Listen to BlackburnNews.com’s Adelle Loiselle for Five Questions With Mark Vercouteren.
[audio wav="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/FIVE-QUESTIONS-WITH-MARK-VANCOUTEREN-GREEN-CK.wav"][/audio] --- Mark Vercouteren is a Green Party politician who has been working since 2011 to promote the Green Party because he says he wants a government that looks at the big picture.
He ran as The Green Party of Ontario Candidate for Kitchener-Centre in 2011, and in Essex in 2014. This time he is running in his hometown of Blenheim for The Green Party of Canada in the Chatham-Kent-Leamington riding. Mark has earned 2 bachelor degrees from the University of Waterloo for Math, and Physics. Has 6 years experience in the IT field, and over 10 years experience in customer service which also included retail, and food sectors.
Mark moved back to his home town of Blenheim after living in Kitchener for 13 years. Growing up at his family’s fruit stand, and greenhouse business taught Mark the value of healthy, local food at an early age. He is currently working towards opening a country market bakery in Blenheim.
Mark is also a first generation Canadian of hardworking Dutch immigrants. He has lived, and worked in several cities across Ontario working in IT. Mark lives with his wife of over 8 years. He is a practicing Roman Catholic, he enjoys reading, biking, listening to CBC podcasts, and blogging on Facebook. Mark values big picture thinking, local food, and local businesses since they are the real job creators. And he continues to strive to lead a greener self-sustainable lifestyle. --- Interesting riding facts:
- Riding was known as Kent-Essex in 1996, then Chatham-Kent-Essex in 1998 and now Chatham-Kent-Leamington
- Liberals secured the riding from 1997-2006, but Conservative Dave Van Kesteren has held the seat since then
- Riding includes Chatham-Kent south of the Thames River, Leamington and the Indian Reserve of Moravian 47
