About John Roston

Born and brought up in Montreal.

Lived mostly in Westmount, a western suburb, and attended Westmount High.

Attended McGill University, initially in Management.

Joined the McGill Film Society and was eventually elected President.

Despite receiving prizes for the highest marks in auditing, spent more time watching films than studying and was asked to leave.

Hired by McGill in the Instructional Communications Centre, the department responsible for the use of technology in teaching, initially to manage educational films and videos.

Became Director of the Instructional Communications Centre which expanded to produce interactive teaching materials and become McGill's graphic design centre.

Member of the founding Executive Committee of the McGill Schulich School of Music's Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology (CIRMMT).

Studied at McGill part-time, obtaining a B.A. in Film and Communications and an M.A. in Communications. Thesis on the portrayal of Japanese Canadians and Americans in films produced during World War II.

Principal author of the McGill Negotiation Simulator, a highly interactive aircraft sales negotiation.

Became Coordinator of the Ultra-Videoconferencing Research Group in CIRMMT.

Appointed an Adjunct Professor of Music Research upon retirement to continue research projects involving McGill and UBC until 2017.

Purchased a house in Steveston's Imperial Landing development in 2003. Took early retirement from McGill in 2007 and moved to Steveston.

Wife is a health professional.

Took up billiards and Mah Jong.

Worked for several years as a part-time clerk in the Canoe Pass Gallery, a native-owned First Nations art gallery on the Steveston waterfront, until it was sold.

Appointed to the Research Advisory Board of Canarie, an independent body funded by the federal government to manage Canada's next generation internet research network.

For a period, appointed as a City Council representative on the Richmond Museum Society Board of Directors. Subsequently elected Treasurer.

For a period, Block Captain in the Richmond BlockWatch program.

Founder and Coordinator of Plug-in Richmond, a group of electric vehicle drivers in Richmond offering information for drivers interested in switching to an electric vehicle as a primary or secondary vehicle.

Lobbied Richmond City Council to obtain a fair amenity contribution from Onni, in return for Imperial Landing rezoning, to be used for improving community services in Steveston.

Joined Richmond FarmWatch and have been a member of delegations to lobby Richmond City Council, BC Minister of Agriculture and Minister's ALC and ALR Advisory Committee to stop the construction of mega mansions on farmland.

Ran unsuccessfully for a seat on Richmond City Council in 2018 as an independent after a diverse group of Richmond residents started a petition to convince me to run.

Founder and Coordinator of the Richmond Rental Housing Advocacy Group which advocates for a dramatic increase in the construction of rental housing and other measures on housing affordability.

Ran unsuccessfully for Mayor in 2022 as the candidate of the RITE Richmond political party, obtaining 27% of the vote.