Jaswant’s grandfather arrived in Canada in 1906. She was born in British Columbia and is a third generation South Asian. She shared there is systemic racism toward Indigenous, Black, and Asians. She is passionate about supporting children and families as children have less power. She states we are advocates and have the power to speak.
Jaswant Guzder, currently Clinical Professor, University of British Columbia (psychiatry), Co-Director UBC Social and Cultural Psychiatry Program, Adjunct Professor (psychology) University of Victoria, and McGill University Professor (retired), Department of Psychiatry (Child Psychiatry and Social and Transcultural Psychiatry). From 2020, her clinical work was in Victoria BC as a psychiatric consultant for the Vancouver Island Center for Refugee and Immigrant Mental Health (VICCIR) and until 2023 with Vancouver Island ICYMH (Indigenous Child and Youth Mental Health). Formerly Head of Jewish General Hospital Child Psychiatry, Director of Childhood Disorders Hospital, first Director of Fellowship Program in Family Therapy Residency Training and founding Co-Director of the Jewish General Cultural Consultation Service and affiliate of McGill Social Work department. She is an artist, a mother, trainer and researcher mainly focused on children at risk, global health, war surviving children, creative arts in mental health and cultural psychiatry.