Shane Jolley was born and raised on the shores of Georgian Bay in Meaford, Ont., and has spent most of his life in the Saugeen region. He and his wife Dianne are parents to three beautiful girls, and together they own and operate a bicycle and clothing store in Owen Sound, called Jolley’s Alternative Wheels. The clothing line, called Uncommon Thread, features organic and sweatshop-free clothing. True to their green spirit, the Jolleys insist that all their products be manufactured under equitable conditions, and they have used the business to encourage healthy living in their community by promoting cycling, bike trails, and a bicycle friendly city.

Shane is the moderator of the Local-Motive Policy Project, an online policy development tool designed to help citizens become more engaged in municipal and regional government. Formerly the vice-chair of the Owen Sound Downtown Improvement Area (DIA), he remains actively involved in several community initiatives, serving as a member of the Owen Sound Economic Development Committee, and as a board member of the Tom Thomson Trail Group. He is also the chairperson of Vision for Transportation Alternatives, a group of citizens promoting sustainable transportation in Bruce and Grey counties.

In the 2006 federal election, Shane garnered an impressive 12.9% of the vote — the highest percentage of votes of any Green Party candidate in Canada.