need for a distinct program focused on community-based work. In 1975, with Feldman as Program Coordinator and Vine as chair of the Community Services Department, the Community Worker program was established.
Evolving from rights-based struggles and community organizing movements, the program has adapted to meet the changing needs of communities across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond.
"The Community Worker program is at the forefront of community-focused education because of the passion of our people," said Susan Toews, Dean of Community Services and Interdisciplinary Studies. "Our graduates are changing lives in communities they serve, actively advancing equity and meaningful change in the areas that need it most.”
Partnership and practice
Strategic partnerships have been fundamental to the program's success and evolution, providing students with real-world experience in the communities they serve.
In 2006, the program received approval from the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, enabling graduates to apply to obtain the Registered Social Service Worker (RSSW) designation and expand their career opportunities.
Work-integrated learning remains a cornerstone of the curriculum, with program faculty—many of whom continue their own community work—maintaining strong connections with social, community, and grassroots organizations.
“The Community Worker program was truly transformative for me as a student and a catapult into the work I wanted to do,” said John Caffery, faculty member and program alumnus. “The program attracts people who are passionate about making positive change, who continue to inspire me. As a faculty member, my teaching philosophy is that I am in service to students. I’m invested in their success, in part because I believe the more skillful Community Workers there are, the better our world is to live in.”
Graduate impact
The program has produced an impressive roster of alumni who continue to advance social justice across diverse sectors, including but certainly not limited to:
- Diana Gallego, a former faculty member and past President of the Canadian Council for Refugees and Co-Executive Director of FCJ Refugee Centre, who advocated for refugee rights at national and international levels.
- Stefan Enrique Joseph Kallikaden received the Ontario Human Rights Commission Human Rights Award for his groundbreaking research on undocumented newcomer youth and advocacy on youth settlement issues.
- Yonatan Ghebray serves as Associate Director for the Network for the Advancement of Black Communities
- Genevieve Thompson leads operations at the CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals.
- Haydar Shouly, now a faculty member himself, directs Housing Services at Dixon Hall.
- Diana Chan McNally serves on the City of Toronto Housing Rights Advisory Committee and as a Maytree Foundation Fellow.
- Jessica Whitbread became the youngest and first queer woman elected as Global Chair of the International Community of Women Living with HIV. She received a Premier's Award recognizing her global movement-building work.
- Dave Smith transformed his career from line cook to completing a PhD while working full-time in Indigenous Student Support at the University of Toronto.
- Kayla Moryoussef earned a Premier's Award nomination for her compassionate work as a death and grief counsellor through Good Death Doula.
Looking ahead
Anniversary celebrations kicked off in December with a Human Rights Day panel featuring guest speakers and alumni. They will continue through 2026, including a film series in February and March featuring screenings and panel discussions.
Partnering with George Brown's Alumni Relations team, a new Community Worker Alumni chapter is set to launch in April, strengthening connections among graduates and expanding an essential network of care practitioners.
Perhaps most significantly, a new bursary launching in April 2026 will help students overcome financial barriers to enrolment, ensuring the next generation of community workers can access this transformative education.
In a world where uncertainty and change have become commonplace, the Community Worker program will continue to ensure that graduates are well-equipped to meet the needs of the communities they serve.
Learn more about the Community Worker program and the School of Social and Community Services
