About Me

I'm Jeremy.  

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I'm 41.  

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I've been married for thirteen years; and have two girls, a boy, and a golden retriever named Duncan.

 

Two of my kids attend Mountsfield PS, where I served as VP and President of Home and School for six years, changing every two years as per bylaws.  I also spent a year as the School Council Chair.  

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My eldest attends Tecumseh PS.  

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My wife, Joy, is a rockstar front-line healthcare worker.  

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I'm 6'9".  

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Yes I used to play basketball.  Yes I can still dunk.  I played Division 1 basketball in North Carolina, before returning to Western University to play with my closest friends and finish my degree.  I am the first male in my family to ever graduate from university.  

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I had a tough childhood, growing up in 13 different homes, escaping abuse and domestic violence, and eventually being raised by a single parent on disability.  This is a big reason why parenting, community, helping the less fortunate, being responsible with money and protecting the vulnerable are SO important to me.   I've volunteered for and financially supported local shelters and Intimate Partner Violence against women initiatives for 15 years because I used to run to them often in the middle of the night as a child.  They help and are needed.

I had a goal of being a professional athlete.  I had contract offers.  I also had seven operations on the same knee and was told I would never run again and to give up sports and high-impact physical activity in my 20's.  

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I had two paths I could choose. I could be angry at the world for the hand I was dealt or leave the most positive mark possible on this world and be better than my circumstances.  I chose the second one and I prefer it every day.

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When I'm not living a life full of love, laughter, and too much grey/white hair for my age with my wife and three young kids, I always try to give back and do and be better.

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I've spent the past sixteen years working in healthcare and social services, supporting people living with mental health issues, chronic illness, and those navigating the plight of trying to make it in this world when facing barriers related to disability.  I've supported and supervised up to 88 patients at a time in inpatient mental health, managed over 2,000 files in an area spanning from Windsor to Owen Sound for people with epilepsy, and organized sixteen fundraisers in one weekend for Parkinson's.   Currently, I run a program that helps youth under 30 with physical and mental disabilities in maximizing their life potential through education, employment, and community involvement.  

 

I'm energetic, optimistic, engaged, and confident enough to tackle enormous ideas and succeed.  I can work with people from all walks of life for the common goal of doing better.

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In my limited free time, I co-founded, ran for ten years, and now am the Past President of Dad Club London, a registered non-profit comprised of 1,400 member dads from across my region.  We offer support, education, advocacy, and connecting services for dads and their kids to create better dads, a stronger community, and a brighter future for our children.  

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Since 2013, we have hosted over 550 events attended by over 10 thousand dads and kids and raised over $200,000 for charity and people in need.  

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None of us are paid for our time and receive no public or sustained funding for our efforts.  All that direct benefit to London cost the taxpayer nothing.

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In addition to my time with Dad Club London, I have extensively volunteered in other areas. 

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I have been a front-line and fundraising volunteer at Anova/Women's Community House on and off since 2008, helping in areas including child minding, kitchen support, donation pick-ups and deliveries, and organizing the famous and successful Walk A Mile In Her Shoes fundraiser. 

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I was formerly a Big Brother with Big Brothers Big Sisters of London and Area. 

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I have coached basketball, both in team leadership and individual skill development, off and on for twenty-five years.  

I have been on the London Public Library Board of Directors since Fall 2018 and have served as the Chair and Vice-Chair.   I have also served on the CEO Evaluation, Finance, and Governance Subcommittees. 

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While employed as the Client Services Manager at Epilepsy Southwestern Ontario, I served on both LDCSB and TVDSB Special Education Advisory Committees, the City of London-led Child and Youth Network, the All Kids In Camp Committee, which arranged free accessibility training for all camp counsellors in London, helped organize and served on the Brain Health Network and started and led the first-ever support group for adults living with Epilepsy and their caregivers. 

 

Currently, I sit on the regional Job Developers Network, internal Wellness and Marketing Committees, and the Southwestern Ontario Hotel Restaurant and Motel Association board as a Member-At-Large.  I am also the Secretary-Treasurer for the Forest City chapter of Business Networking International, a member of the London Executive Association, the City Hall Chapter of Toastmasters International, and the Old South Business Association.

I am a former member of the Oakridge Optimist Club and a former volunteer organizer of the Parkinson Superwalk.

 

I'm an ally of the LGBTQ community, having marched in the Pride London Parade for five years and donating our float fee in the years that there was no parade.  My family sponsored the first-ever Wortley Pride in the Summer of 2022, as did Dad Club London.

 

I'm committed to anti-racism and anti-oppression, and this video on YouTube will show that statement to be more than words.   

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In 2019, I was awarded MPP Peggy Sattler's Residents of Distinction Award; in 2021, I was Mayor Ed Holder's Humanitarian of the Year.

I am often asked to appear in local round-table media discussions on various topics on local podcasts. 

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You can read more about this and more on my media page.

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When I'm not trying to make the world a better place for everyone or spending time with my family, I enjoy fitness, food, reading, coffee, scotch, writing, and movies.​

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When people who know me describe me, they often use the words "kind", "friendly", "selfless", "resilient", "energetic", "creative", "curious", "tough", and "relentless".

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Thanks for following my journey.  Please reach out if I can help you with yours in any way.  

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