Harry McGee is a retired businessman and a gardener, lecturer and writer. Born in historic Amherstburg, Ontario, he earned a science degree from UWO, then worked a few years in Ottawa as a research officer in applied physics. However he spent the next 36 years employed in a Montreal multinational engineering company moving over time from the laboratory into corporate administration. When he retired in 1988, he and his wife, Joyce, created Rosebank in London. It is a half acre of formal gardens that is home to roughly 400 roses of every type, as well as native trees, perennials, bulbs, and annuals. It has been visited by many tour groups over the years - an activity that is being scaled back now.

At a WSRS celebration held at Rosebank, marking the issuance of four rose stamps by Canada Post.

He is a member of several hort societies and a life member of the Wm. Saunders Rose Society, which he helped to establish, The Canadian Peony Society, and The Canadian Iris Society. He is the chief servant of National-Roses-Canada, which he helped to incorporate, and a member of the Royal National Rose Society of Britain.

He and his wife have travelled to every province of Canada observing their different growing conditions, and exploring their finest gardens. As well, they have visited some of the most celebrated gardens around the world, particularly the gardens of France. They have attended several world rose conferences, and he is a certified rose judge.

Soon after retirement, Harry McGee was asked to edit a ten page horticultural newsletter in London. He volunteered his time for five years. Then the Toronto based Canadian Rose Society invited him to edit gratis its Canadian Rosarian magazine beginning in Summer 1992. He gave that publication colour and its present design. Resigning in 1995 because of its intransigent publication policy, it wasn't long before he was coaxed to begin his own rose magazine. The Rosebank Letter became the embodiment of what he knew Canadians yearned for in a rose journal. It grew steadily and with the precious support of Canada's finest rose gardeners offering their writing, it became the glue for a rose family right across Canada.

That family ultimately blossomed into National-Roses-Canada which is a federation of independent rose societies in all five regions of the country. It is incorporated with by-laws that ensure each region has its own voice heard and respected with equal voting rights coast to coast. It has now become the publisher of The Rosebank Letter's successor magazine — Roses-Canada.

When Canadians were planning big millennium projects for 2000, Harry McGee invited his paternal great great grandfather's descendants to a Ceilidh in the historic town where it all began. People from across the continent came to the town park with picnic lunches — although most had never seen or heard of each other. Clearly a book was needed to give meaning to the 200 as they assembled. The book was called Son Of Fire.

The Rosebank Letter spawned two garden books: You Can Have Roses based on the author's experience in growing roses in Quebec and Ontario; and Garden Design based on his experience of exceptional gardens around the world.

Harry McGee was called in by an in-law to sort out some puzzling data coming in about his wife's family history. Having to recall studies done years before, he recognized that the facts revealed would make a significant contribution to the history of the Revolutionary War as experienced by loyalists ejected from their homes in the thirteen colonies. He told the stories of two families — all in one book called The Loyalist Crucible. It was published in 2002.

While visiting the U.K. in 2003, Harry McGee spent some time in the Cotswolds where his maternal grandfather's family originated. He investigated the prehistoric stone circle in the area and combined its history with his own genealogy for a new book entitled From Legend To Legacy. It was published in 2005.

He continues to edit Roses-Canadafor National-Roses-Canada. He delivered major lectures at Canada Blooms in 2002 and at the Montreal Botanical Gardens (in French and English) in 2003. However he has begun to scale down his lecturing, travel, and garden activities in deference to his years.

Harry and Joyce McGee celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2001 with many friends gathering on the big day at Rosebank. They have four grown kids and ten wonderful grandkids.

A garden tour two days before their 50th wedding anniversary.