Jon has been a community organizer for over 20 years, working in both community and municipal space. He has a knack for identifying and building on the collective strengths of individuals and organizations in the creation of connected and powerful communities.

In his municipal role, Jon gave oversight to four community centres where he supported Neighbourhood Associations and community members to be active participants in the centres work resulting in the delivery of hundreds of programs and initiatives.

He has also worked with major funders in designing and implementing neighbourhood strategies across several communities resulting in the expansion of neighbourhood based jobs and grants that residents could access for events and other initiatives.

As a professor, Jon teaches students how to build on the strengths and assets present in a neighbourhood, and reminds them that community level change happens through neighbourly connections not hierarchies.

For Jon, strong communities are community driven.

• Invest in local leadership by supporting an increase in the number, support, and decision making power of Neighbourhood Associations.
• Say no to projects that our community is not properly consulted on.
• Resource, develop and pilot initiatives that positively impact the wellbeing of children, youth and their families.
• Utilize #OPENGOV best practices so residents will have complete, detailed, easy to find, access to all my expenses, spending, attendance and voting history.