Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Professional Affiliations Leadership
Certifications Professional Development
Accomplishments
Languages
Timeline
Generic

JOHN TOLENTINO

Vancouver,BC

Summary

Dynamic professional with extensive experience at Emily Carr University of Art + Design, excelling in policy navigation and conflict resolution. Proven ability to provide confidential consultation and support complex case management, leveraging strong skills in procedural fairness and stakeholder advisory support to enhance student experiences and institutional practices.

Overview

8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Student Resource Coordinator (Policy Navigation & Support Messaging System)

Emily Carr University of Art + Design
Vancouver, Canada
03.2024 - Current
  • Assist students in interpreting institutional policies, procedures, and decision-making pathways, clarifying rights, responsibilities, and available options for resolution
  • Provide confidential, impartial consultation to students navigating academic, administrative, and conduct-related concerns, including complaints, appeals, and perceived procedural unfairness
  • Assisted students in preparing for meetings, appeals, or formal processes by organizing concerns, documentation, and questions, ensuring clarity and readiness
  • Received and triaged student intakes for Counselling Services, assessing needs and directing them to appropriate resources. for Counselling Services, assessing appropriateness, urgency, and referral pathways while maintaining strict confidentiality
  • Provide consultation to faculty and staff on student support processes, conflict-sensitive communication, and trauma-informed policy application
  • Monitored and managed Support Messaging System, facilitating timely and appropriate institutional responses while ensuring privacy and role boundaries
  • Led decolonizing practice workgroups and workshops, fostering institutional reflection on power dynamics, policy impact, and student experiences
  • Serve on institutional health, wellness, and equity subcommittees, contributing evidence-informed recommendations grounded in systemic themes emerging from casework

Counsellor (Private Practice)

Avery Therapy Center
Vancouver, Canada
10.2023 - Current
  • Provided assessment-informed counselling to adults facing mental health, relational, and systemic stressors, facilitating personal growth and resilience
  • Supported clients in navigating external systems, including healthcare, education, and employment, while upholding professional boundaries to enhance client agency
  • Conducted screening and coordinated referrals with adjacent health professionals to ensure comprehensive client care
  • Engage in ongoing professional development, clinical supervision, and ethical practice review

Community Support Worker / Medication Program Designate

RainCity Housing and Support Society
Vancouver, Canada
10.2017 - Current
  • Delivered frontline support to residents facing mental health and substance use challenges, promoting a harm reduction framework
  • Coordinated with healthcare providers, social services, and community partners to enhance continuity of care and support services
  • Facilitated conflict de-escalation and informal resolution among tenants, ensuring neutrality and safety throughout the process
  • Maintain confidential records, documentation, and data systems in compliance with privacy and legal requirements

Social Worker — Acute Medicine

St. Paul’s Hospital
Vancouver, Canada
10.2023 - 02.2024
  • Managed complex cases addressing housing instability, income assistance, and legal decision-making to ensure patient stability and support
  • Assisted patients and families in navigating care processes, consent, and benefits eligibility to enhance understanding and access to services
  • Liaised with allied health teams to facilitate ethical discharge planning and informed decision-making, promoting patient-centered care

Assistant Manager (Overdose Prevention Site)

RainCity Housing and Support Society
Vancouver, Canada
06.2022 - 09.2022
  • Supervised peer workers and community support staff in high-acuity public health environment to ensure effective service delivery
  • Collaborated with senior leadership to devise solutions for complex operational, staffing, and community-relations challenges
  • Coordinated with external stakeholders, including Vancouver Coastal Health and community organizations, to strengthen partnerships and enhance service accessibility
  • Interpreted, applied, and explained municipal, provincial, and federal legislation and policy governing community-based health programs
  • Prepared clear, concise written correspondence, reports, and briefing materials for senior leadership

Education

Doctor of Education - Equity, Diversity, and Social Justice

Western University
London, ON
01-2028

Master of Social Work -

Wilfrid Laurier University
Kitchener, ON
01.2023

Bachelor of Arts - Psychology

Simon Fraser University
Vancouver, BC
01.2017

Associate of Arts - Psychology

Langara College
Vancouver, BC
01.2015

Skills

  • Procedural fairness and natural justice
  • Policy interpretation and navigation
  • Confidential and impartial consultation
  • Conflict resolution and mediation
  • Complex case consultation
  • Crisis intervention and de-escalation
  • Equity-informed practice
  • Stakeholder advisory support
  • Systems analysis and improvement
  • Policy development

Certification

• Registered Social Worker, British Columbia College of Social Workers (BCCSW), 2023
• Registered Social Worker, Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW), 2023

Professional Affiliations Leadership

  • President, BC Filipino Therapist Association
  • FC/GFC EdD Representative, Education Graduate Student Association
  • Chair, Joint Labour–Management Committee, RainCity Housing and Support Society
  • Appointed Provincial Executive Queer Member, BCGEU Union
  • Member, Filipino Canadian Social Workers and Community Workers

Certifications Professional Development

  • Associate Certificate, Leadership & Conflict Resolution, Justice Institute of BC, in progress
  • Graduate Certificate in Complex Trauma & Child Sexual Abuse Intervention, Justice Institute of BC, in progress
  • Addiction Medicine Diploma, BC Centre on Substance Use / UBC Faculty of Medicine
  • Substance Use Certificate, Justice Institute of BC
  • University Teaching Foundations, Wilfrid Laurier University

Accomplishments

Received $50,000 community funding from UnitedWayBC to support intergenerational Filipino community members impacted by the April 26th Tragedy (September 2025), BCFTA

Languages

  • English
  • Tagalog
  • Italian
  • American Sign Language

Timeline

Student Resource Coordinator (Policy Navigation & Support Messaging System)

Emily Carr University of Art + Design
03.2024 - Current

Counsellor (Private Practice)

Avery Therapy Center
10.2023 - Current

Social Worker — Acute Medicine

St. Paul’s Hospital
10.2023 - 02.2024

Assistant Manager (Overdose Prevention Site)

RainCity Housing and Support Society
06.2022 - 09.2022

Community Support Worker / Medication Program Designate

RainCity Housing and Support Society
10.2017 - Current

Doctor of Education - Equity, Diversity, and Social Justice

Western University

Master of Social Work -

Wilfrid Laurier University

Bachelor of Arts - Psychology

Simon Fraser University

Associate of Arts - Psychology

Langara College
JOHN TOLENTINO