Everything in JooJo Paintsil's life — every hardship, side-hustle and detour — led to what he now calls his "spark."
Paintsil has worked roofing jobs, served ice cream at Dairy Queen, stocked shelves at Wal-Mart, emceed weddings, trained clients, and counselled youth facing life-threatening illnesses. But never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that would lead him to his current role as a television host.
Today, the 26-year-old shares the lessons from that journey with children across Canada on CBC Gem's Hey JooJo!
The show is "a celebration of community, music, and fun" where Joojo and his cousin, Gary the Unicorn, "fill their apartment home with vibrant songs, big laughs, and heartwarming neighbourly adventures, from sunrise to story time," according to the CBC.
"Everything that I have done, I've applied it in some way to this job, whether it be in Fitness and Health Promotion at St. Clair, or anything after that, it's all come together," Paintsil said.
While the kids' show is fun and light-hearted, behind the bright colours and big smiles is a mission shaped by years of lived experience: helping young people find what lights them up.
Finding his Footing at St. Clair College
Paintsil attended St. Clair College from 2018 to 2020 in the Fitness and Health Promotion program.
"I was an athlete in high school, and I decided that I wanted to pursue something where I was just helping people," said Paintsil, who hails from Brampton. "I was already athletic, so I thought the next best thing for me would be to work as a personal trainer and see where that could go."
While playing wide receiver for the St. Clair Fratmen in 2019, he struggled to balance football and academics.
St. Clair College Prof. Deborah Ivey became a steady source of encouragement, pushing him to stay focused and resilient — lessons he still carries today.
"She's always been a great support to me, from when I started in school to even now in my career," said Paintsil, who adds Prof. Ivey made sure he remained laser-focused on the end prize. "She was always rooting for me and supporting me, and a lot of the things she's instilled still applies to me today."
"Students who enroll in St. Clair College's Fitness & Health Promotion program bring with them their own skill sets and experiences, which we help to enhance and refine – preparing them to work in an industry of limitless possibilities," said Prof. Ivey. "In helping individuals achieve their fitness and wellness goals, they advance their own journey toward limitless opportunities, with knowledge and abilities that can truly take them anywhere."
Discovering "The Spark"
After graduating, Paintsil took a gap year to ride out the pandemic and bank some money.
"I was just trying to find my footing. I was meal-prepping for people with all the knowledge of nutrition I gained. I was doing personal training here and there, just trying to find my purpose," he said.
He ultimately decided to pursue further education abroad, utilizing a pathway agreement with Munster Technological University (MTU) in Ireland.
Paintsil enrolled in the Bachelor of Health and Leisure program at MTU. It was there JooJo came across another influential professor, who fired up a 'TED Talk' during a youth development class. The topic was "finding your spark."
"And I was like, 'what is a spark?'" Paintsil recalls wondering.
After watching the TED Talk, Paintsil was sold on the idea that "everyone has a spark."
"It's something within you that lights up. It's just a fire within you," he says. "We improve someone's quality of life through them engaging in their sparks or following their sparks, and how your sparks lead you to a place that you are now."
The TED Talk dovetailed into a classroom discussion about "spark champions" – people that help youth and adolescents find their sparks in life, to improve their quality of life.
That was the aha moment – one which struck Paintsil deeply.
"I'm sitting in this class, and I realize right then and there, I know exactly what I want to do now. I know exactly where I want to go," said Paintsil. "I want to be a spark champion. I want to help kids find their spark."
"It brought a tear to my eye. It was such a pivotal moment for me."
He went home that night and cracked open his laptop, looking for ways to engage with young people in search of their spark. He came across a place called Barretstown, a camp founded by the late Hollywood icon, Paul Newman. The camp is designed specifically for children with cancer and other serious illnesses to just be kids, let loose, and in Newman's words, "raise a little hell."
"And I thought, oh my gosh, this is amazing. Yes, yes, yes, yes!" he exclaimed emphatically. "I was like, I have to do this."
