Author: Laurel L. Russwurm

is a self publishing novelist and photographer.

Meet The Nominees #KitCen

Candidate Nominee Mike Morrice in conversation at the WRGreens PreNomination Social

Mike Morrice grew up on the west island of Montreal as the middle brother of three boys. His family moved to Newmarket Ontario in 1997, and in 2003 he went on to study at Wilfrid Laurier University, completing a double degree in business and computer electronics. Mike was quickly hooked by the entrepreneurial spirit of Waterloo Region.

After reading a book called Ishmael, his eyes were opened to how recently we have begun living at odds with the rest of the living world. Mike was inspired to bring together his business training with his desire to see more decisive action on the climate crisis, and so he got to work.

Mike has spent the 10 years since working with hundreds of business to accelerate the shift to a green economy.

In 2008 while studying at Laurier, Mike founded Sustainable Waterloo Region (SWR) and piloted Canada’s first Green Economy Hub. Within five years, the Hub had engaged companies employing 14% of Waterloo Region’s workforce, all committed to setting and achieving voluntary climate goals. Mike also spearheaded the creation of ClimateActionWR, a collaborative effort that secured unanimous support from Regional & City Councils for our community’s first-ever climate target (a 6% reduction by 2020, since raised to 80% by 2050), and initiated what is now evolv1, Canada’s first net-positive energy multi-tenant building.

In response to global interest in replicating Green Economy Hubs, Mike founded Green Economy Canada in 2013 and led the award-winning organization until late last year. Today there are 7 Green Economy Hubs across Ontario supporting over 250 organizations lowering their impact and increasing their profitability.

Mike was named Young Alumni of the Year by Laurier (2011), Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the KW Chamber of Commerce (2012), won a Special Citation for Social Entrepreneurship by EY Canada (2018), and has been an Ashoka Fellow since 2012.

Mike describes his journey starting Sustainable Waterloo Region in a TEDx talk on his website. You can also follow the campaign on Facebook, check out his online resume, LinkedIn profile, and Twitter profile.

Meet The Nominees #KitCen

Bob Jonkman, Candidate Nominee with his son Willem
Candidate Nominee Bob Jonkman poses with his son at the WRGreens PreNomination Social

Bob Jonkman has championed Proportional Representation since he
volunteered for Fair Vote Canada in the 2007 referendum. As an Executive
Member of the very active Fair Vote Waterloo Region Chapter, Bob came to
believe electoral reform could best be accomplished by entering
politics. He ran for office federally in 2015 and provincially in 2018
as the Green Party candidate in Kitchener—Conestoga.

Working with local social justice organizations has helped foster Bob’s
commitment to achieving the goals of equity and inclusion. His community
service includes work with the WRNonviolence Day In The Park, KWPeace,
and as an active member of the Social Development Council of Waterloo
Region. Bob has volunteered with the PTA, worked to save Victoria Glen
Park from development, fought the placement of a biogas mega plant in
downtown Elmira, and served on the Elmira BioFuel Citizens’ Committee.
In his spare time Bob enjoys participating at CKMS-FM, the local
community radio station where he is on the Board of Directors.

Bob’s digital community service includes organizing and giving
presentations at computer user group meetings. As a long time member of
the Free Software community, Bob encourages the use of software that
respects computer users’ freedom. He’s a strong advocate for transparent
government and freely available Open Data in government and business,
balanced with protection of personal privacy through cryptography and
safe online practices.

Professionally, Bob is a small business owner providing computer
consulting, technical support and training to large and small Ontario
businesses.

Born in the Netherlands and raised in Burlington, Ontario, Bob and
Laurel chose to move to Elmira to raise their son twenty years ago.

Bob’s commitment to the Green Party is rooted in shared values that have
inspired his work to enact positive change for a stronger democracy and
a sustainable future.

More about Bob

Follow Bob:

email: bob.jonkman@greenparty.ca