LGBTQ2+ Advisory Council Staff
Jess Burke,
Associate Director, LGBTQ2+ Partnerships Liaison
Jess Burke (she/her) is an activist who focuses on anti-oppression and the inclusion of antisemitism in anti-racism practices. She has worked extensively with Jewish and queer communities across Canada.
She identifies as an LGBTQ2+ Jew who advocates for sexual/gender wellness, womxn in politics, Jewish inclusion, combatting antisemitism in progressive spaces, intersectional feminism and digital communications. Jess has served on several national boards and committees, and has been the recipient of social justice awards. She loves running grassroots fundraising campaigns.
Jess is currently an Associate Director at CIJA in Community Training, Campus Advocacy and LGBTQ2+ Partnerships. Additionally, she has worked as an independent consultant and is formerly the Coordinator for the University of Calgary’s multifaith centre, where she developed, strategized, and facilitated intercultural, interreligious programming, support services, events, and dialogues. Jess is also an intercultural startup founder and program director, overseeing operations based between Mexico and Canada.
She has lived in Halifax, Toronto, Guadalajara (Mexico), Calgary, Los Angeles, and Israel. She identifies as equal parts Torontonian, Haligonian, and Israeli; currently living in midtown Toronto with her partner and their dogs, Blanket and Teddy.
Contact Jess Burke