MY STORY

Most of you know me as a teacher, but before I was a teacher, I had a couple of other careers.

Click on Each section below to learn more.

Growing Up On a Farm

+

I was brought up on a small hobby farm in Bruce County. We had goats, sheep, chickens, and horses, and of course a huge garden. The farm was my mom’s pasion, and she took pride in giving us meals that were completely produced from our farm. As a grade school and high school student I worked my summers on neighbouring farms. Growing up looking after animals and harvesting gave a sense of responsibility and a work ethic that have stayed with me and helped me with every future endeavour. It also gives me a better understanding of the needs of our farming community, which is an important and often overlooked component of Saugeen Shores.

Carpentry and Business

+

High school was a struggle for me. I was hyper active and dyslexic. They were not known conditions in those days, and I was treated as if I just didn’t try hard enough. I left school at 16 and apprenticed as a General Carpenter. I completed my apprenticeship when I was 20, and I moved to Alberta where work was plentiful. I worked out I worked as a carpenter for 20 years, most of as a self employed, including over 10 years running my own home building business.
I always felt a sense of duty growing up. While living in Alberta I taught woodworking at the Boys and Girls club of Edmonton, a fore shadowing of my future!

Service Abroad

+

In my mid twenties I volunteered in Gautamala for a few months. It inspired me to take Primary Healthcare for Developing Nations, at Pacific and Asian University in Hawaii. I did my internship in the Philipines. I also meet a young nurse named Jenny who is the same program. Before long, Jenny and were married and moved to Belize to work in healthcare. Our duties varied from working in the hospital, Jenny as a Nurse, and me as an Orderly, to doing mobile clinics in remote villages and refugee camps. Of course, I was also involved in many construction projects. It was difficult at times, we had few modern comforts, a simple one room house, no hot water and no electricity after 9 PM. But it was extremely rewarding to help people in need.

Halpin Brothers Construction

+

With our first child on the way, we moved back to Bruce County and I started a Carpentry business, first working by myself, then partnering with my brother. We formed Halpin Brothers Construction and for 10 years we built homes and other buildings in Chesley and the surrounding area.

Chesley Town Council & Arran Elderslie PUC

+

My dad was a school trustee for 12 years, and through that example, I ran for Chesley Town Council in 1994, where my portfolio included Public Works, Landfill, and Waste Water. Among my proudest achievements was being the lead councillor in establishing the Chesley Rail Trail System.
I also had one term as Chesley’s representative of the Arran Elderslie PUC (Public Utilities Commission), which manages the drinking water for Chesley and the electrical infrastructure for Chesley, Tara, and Paisley.

Back to School at 40

+

In 1999, I felt a need for a career change. I wrote my GED (Graduation Equvilancy Diplioma) as I had quit school at 16. Armed with my diploma, I applied for Teacher’s College and I was accepted into Alt House at the University of Western Ontario. So at 40 years old and with 4 kids, I went back in school. It was a tremendous sacrifice for my wife and kids, but the year flew by, and after graduation I was offered a job at Saugeen District Secondary School, (SDSS) were I worked for 22 years.

Education Became My Passion.

+

Education became my passion. My 22 year teaching career in Saugeen Shores, I had many opportunities to work with the Town and several community groups, including Rotary, Habitat for Humanity, the Rail Trail, Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation, Friends of MacGregor Park, and more. Under my leadership the students worked on our beaches, parks, and community spaces, allowing the students to make a positive impact on our community and environment.

While working with the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation, I became very interested in our unique environment in Saugeen Shores. I am passionate about our environment and continue to volunteer to improve it.
I am very proud of the offsite construction co-op program I developed. It allowed students to earn high school credits and apprenticeship hours at the same time, while working on construction projects outside of the school. This real world education model has produced more tradespeople than I can count.

Cottages, Business and Community

+

In 2004 I bought a cottage park in Port Elgin as a fixer upper project, and in 2006 I bought a second one. For over a decade we had a true family business running tourist cottages in the summer and outage workers the rest of the year. In 2012 my teenage son opened a Pita Shop in Port Elgin, and I worked with him extensively. He operated it for 2 years and sold the business. I know how hard it is to work in the tourist and restaurant business.

Saugeen Shores Council and Volunteering

+

I retired form teaching in 2022, and free from full time and self employed ventures, I ran for Councillor of Port Elgin Ward in the 2022 election. My council appointments included 4 years on the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authourity, 4 years on the Saugeen Rail Trail Association, 2 years on the Heritage committee, and sitting on the Environmental Ad Hoc Committee.
Teaching is my passion, and in retirement I started to volunteer teaching woodshop at Community Living in Port Elgin. I also joined the Board of Saugeen Sparks Training Centre, and I also teach Introductory Electrical night school for adults. I now have even more tradesman I have influenced.

The variety of experiences in my life make me a perfect candidate for Vice Deputy Mayor.

The variety of experience in my life, from working on a farm, running my own construction company, volunteering overseas, working in the tourist and restaurant business, two terms of council, a term on the PUC, and being a Construction Teacher, makes me a perfect candidate for Vice Deputy Mayor. I have an unique insight into the tourist industry and small business, an understanding of our farming community, which are important components of the Saugeen Shores economy. I have considerable knowledge of infrastructure, and a proven track record as a councillor. I am looking forward to what we can do together as your Vice Deputy Mayor.