When there is a call for help, Joel Zimmerman, a CJA 2006, Grade 9 graduate, answers it. As a Registered Psychologist, this CJA alumnus strives to be someone in his community that individuals, couples, families, and teens can turn to no matter what their challenges may be. Joel lives in Calgary with his wife and young family. Today, his eldest child attends CJA, continuing a family connection to the school that has played such an important role in Joel’s life.
Joel gives the CJA credit for providing a safe place to learn and grow. That experience continues to shape his work today, as he strives to create spaces where people – especially young people – feel comfortable being themselves, asking questions, and making mistakes without fear of judgment.
Joel’s role within the Jewish community has always been a prominent part of his life. After the CJA, Joel attended Henry Wise Wood High School, where he took on his first leadership roles through BBYO and deepened his commitment to helping others feel seen, supported, and connected. He carried that passion into university, where he re-founded a dormant Hillel chapter, helping rebuild Jewish life on a campus that had gone several years without an active Jewish presence.
Each of Joel’s experiences has been inspired by his passion for helping others. He travelled to Israel to study for a semester at Or’Sameach Yeshiva before serving as the Judaism Director at BB Camp Kenora in Ontario. He later became the Calgary JCC’s Youth and Teen Program Coordinator, supporting programs including JCC Maccabi, Teen Connect, and Calgary’s BBYO chapter. Each role reflected his commitment to creating welcoming spaces where young Jewish people could explore their identities and build meaningful connections.
Today, he remains connected to the Jewish community as a board member with the B’nai Brith Lodge. In the future, Joel looks forward to lending his efforts to other executive committees for the many organizations that directly serve and strengthen the Jewish community in Calgary.