Family Life
I was born and raised in North Vancouver, British Columbia. I’ve lived extensively on the west coast and in New Brunswick, Québec, and Ontario, including in Tay Valley Township for nearly a decade.
My late father worked for most of his life in senior management for a major forest products company. My late mother was a primary school teacher. I have two sisters and a brother.
I am married to Mary Lou Carroll who has a daughter that is pursuing further studies in accounting. Mary Lou is a music director at a church in Carleton Place and is the accompanist for the Tay Valley and Westport community choirs. I have two grown daughters of my own. One is a veterinary technician and the other is studying sign language and interpretation.
Working Life
Over my working life I’ve been, in order:
- a sawmill and warehouse labourer
- a shipper-receiver
- a co-operative store clerk
- an outdoor education instructor and wilderness guide
- a letter carrier
- a writer for a consulting firm
- an executive director or equivalent of six non-profit or charitable organizations
- a consultant, and
- a municipal politician
Political and Advocacy Work
I was first elected in 2018 as a Councillor in Tay Valley Township. I was elected Reeve in 2022. As Reeve, I co-represent the Township on Lanark County Council.
I am a co-founder of Lanark Basic Income Network, and serve as its inaugural Chair, and continue to sit on the Steering Committee. I am also a member of the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust.
My core values are kindness and compassion, truthfulness, commitment to community, opportunity for all, social equity and social justice, and respect and care for our environment.
In 1997, I was one of 15 Canadians, and one of 180 people worldwide, selected that year as an Associate of a two-year international leadership program, graduating in 1999 with the status of Fellow. In 2012, I was awarded, by the federal government, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of my work across Canada over 2006-2012 on poverty issues.
Personal Interests
I love music and play guitar, sing in community ensembles, play benefit events, and have organized several concerts featuring world-class musicians.
In 2013, I reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. I am an avid reader, and enjoy nature activities including hiking, biking, canoeing and snowshoeing.