Before long, Paintsil landed a job at Barretstown as an activity leader, a position he held for six months.
"It's a beautiful place. Literally, it's a castle. It's a magical place," Paintsil said. "Being there and bringing smiles to these kids, running different activities, letting kids be kids – it was a beautiful opportunity for me."
When his time was up in Ireland, Paintsil knew he was doing what he was meant to do: Fully embracing his spark and ready to forge ahead as a spark champion.
A Clear Mission Back Home
Paintsil moved back home to Canada, with a clear focus for his immediate future.
"My location changed, but my mission stayed the same," he said.
He applied for a job at Campfire Circle, where he eventually landed a position in the Toronto area. That led to a two-year stint at Sick Kids' Hospital where he worked with kids as a program specialist, bringing activities to clinics and sitting one-on-one bedside with patients.
"And in these moments, these kids are going through so much pain, so much grief and so many different trials and tribulations, and to just to be that light to them, it brings a bit of happiness and a bit of light in such a dark situation," Paintsil said. "These were some of the greatest moments of my life."
Never one to sit still, Paintsil transitioned to a new job as a Youth Counsellor at a facility for teens struggling with mental health and addictions issues.
"There's a lot of things that I had to teach them, including emotional regulation, teaching them about connection," said Paintsil, noting most of all, he was trying to be a good role-model. "I brought a lot of joy and happiness and silliness to these kids."
He says even today, he gets messages from past patients thanking him. Many reach out because of his new job at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
The Leap to CBC
In January 2025, Paintsil was still working as a counsellor and program specialist. He was also dabbling with emceeing weddings and Bar Mitzvahs, while still doing personal training and meal-planning on the side. Then an opportunity came up that he couldn't ignore.
CBC Gem was looking for a new host for a children's program, and the job seemed right up his alley.
Paintsil applied and went through three rigorous interviews before landing the position as the host of his own show, 'Hey Joojo!'
"My favorite part of my job is that I get to have a bigger impact on the youth, and I can be myself," he said. "I can teach through my actions, teach not only kids, but everyone else, that it's okay to make mistakes, it's okay to fall, it's okay to not know something. I'm teaching kids that learning is fun."
As part of his job, he finds time to visit schools between program shoots. Outside of his CBC position, Paintsil continues to serve as a youth counsellor and stays very active in the community. As Paintsil puts it, "I like to stay busy."
Life and work come full circle
You don't have to be in a room with Paintsil for very long before you realize that he's a shining example of a life-long learner who has decided to build his career around the impact he can have on others. All the lessons and experiences he's absorbed throughout his life make up the current version of Joojo.
"From the classroom at St. Clair College to the communities he now uplifts, Joojo has transformed his skill set into a beacon of hope and leadership," said Prof. Ivey. "His resilience, optimism, and goal driven spirit inspire not only his peers but also the children he connects with – future leaders who will carry his legacy forward."
"A dynamic force in our industry, Joojo proves that true leadership begins with sharing, motivating, and setting realistic goals for others," Prof. Ivey said. "He was a leader in the classroom, and today he stands as a leader for our tomorrows."
Reflecting on his pathway, Paintsil says he may have taken an irregular path to his current position, but one lesson stood out to him: embrace the side-hustle.
"All those things I did in the past slowly helped me in my career here," he said. "It just reminds me that all the hard work and effort that I invest into what I do is coming to fruition."
"It's a full circle moment. It's a very fulfilling thing," he added.
Paintsil continues to add to his repertoire – hosting an event on CBC during the recent Winter Olympics and is also slated to host the Junior Junos on March 28, 2026.
Even though Paintsil admits "there's no way in Heaven I ever thought I'd end up at the CBC," he says when you work hard, find your spark and choose to embrace it, possibilities are endless.
His advice?
"Follow your passions, follow your dreams, and stick to the side-hustles," he said.
"Because they are what makes life exciting."