After four years of intensive training with UofT Opera, Justin discovered his true calling lay beyond the classical stage. He pivoted toward education, completing a Bachelor of Education and later a diploma in Deaf and Hard of Hearing education. From 2015 to 2017, he taught at a school for the deaf in The Gambia—an experience that deepened his passion for community service and global advocacy.
In 2018, Justin once again returned to the classroom, this time pursuing a diploma in social work. During his internship at Asian Community AIDS Services, his personal journey as a person living with HIV became the foundation for a career in activism and support work. Since then, he has served as an HIV outreach worker and counselor in Kenya, volunteered at Toronto’s People With AIDS Foundation, and become a visible advocate for people living with HIV (PHAs). He continues to speak out against stigma, criminalization, and systemic barriers faced by the community.
Justin is an ambassador for the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research and was featured in the 2019 MUCH Studio documentary Positive, which shed light on the lives of queer and trans Millennials living with HIV.
Beyond advocacy, Justin is a passionate storyteller and artist. An avid photographer, his powerful photo essays on LGBTQ+ and poz communities are regularly published in Where Love Is Illegal, and his recent documentation of Black Lives Matter in Toronto has drawn publishing interest.
Music has always been the center of Justin’s life. As choir director at two churches, he channels Gospel and RnB with genuine fire. He’s also proud to have fused his artistry with his activism as a singer with The Promise—a rock opera band amplifying stories of resilience and hope—performing everywhere from the AIDS Committee of York Region’s 2019 World AIDS Day celebration to AIDS 2022 in Montreal. And there’s a good chance he’ll be taking the stage with The Promise again soon.