Roger is a historian, researcher and lecturer on Canada’s naval and maritime heritage, giving talks from St. John’s, NF to Esquimalt, BC. He has participated in several Royal Canadian Navy projects, including the 75th Anniversary of the Battle Of the Atlantic and Centenary of the Naval Reserve. Additionally Roger has provided voice narration for RCN Public Affairs videos.
Roger served in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve, working with cadets and his civilian career was a Paramedic for 37 years, where he was awarded the Exemplary Service Medal and Bar, Ontario Award for Paramedic Bravery and the Long Service Medal. Following his retirement from Paramedicine, the Canadian Coast Guard employed Roger under contract as their historian from 2019 to 2020.
As an author, Roger has several books published and has written for The Canadian Naval Review, Maritime Engineering Journal, Esprit De Corps Magazine and many other journals, periodicals, newspapers and webpages. Roger’s research has contributed to documentaries and several Canadian and International museums, providing information for exhibits and repatriating recovered historical artifacts.
The style of Roger’s writing reflects a story based approach to telling history. Through interviews and research he captures the experiences of our naval Veterans, incorporating their personal stories into the history. His unique approach to history brings the story to life, transporting the reader into the crew of the ship.
When Roger is on a lecture tour, he is often introduced as, “the storyteller, who can save your life.”