I am a doer by nature, a skilled contractor who loves to solve problems and above all, an ambitious visionary who isn’t afraid of thinking large and outside the box. I don’t get overwhelmed easily.
Outside of my commitment to my family, over the past decade I am most proud of the following accomplishments:
Restored and Repurposed a Commercial, Historical Building
In 2009 my wife and I purchased a large commercial building in downtown Bear River.
While structurally sound, it had no working heating system, a detritus-filled basement that flooded with every high tide, no potable water, and a roof that needed to be replaced. Some of these things I knew how to fix, others I did not but have since learned.
Over the years, our building, (lovingly called the Rebekah after its Elta Rebekah Lodge heritage) has provided incubator space for numerous other small businesses.
Built a Coffee Roasting Business with no Business or Manufacturing Background
Fifteen years later Sissiboo Coffee Roaster is a recognized provincial brand, locally employs 14 people year round, promotes the unique and expansive local artistic talent through our two art galleries in two cafés, regularly contributes to local causes and requests for donations, and consists of a very busy wholesale component that prioritizes distribution to other small businesses across Nova Scotia and beyond.
Played a Leading Role in Bringing Municipal Water Lines to Bear River
I recognized that the lack of municipal water in downtown Bear River was a sizable concern for the healthy operation of our community and needed to be fixed. “Not possible” was something I heard repeatedly but ultimately not as an answer I was willing to accept. For the past fifteen years I have firmly committed to understanding the political environment that has kept Bear River without water, I have become extremely knowledgeable about the volunteer run Hillsborough Water Society infrastructure and I know intimately how fragile volunteer systems can be. Although volunteers are an amazing aspect of civic life, there is a limit to the amount of work that they should be expected to perform alone.
Along with many other people and community organizations, I have been a vocal advocate for an implementation of a municipal water system that will allow for residential peace of mind and commercial success in our downtown core.
Finally, after years of lobbying every level of government, municipal water lines are being installed in downtown Bear River for the first time in history.
“I worked with Jon on the Bear River water project while I was the warden of the County, observed his abilities, and I support his candidacy.”
Alan Parish, Past Warden for Annapolis County
For updates, please see Jon 4 Council FACEBOOK page.
“Hi Jon, been following your campaign to be councillor across the bridge from me! You will make a great rep for the area and an asset to Anna Co! All the best!
Greg Turner, Fundy Erratics
