My wife Nicole and I, along with our three sons—Blake, Brennan, and Moe—my mother-in-law, and our black lab Fielder, have proudly called Bradford home for nearly a decade. Before moving to Bradford, we lived nearby in Cookstown, maintaining strong ties to the communities of South Simcoe.

Our three sons completed their entire elementary and secondary education in Bradford, attending St. Theresa Elementary School, St. Marie of the Incarnation School, and Holy Trinity High School. They achieved a remarkable distinction: Blake, Brennan, and Moe were each named Valedictorian of their graduating class at Holy Trinity, an accomplishment that makes our family incredibly proud.

I grew up in Mississauga, but after marrying Nicole, we moved to Cookstown to help support her family's motel business. Over the years, our involvement included operating a restaurant as well as managing the day-to-day responsibilities of the motel. The business continues to serve visitors today.

Nicole is an accomplished entrepreneur who owns and operates multiple accommodation businesses. Her dedication, work ethic, and commitment to customer service have helped create successful businesses that contribute to our local economy.

I have never been one to sit on the sidelines. When I become part of a community, I look for ways to contribute and help make it stronger.

Much of my community involvement has come through youth sports. Over the years, I have coached with the Bradford Bulldogs hockey program, South Simcoe Basketball, and Bradford Baseball, back when it was known as the Bradford Diamondbacks.

When Bradford Diamondbacks Baseball ceased operations, my family joined the Innisfil Baseball Association. As both a coach and volunteer, I quickly became involved with the organization and its leadership. Over the years, I served as Equipment Manager, Convenor, Vice-President, and ultimately six years as President.

Leading an organization that served more than 1,000 players, parents, coaches, and volunteers provided invaluable experience in budgeting, strategic planning, meeting management, communication, conflict resolution, and building a shared vision. Those experiences have helped prepare me for municipal leadership, where many of the same skills are required to bring people together and achieve positive results.

In addition to coaching and board leadership, I have organized and operated summer baseball camps and winter training clinics, helping young athletes develop their skills while fostering a love for the game. Seeing young people grow in confidence, teamwork, and character has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my community involvement.

Today, I continue to serve on the board as Convenor, coordinating permits, scheduling, and league operations. Through my involvement in community sports, I have built lasting friendships and strong relationships throughout both Bradford and Innisfil. These connections have given me a deeper understanding of our region and the importance of municipalities working together to serve residents effectively.  I have built a good relationship with Mayor Dollin in Innisfil as well as many of our Bradford Council.

Community involvement has shaped who I am, and it remains one of the most rewarding parts of my life.

Education and personal development have played an important role in shaping who I am today.

I attended Queensway Christian School in Mississauga and Etobicoke from Grade 4 through Grade 13. During my graduating year, I had the honour of serving as Student Council President and being selected as Class Valedictorian. These experiences helped develop leadership, communication, and public speaking skills that continue to serve me today.

My post-secondary education began at McMaster University, where I earned a Bachelor of Physical Education (B.P.E.), followed by a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) from the University of Ottawa, with teachables in Physed & Science. More recently, I expanded my qualifications by completing a Civil Engineering Technology diploma at Georgian College, while also obtaining additional teaching qualifications in Mathematics at York University.

My educational background has provided me with a diverse skill set, including an understanding of health and physical activity, scientific analysis, problem solving, and quantitative decision-making. These skills are valuable in municipal government, where elected officials must evaluate reports, assess infrastructure needs, understand budgets, and make evidence-based decisions on behalf of residents.

Throughout my educational journey, I have consistently sought opportunities to lead and contribute beyond the classroom. While attending McMaster University, I organized and led a popular monthly student event that regularly attracted hundreds of students. The event helped foster school spirit, build community connections, and create a positive student experience.

Whether in education, business, sports, or community service, I have always believed that leadership is about bringing people together, building strong communities, and helping others succeed. Those principles continue to guide me today and will shape my approach as a municipal councillor.

At nearly 55 years of age, my work experience has provided me with a wide range of opportunities to learn, adapt, and grow.

During my late high school and university years, I co-founded and operated a fence and deck construction business with colleagues. What began as a student venture helped fund my post-secondary education and eventually grew into a 20-year business, which I later owned and operated independently. Through this experience, I gained a strong understanding of entrepreneurship, including payroll, supplier management, customer relations, employee supervision, and overall business operations. As a councillor, I understand the pressures small business owners face and the importance of supporting local enterprise, job creation, and economic growth.

During the off-season of my business, I worked as a supply teacher with the Simcoe County District School Board, a role I have maintained for over 25 years. Over that time, I have taught in many schools near Ward 6, across Bradford and surrounding communities, including Bradford District High School, Fieldcrest Elementary, and Fred C. Cook Public School. This experience has given me a strong connection to local families and an understanding of the education system at both the elementary and secondary levels.

In addition, I spent four years working in road construction with Dufferin Construction, where I gained hands-on experience in sewer installation, asphalt paving, concrete work, and traffic control. This practical knowledge of infrastructure development is directly relevant to municipal decision-making, particularly in areas involving road maintenance, capital projects, and contractor oversight.

I also continue to work as an NCCP-certified baseball instructor and an umpire with Innisfil Baseball. These roles require fairness, composure, and the ability to make and stand behind difficult decisions—qualities that are essential in municipal governance, where decisions often involve differing opinions and competing perspectives.

For a time, I enjoyed being a Columnist with Bradford Today where I contributed to the "Helpers" section.  This allowed me seek out, get to know, & recognize strong contributors in our community.

Across all of my work experiences, I have developed a strong appreciation for accountability, practical decision-making, and community-focused leadership.