Team Member

Employment Facilitator

ellismparsons@uvic.ca

canassist@uvic.ca

Ellis Parsons is an Employment Facilitator with CanAssist's Job Journey program. He works with participants towards the achievement of their educational and employment-related goals by facilitating job placements and providing individualized coaching grounded in accessibility, dignity, and empowerment.

Having worked in accessible learning and employment at the University of Victoria across several roles over the previous 7 years, Ellis has extensive experience in both the post-secondary and non-profit sectors. With a background in Psychology (BSc, 2021) and Neuroscience (MSc, 2023), Ellis applies a multidisciplinary lens to their work; valuing principles of universal design, the science of learning, and disability justice.

Outside of their work, you can usually find Ellis browsing records at our many local vinyl shops, volunteering at the Shelbourne Community Kitchen where he is currently serving on the Board of Directors, or going for walks with their retired guide dog, Jazz.

Having grown up on Lək̓ʷəŋən Territory, Ellis is grateful to continue learning and working on the traditional territories of Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Xʷsepsəm/Esquimalt) Peoples on whose territory the university stands. They would also like to acknowledge the historical and ongoing relationships of the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples with this land, and are committed to engaging in ongoing learning and action to ensure the work that they do values and includes the diverse perspectives of Indigenous educators, collaborators, and participants.