Brief Bio:

This is where I have been, this is what  in large part has informed my life.  The sum of these experiences is what I bring to the writing I do today.

I am a published author and former broadcaster, writer, webmaster, community developer and innkeeper, with a colorful and wide ranging background and considerable experience in local/national radio and television, newspaper writing, live stage and video production.

Detailed Experience

Newspapers, Books:

*Columnist for Halifax Herald, “Living in the Promised Land.” (present)
*Founding editor of the Canning Gazette (which affected considerable positive change: see Acadia University study) for 10 years.
* Writer, column, St. Margaret’s Bay BayWatch Books written and sold through Oceanstone Press:
*Quest for the Magic Appletree , a tale of magic realism for children, in bookstores across the country
*Books written: Notes and Quotes for Boys and Girls *The Legacy of Leroy the Crow *Little Lloyd Paul Leaves Home *Mr. Flaherty’s Christmas Carol *Note in a Bottle

Writing, Production for Video, Radio, Stage, Television:

* Arlington Timber Frames Video. 7 minute video explaining Arlington’s work. Completed March, 2014.
* Announcer, CHER radio, Sydney. Did morning show, evening country show, concert remote broadcasts, news, wrote commercials, etc.
* The Vanishing Cape Breton Fiddler : writer, producer, narrator of radio program, writer, narrator for television program (national) credited with the establishment of the Cape Breton Traditional Music Industry. Subject of many honors.
*An Evening with the Cape Breton Fiddler, Savoy Theater Glace Bay Recorded and broadcast on national network of CBC. Writer, director, host.
*Land and Sea: Sable Island : Garden of the Atlantic: A different look at Sable Island with Peter Gzowski. Writer, researcher
*Gzowski and Company: I was the subject of national television program. Researched, wrote, consulted and was interviewee.
*Maritime Tel and Tel Hundredth Anniversary Film . Writer, director, narrator *International Gathering of the Clans Closing Ceremonies featuring the Barra MacNeils, hundred fiddlers, massed pipe bands, all taking part in a two thousand year history of the Celts. Writer, director, host.
*Laughter is the Best Medicine : 10 shows at the Cohn Auditorium in Halifax over a three year period featuring maritime medical personnel and staff of Dalhousie medical school and special guests. Writer, director.
*Metro United Way Opening Ceremonies at Halifax Metro Centre: Writer, director of stage show.
*Metro United Way Promotional Video : writer, director, narrator, photographer: winner Silver Award, Second prize in North America .
*Laughter is the Best Medicine : Televised version, ATV with Lloyd Robertson, John Crosbie, Red Green, cast of 100 plus, etc. Writer, director.
*An Evening with the Cape Breton Fiddler : The story of Gaelic culture in the new world, told with live music (100 fiddlers), song and pictures at Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax. Writer, Director, Host.
*Who are the Acadians? The story of the Acadian people in music and pictures, presented live at the Rebecca Cohn. 8 shows. 7 projectors. Writer, director, host.
*A Two Thousand Year History of the Celts, presented onstage in Mabou for Celtic Colours featuring 100 fiddlers as well as dancers, singers, images. Writer, director, host.

Community Development:

* Organizer of the Canning Christmas Celebration and community dinner. 4 years.
* Active with my wife, Carole, in founding of Appletree Landing Children’s Centre, fund raising fairs, promotional film, etc. 5 years.
* Organizer, builder of prize winning Canning Parade Float, and entry into parades in Kentville, Halifax, etc.
* Active in the encouragement of the Fieldwood Heritage Society (including historical presentations), Canning Library, Business Association etc.
* Member of the founding committee of the Canning Bandstand Building project.
* Overseer of design and construction of the Canning community welcome sign.

Hospitality Industry:

*Oceanstone Inn and Cottages : Co-founder/owner/manager with wife Carole of inn and cottages in Indian Harbour, N.S. for fifteen years until 2011.  Winner, Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia Crystal Award of Excellence. Built cottages, designed website, marketed, hosted, organized reception area, record keeping program, hospitality procedures, wrote books sold to guests, etc.

Administrative Work, Committees:

*Member , Nova Scotia Tourism Partnership Council (provincial government) (6 years) *Member , Celtic Colors Board of Directors  (5 years)
*Member, Nova Scotia Tourism Partnership Council (provincial government) Long Term Planning Committee (2 years) *Member , Nova Scotia Tourism Partnership Council Executive (2 years)
*Co-chair Nova Scotia TPC/Arts and Culture Partnership Committee (provincial government) (1 year)
*Member , St. Margaret’s Bay Regional Tourism Development Association (5 years)
*St. Margaret’s Bay Stewardship Association: Founding member. (2 years)
*Member Medical Education Committee, Dalhousie University Medical School (8 years) and examination coordinator for first and second year medicine.

Education Experience:

*St. FX Junior College, Sydney, NS: taught first year biology, one year. *Nova Scotia Schools: Substitute taught, two years, various grades
*Dalhousie University Medical School : Examination coordinator: marked exams for first and second year medical students, eight years. Co-author, “Coping with the Load,” a medical school study manual.
*Acadia University : Taught computer skills in Acadia Advantage program to profs, one year.

Other:

*Co-owner, Paradesign Parade Floats: Manufactured and ran parade floats in maritime parades. Winner many first prizes.
*Co-owner MacInnis Miniatures, a photography business selling through retail stores in Nova Scotia

Sampling of Invited Addresses:

*Nova Scotia Arts and Culture Council Awards Night: Guest Speaker, DeCoste Centre, Pictou , NS. Topic: Culture and Tourism
*Trust Your Path, Annapolis Royal. Topic: spirit, culture and social fabric.
*The Great Legacy Roadshow: Topic: who we are and where we are: an analysis of the social fabric of our times. Presented in Canning and Indian Harbour, N.S.
*Spirit, Culture and Tourism, Dublin Ireland Annual Tourism Division meeting, televised public address
*Spirit and the Internet : A.I.M Technology Conference Delta Barrington
*Return of the Cape Breton Fiddler: Invited address at Strathspey Place, Inverness, C.B.
*Living in our Times: Invited Address,  Wolfville Rotary Club