This Is Marc

I settled in Oakville around 1995 to raise a family after spending time living in different countries, and in several cities across Canada, including a short time in Little Grand Rapids, a fly-in Northern Manitoba Reservation.

I was a stringer (freelance journalist, so I had to hustle to get my own stories) for a major daily newspaper; a copywriter for several advertising agencies in Vancouver and Winnipeg; communications specialist for the CBC; Creative Director for an Ottawa firm; and I have helped, written for and strategized with politicians from each of the major parties at one time or another, including such people as Sharon Carstairs (Liberal; now, a former member of the Senate of Canada) and Gary Filmon (Conservative; a former Premier of Manitoba).

I was first elected to Town Council in 2003.

As a trained cook, I ran the kitchen every weekend for four years at the Salvation Army Lighthouse Homeless Shelter before deciding to focus helping with the larger matter of poverty and food issues in Oakville. I currently volunteer my services where needed and can often be found at your local community barbecue or, on the occasional Friday, at the Legion 114, 36 Upper Middle Rd E, cooking Fish and Chips or Wings to support them.

I currently provide marketing consultation, while working as a freelance writer and script consultant (script doctor) for others; my more recent scripts were filmed for three episodes of a potential television show.  Also, you can find me most weekends at the movies, well, a movie theatre  – Film.ca, 171 Speers – where I help to manage staff and engage with other people who love film.

I like that the freelance nature of my many jobs allows me the flexibility to be more responsive to the needs of my constituents, any time of the day or night. Being a Town Councillor is often considered by some to be a side job – to me, this is my focus.

I currently live in the College Park community with my daughter and an ancient 21-year-old cat who is still teaching me the art of sleeping in weird positions and how to be comfortable in my own skin.