Junie Désil

Born of immigrant (Haitian) parents on the traditional territories of the Kanien’kehá:ka in the island known as Tiohtià:ke (Montréal), raised in Treaty 1 Territory (Winnipeg), Junie Désil brings a wealth of experience and an unwavering passion for effecting positive change. With a career spanning over two decades in the non-profit sector, Junie has consistently dedicated herself to uplifting and empowering communities made vulnerable and marginalized.

Most recently, Junie worked in the Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES) in various roles from frontline support worker to director of operations and everything in between, in support of women living and working in the DTES.

Junie’s knowledge extends to critical areas such as human resources, leadership, strategic planning, organizational change, and governance. Her expertise spans various aspects of community engagement and development, encompassing workshop design, training initiatives, project management,and program implementation.

Junie also finds time to write, coach, consult—and even raise goats.

Currently residing on the traditional territories of the Homalco, Tla'amin and Klahoose, Junie works for Vancity as manager of diversity, equity, inclusion and reconciliation, and she is working on her second poetry collection.

Junie Désil also serves as a mentor in The Writer’s Studio program at SFU. 

Photo: Joy Unagaebu