Bios
Jonathan McLeod is a libertarian-ish writer living in Ottawa, Ontario. Although, at times, he may seem more interested in pop culture references and rhetorical flourishes, he will, eventually, comment on substantive issues of political philosophy. Currently, he covers Civil Rights for Examiner.com. He can also be read at ThePolitic.com.
Adnan Gilani has been involved in civic affairs for many years, especially with the Canada Pakistan Association. Adnan’s interests are primarily focused on Middle Eastern and South Asian affairs; he has published several pieces in national newspapers in the hopes of providing factual information, based on contextual realities. The following is taken from a peerless savant who defines the impetus for Adnan’s passion to illuminate the darkest of corners: “Where is the justice of political power if it executes the murderer and jails the plunderer, and then itself marches upon neighbouring lands, killing thousands and pillaging the very hills?”
Arnold Kwok comments on politics from his home in Scarborough, Ontario, and is keen to relate global affairs to the local Canadian context. Current interests include Ottawa and Toronto, G20 countries, religions and secularism, and health care and education.
Jeremie Finck was raised in Nova Scotia but is a citizen of both Canada and the US. He currently resides in Minnesota, which is the most Canadian of the American states. He’s gay, happily married, neoliberal and a Monarchist with an interest in American-Canadian issues. Everyone is entitled to his opinion. Jeremie feels that everyone is entitled to Jeremie’s opinion.
Kate Chappell is a journalist and commentator on politics and business, and is especially interested in how the rapidly evolving information network is shaping the world we live in. She is based in Boston, was born in Sydney, Australia, and has lived in New Delhi, India, Washington D.C. and Ottawa, Canada. Her work has appeared in many publications, including the Ottawa Business Journal, the Ottawa Citizen and iRun Magazine. She holds an Honours BA in Political Science from Carleton University and a Master’s degree in Political Theory from Boston College. She recently completed a Master’s Thesis on the work of Hannah Arendt.
Kevin Freitas is a first generation Canadian, born and raised in the National Capital Region. He writes about his first love, football, as an escape from the doldrums of being a public servant employed by Health Canada. While his political views are wide ranging, his opinions on all things football are rigid and unwavering. You can visit his personal blog at irishfacemask.ca.
Max Fawcett is an Edmonton-based journalist and the managing editor of Alberta Venture Magazine. His work has been published in the Globe and Mail, the National Post, the Vancouver Sun, the Toronto Star, THIS Magazine, and Corporate Knights Magazine. He also served as the editor of the Chetwynd Echo, the community newspaper serving the small northern community of Chetwynd, British Columbia, and is a past editor of Dooneyscafe.com. He can also be read at MaxFawcett.com.
Michael Hammond is a well-travelled freelance journalist and broadcaster. He has worked for newspapers in Ottawa, Kitchener-Waterloo and Peterborough, covering everything from city hall to technology. Michael was also Business Editor at CFRA 580 AM in the early 2000s and host of Business@Night. He is a published author. His first novel, Redemption Song, was published by Baico in 2006.
Nick Taylor-Vaisey is a transplanted Scarborian who has spent seven years watching politics in the nation’s capital. He studied political science in university, and he’s now a freelance journalist who writes about federal politics and higher education more than anything else. He claims bylines in a number of serious publications, including the Globe and Mail and the Ottawa Citizen, and he’s an associate editor at This Magazine. You can read more about Nick at his personal website: nicktv.ca.
Patrick Baud is a bilingual Kingstonian at heart who usually calls Toronto home, but is currently migrating eastward first to Ottawa, and this autumn, to Quebec City. He writes mostly on Canadian and Ontario politics with the occasional forays into constitutional law and democratic theory. Politically, he is a fiercely independent, progressive moderate. He also blogs at publicgoods.wordpress.com.
Richard Albert offers non-partisan commentary on Canadian politics and public institutions. Richard is a proud Canadian, a native of Quebec, a constitutional law professor, and the world’s foremost connoisseur of dried fruit. Learn more about Richard at his personal website.
Scott Payne has been involved in politics and political activism in some fashion for the past decade. Scott started blogging approximately two and a half years ago as his latest contribution to a politics and political discourse of substance and has been hooked ever since. Scott also writes at The League of Ordinary Gentlemen where he is a contributor and founding member, at Beams and Struts about a post-postmodern politics, and at the Washington Examiner’s Opinion Zone. You can follow Scott on Twitter at: twitter.com/scotthpayne.
Tarek Virani holds a Bachelor’s degree (Honours) in Geography, a Master’s degree in Urban Economy and Culture and a PhD in Human Geography/Cultural and Creative Industries. After finishing his undergraduate degree in Ottawa, Canada, he worked as a research associate at the University of Ottawa. He moved to the UK in 2005/06 to pursue a Master’s degree in Urban Economy and Culture at the University of Southampton. Following this, he obtained a PhD from King’s College London under the supervision of Professor Andy Pratt. He has spoken at a number of conferences and continues to publish. His research interests include: the role of knowledge in the cultural economy, artistic knowledge within locally bounded artistic communities, musical education, urban rhythms and urban affordances, socio-political rhythms in urban neighbourhoods, working historical geographies of cities, and foreign policy implications of perpetual conflicts in the developing world. He has consulted on the cultural industries for various organizations in London as well as taught at the Department of Geography at the LSE. He is also a music producer and DJ that performs on a regular basis in various spots around east London.
Tim McNair is Chairman of the Canadian Council for Democracy.