A long-time seeker of adventure and social change, David would not pay some faceless business thousands of dollars to volunteer overseas. Instead, he set off for a year-long journey around the world, which laid the groundwork for Operation Groundswell, a social enterprise that offers genuine, ethical and affordable volunteer programs overseas. Currently, David serves as Executive Director, exploring new paths of expansion and assisting with general operations. This year the organization will be running programs in 14 countries for over 100 students which will raise over $100,000 for community-led projects and micro-finance lending.

David is a student of Aboriginal Studies and Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Toronto as a national Millennium laureate. This has led him in helping to start Canadian Roots, a partner of OG, which brings together non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal youth on road trips that engage with the teachings of Canada’s Aboriginal peoples. Canadian Roots leads nearly a dozen exchange programs and major events from coast to coast each year and has been heralded as a unique project in Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation process.

David’s career in activism started in his day’s at Mackenzie when he played a key role in organizing major rallies and speaking tours to raise awareness about the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. He currently sits as chair of the board of directors for the umbrella non-profit organization, Project Equity.