Jonathon Zimmer

My name is Jonathon Zimmer, and I am a senior PhD candidate in the Department of History at Queen’s University, where I work under the supervision of Dr. Lisa Pasolli. I am originally from the Peace Region of British Columbia, and my academic path began unusually early: at fourteen, I was given the opportunity to begin studying history at Northern Lights College in my hometown of Fort St. John. Since then, my studies have taken me across Canada, from Thompson Rivers University to the University of Regina, before arriving at Queen’s.

My research focuses on twentieth‑century Canadian history, with particular emphasis on foreign aid, humanitarianism, and the evolving relationship between the Canadian state and non‑governmental organizations. My doctoral dissertation examines Canada’s response to the Ethiopian famine of 1984, exploring how media coverage, political decision‑making, and NGO‑state partnerships reshaped Canadian aid practices during the late Cold War.

I have published on Canadian political and social history in venues such as the Canadian Journal of Health History and Canadian Military History, and I contributed a chapter to Canada and the Challenges of Leadership (University of Regina Press, 2023). I have also served as a co‑editor for that volume. My conference presentations include papers delivered at the Tri‑University Conference, the University of Montreal, the UM‑UNB International History Graduate Student Conference, and the ACSUS biennial meeting.

In addition to my research, I have extensive teaching and academic service experience. I have worked as a teaching assistant in both the Department of History and the Faculty of Education at Queen’s University, and previously at the University of Regina. I have also held research assistantships supporting projects on childcare policy and Canadian political history. Beyond the university, I remain committed to public history and outreach, regularly returning to North Peace Secondary School in Fort St. John to speak with students about historical research and post‑secondary pathways.