John moved from Hamilton to Balsam Creek Ont. when he was five. He grew up at the Provincial Fish Hatchery which  was managed by his father. This environment established his interest in the outdoors at a young age and at that time his paintings depicted the animals that he saw in the forests of this isolated location.

    In late 1960 he developed an enthusiasm for Algonquin Park. When his son was 3 years old the family camped in the designated campgrounds along the Hwy. 60 corridor. By 1970 they started to take two week canoe trips into the interior. 

     Both John and his wife, Marie, took early retirement and moved to their log home in the Beaver Valley. John decided that the small log house that he had moved from Aris and reconstructed in the valley needed an addition. He bought logs from a demolished log barn near Owen Sound and had them moved to the valley The original house was squared timber so he proceeded to square the round barn logs with a broad axe and assemble the frame.  With the help of a friend, he dismantled the frame and moved the logs to the house and proceeded to complete the addition. 

       John renewed his interest in the Bruce Trail which was only minutes from the house. He took an active part working with the chainsaw crew removing dangerous trees on the Beaver Valley section of the Conservatory. For many years he and Marie enjoyed downhill skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, maintaining their gardens, and canoeing in Algonquin .

     By 2016 they felt that the time had come to move to an area with more amenities, less snow and better public transportation. They moved to a townhouse in Belleville which afforded John more free time. This gave him the opportunity to return to his painting. For over 50 years his passion for Algonquin Provincial Park never diminished and he never missed a year without a canoe trip, or two, into the interior. Now he is putting all those memories of his beloved park on Canvas.

      He continues to venture into the park with Marie, his son and daughter-in -law, his grandchildren , and his niece and nephew. 

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      John is a member of the Belleville Art Association and has taken part in the juried shows and has displayed his work in the club gallery. Also, in 2020 he had a very successful solo  show at the Friends of Algonquin Visitor Centre.

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      John also had an additional show at the Algonquin Visitor Centre from Nov. 4, 2023 to April 24, 2024.

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