John McRogers teaches Special Education at Dr. Denison High School. Over his career, he has taken countless students no-trace camping, canoeing, biking, dog sledding and winter camping.  Beyond teaching duties, he coaches fall, winter and spring sports, supports the eco-ethical group, organizes the White Ribbon campaign, plays staff-student hockey, and helps tend the memorial gardens.  Last year, his science class created the “Husky” garden; thanks to xeriscaping, it flourished in our dry summer.

John has been living in Newmarket since 1991. As a family of five, the McRogers participate in as many community charity runs as their legs will allow. John has never missed one of the 27 Terry Fox Runs, and his family continues the tradition. One year they raised enough money to “draft” an athlete and send him to the provincial Special Olympics. They also sponsor a child in Bangladesh and another in Ecuador. John likes the credo: One hand to help yourself, the other to help others.

John’s energy and green ideas have spilled over into the community. He was one of the founding members of the York Region Environmental Alliance (YREA). He organizes the annual Haskett Park clean-up, and in 1995, he brought neighbours, town council and business together to create an arboretum. He was recognized with a Mayoral plaque and was nominated for a LSCA land conservation award.

John’s decision to enter the political arena stems from the natural marriage between his personal beliefs and practices, and those proposed by the Green Party. As a father, teacher and biologist, he knows why clean energy, engaged youth and healthy communities are worth standing up for.