John Cook

First Name: John
Last Name: Cook
Title: Chair

John Cook served with the Toronto Police Service for about three years after graduating from Seneca College’s Law Enforcement Program with high honours in 1976. He then held a variety of jobs in the private sector until joining the federal public service in 1987. Cook spent the majority of his 25-year government career with the Canada Border Services Agency, primarily in law enforcement. In 2003, he became a part-time instructor at Algonquin College, teaching the Police Report Writing course for students in the Police Foundation Program. Cook has also been involved in the Ottawa theatre community for the past 20-plus years, and is a member of the Playwrights Guild of Canada. A number of his plays have been produced by community and independent theatre companies in such venues as the Ottawa Fringe Festival, the Gladstone Theatre, and the Shenkman Arts Centre. In addition, Cook has written humour columns for newspapers and magazines. Cook says he became a member of the Program Advisory Committee “to help the future writers of Canada.” He believes the role of the committee is to ensure the program’s curriculum gives learners the skills and knowledge they need to pursue their personal goals and dreams.