MONTREAL, QC (November 3, 2021) – Brandon Dawson-Jarvis‘ life has not been easy. After a childhood that was filled with more downs than ups and a stint in prison, Dawson-Jarvis found himself struggling to find his identity and searching for mental health supports. He was introduced to yoga and it has literally changed his life.
After experiencing the transformative powers of yoga himself, Dawson-Jarvis launched Grove Campus in 2018. With a goal to build “social movement through physical movement”, the organization contributes 10% of all proceeds towards community initiatives like connecting children in need with school supplies, an annual toy drive, delivering food baskets, and providing winter gear for the homeless. Grove Campus also offers regular pay-what-you-can yoga classes to increase the accessibility of yoga to all communities.
Grove Campus recently received a boost when they were awarded the 2021 Iris Unger Recognition Award from YES Employment + Entrepreneurship, a charitable non-profit that provides resources, tools, and strategies to improve employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for Quebecers. The award, which comes with a $1,000 cash prize, recognizes artists and entrepreneurs whose project best reflects the values that Iris Unger, YES’ former Executive Director, instilled during her 18 years at YES: dedication and passion, success through hard work, and a true commitment to making a difference in the community.
Brandon Dawson-Jarvis, Founder of Grove Campus
Dawson-Jarvis is no stranger to YES, where he continues to access workshops and monthly business coaching sessions for guidance as he grows his brand. On his business coach’s effect, Brandon relays “somebody’s been there and done that, and whether they succeeded or failed, you can still learn so much from both of those experiences.”
For Dawson-Jarvis, being recognized for his work is extremely valuable, and, as a small business owner, the prize winnings will be impactful in fuelling Grove Campus’ growth. As he says, “from being in prison and then depression, frustrated because I thought I ruined my life…to now being recognized for just trying to do my best is special.”
To find out more about Grove Campus, click here.
To find out more about YES Employment + Entrepreneurship’s programs or to support their work, visit www.yesmontreal.ca.
About YES: As a not-for-profit organization, YES enriches the community by providing English language support services to help Quebecers find employment and start and grow businesses. We help people start successful careers – for themselves, and for our community.
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For promotional photos, press inquiries, and interviews, contact:
Kathy Slotsve
Director of Communications & Stakeholder Engagement
514-878-9788 ext. 337
[email protected]
Aki Tchitacov
Executive Director
514-878-9788 ext. 301
[email protected]
