Johnathon Brizard

Johnathon Brizard is a proud half-Inuk/half-Oji-Cree man. Johnathon participated in the COVID Impact Study at The Bridge Engagement Centre 2 years ago and was impressed with their work. He inquired about job openings and started as their Community Peer Researcher. He now fulfills the role of Clinical Research Assistant. These roles required the incumbent to have lived experience. At 14, Johnathon lost the biggest part of his life - his mother. This resulted in alcohol and drug addictions that accompanied him off and on for the next 20 years. Holding on too much of the pain from losing his mother, he self-reflected, and attended treatment. In 2021, he got clean from his addictions. The Bridge helped him to see his worth. Peers and staff were incredibly supportive and understanding, and he felt that they truly cared about him. He now feels that when his peers look at him, they see his life experiences as an asset, not a setback. He is grateful that he found The Bridge, or maybe The Bridge found him.