Richard McGuire

Parliamentary – 

Worked 10 years (1997-2007) on Parliament Hill for 3 MPs, David Kilgour, Murray Calder and Mark Holland. Served as Policy Advisor (Latin America) to Kilgour at Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT), later becoming Western Assistant. Managed 3 offices for Calder as Executive Assistant, also handling Legislative and Communications roles. Some casework while filling in at constituency offices. Briefly worked with Alberta MLA Hugh MacDonald (spring-summer 1997).

Communications – 

13 years newspaper journalism experience, including 7 years as publisher and 10 as editor. Freelanced on radio. Some TV experience. Handled media relations for Calder, wrote speeches for Kilgour, and produced written materials (householders and ten percenters) for both with original material. Drafted sensitive policy-related correspondence for both.

Computer Skills – 

22 years experience with personal computers, including 8 years as web publisher, and 8 years writing for a computer specialty publication. Skilled with all major software applications including word processing, databases, spreadsheets, graphics, desktop publishing, audio and video, web design, operating systems, etc. Some programming.

Languages – 

English is mother tongue, but also proficient in French and Spanish, with some knowledge of other languages (Portuguese, German, etc.). In House of Commons French language test obtained exemptions for oral and reading, and "C" for written (2002).

Administrative/Supervisory – 

Ran three offices for Murray Calder, supervising 3 to 5 employees at a time. Ran own successful business for 7 years with clients across Canada. Also supervised staff in previous jobs. Experience with hiring, firing and handling difficult employees. Managed budgets in MP’s office and in business. Accounting experience.

Education – 

Obtained Masters in Political Economy (Carleton - 1998), and credits equivalent to BA in Political Science (University of Alberta, Athabasca University, University of Waterloo and others - 1995). 3-year Journalism Diploma (Humber College - 1980).

Street Smarts – 

Lived and worked in different regions of Canada, urban and rural, including British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Northwest Territories. Travelled throughout Canada and around the world, often on a shoestring. Visited more than 50 countries of the world on 5 continents. Hitchhiked across the Sahara Desert, walked more than 700 km through remote villages in the Nepalese Himalayas, bicycled through Europe and India. Worked numerous short-term jobs ranging from underground in Yellowknife’s Giant Mine, on a CPR railway gang, restaurants, farm work, construction, market research, and enumerating a census on Vancouver’s skid row.

Executive Assistant to MP Mark Holland, Ajax-Pickering (Ontario).

Policy Advisor (Latin America) and Western Assistant to David Kilgour, Secretary of State (Latin America & Africa) and MP Edmonton Southeast.

Worked in constituency office of Hugh MacDonald, MLA, Edmonton Gold Bar in full-time, but temporary position handling casework and communications.

Established own Internet-based company, E-View New Media, providing information about Edmonton. Did web design for others, including City of Edmonton. Worked part-time (January to March) doing telephone surveys for Criterion Research, Edmonton.

Pursued university education, sometimes part-time while working and sometimes full-time. Graduated with MA in Political Economy (Carleton), after obtaining undergraduate credits equivalent to BA in Political Science, attending classes at University of Alberta, and obtaining additional credits by correspondence. Achieved excellent grades, mostly in A and A+ range.

Publisher, Editor and founder of INPUT, a newspaper about personal computing started from scratch with a $3,000 bank loan, that was fortunately timed to coincide with the explosion of personal computing. Sold advertising, supervised editorial content, and followed computer industry trends. Achieved circulation of 22,000 in first year. Sold the paper to another publisher in December 1991, but continued working for him until October 1992.

Editor, The Reporter, Stony Plain, Alberta. Contributed articles to other newspapers, and did some freelance work. Covered 1983 federal Conservative leadership convention for a number of Alberta and Ontario newspapers. Mostly wrote about municipal politics, but covered some provincial and federal.

Worked at several Ontario community newspapers as reporter and later editor. Papers were in Woodbridge, Parry Sound, and Alliston. Played major role in launch of Parry Sound Beacon on editorial side. Covered local politics, police and court. Freelanced on radio and print media.

Graduated with honours from three-year Journalism program at Humber College. Specialized in newspaper writing, but also trained in television, radio, and magazine journalism, promotional writing and photography.

Studied Spanish in intensive 7-week, one-on-one immersion program in Guatemala, living with local family (1993); volunteered teaching ESL to immigrants (1982-3); volunteered in 8 federal and provincial elections.

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