Some men are shaped by their circumstances. Others, like my father, Howard Melbert "Bert" Rouse, shape the world around them. His story is not just one of survival—it’s a testament to perseverance, resourcefulness, and an unshakable belief that no challenge is too great.
He didn’t just live through adversity. He built a life that was full—full of hard work, full of family, and full of resilience that few can ever match.
And that’s the foundation on which I’ve built my business, Rouse Roofing.
The Moment That Changed Everything
On May 17, 1930, my father was just seven years old when an innocent moment of childhood curiosity altered the course of his life forever.
That day, he climbed onto the roof of the Sauble Falls Light & Power building in Wiarton, Ontario—a thrilling adventure for a young boy. But in a single moment, his hands grasped a high-voltage wire carrying 6,600 volts of electricity.
The shock was so powerful that his hands were burned to the bone. His older brother Gordon heard his screams and rushed onto the roof to his aid. Strangely, when Gordon grabbed hold of Bert to help him, he was not electrocuted—likely because they were both wearing rubber-soled shoes, a fact that may have saved Bert’s life.
Bert was rushed to Owen Sound General and Marine Hospital, where doctors fought to save him. At first, they removed his right arm just below the shoulder, hoping to salvage the left one. But the damage was too great, and a week later, they were forced to remove his left arm entirely at the shoulder joint.
The newspapers reported little hope for his survival. But they didn’t know Bert.
Refusing to Be Defined by Disability
The world expected my father to be dependent on others for the rest of his life. Instead, he decided to prove them all wrong.
By the time he was nine years old, he had already figured out how to write using his feet. But when he started school, he quickly realized that writing with his toes wasn’t practical in a classroom setting. So, he adapted.
He taught himself to hold a pencil in his teeth and write that way instead. His teachers quickly realized that his writing—though done in an entirely unconventional way—was better than most students who had full use of their hands.
At eleven years old, he entered a handwriting competition at the Fall Fair—and won first place.
But writing was just the beginning.
He taught himself to ride a bicycle, tying a rope to the handlebars and steering with his shoulders.
He umpired baseball games.
He played football with friends.
He went fishing, holding the rod between his chin and neck.
He used a jigsaw, holding it between his chin and shoulder, cutting wood with precision.
He painted using a brush held in his teeth.
And incredibly—he learned to drive a car, steering with his feet.
Yes, my father could drive. He used his feet for everything, from steering to shifting gears. He refused to accept limitations, and he found ways to conquer challenges most people with two hands wouldn’t even attempt.
This wasn’t just survival. This was Bert Rouse refusing to be anything but independent.
One of his greatest sources of inspiration came from a book by W.R. Watson, a Canadian businessman who had also lost both arms. Watson sent my father a copy of his book, which became a guiding force in his life.
From then on, my father lived by a simple but powerful motto:
“They can who think they can.”
And he never let anyone convince him otherwise.
Building a Life, Building a Family
By the time he was in his twenties, my father had done what most thought impossible—he had built a fully independent life.
In 1943, he married my mother, Alice Isabelle Jean Farrow, and together they raised eleven children—nine boys and two girls.
While most people might have expected him to settle into a quiet, low-risk life, he did the exact opposite.
He built a career that included running a cattle ranch at Cape Chin, working in the logging industry, and later operating a riding stable at Sauble Beach with my brother. He was known as a shrewd trader in the horse business, able to make deals that kept his businesses running strong.
Hard Work Was Never an Option—It Was a Way of Life
Life wasn’t always easy.
When my grandfather passed away in 1951, my father had to take a horse into the bush and skid logs for $1.50 a day just to keep the family afloat.
Even after the Disabled Person’s Act passed in 1952, giving him a small pension, he never relied on it to make a living.
Instead, he:
Hoed the garden and dug with a shovel, bracing it between his chin and shoulder.
Pitched hay, using the same technique.
Handled a mean fishing rod and hunted with hounds.
And he never let life’s unpredictability shake him—except for one day.
The Only Day He Feared: May 17th
May 17th, the anniversary of his accident, became a day he refused to take chances.
Two years after his accident, his sister’s house burned down on the exact same date.
Years later, on May 17th, he suffered his only other major injury—a saw ripped through his leg, requiring 13 stitches.
From then on, he made a rule:
“On the 17th of May each year, I hibernate.”
The Lessons That Shaped Me as a Man and Business Owner
Growing up, I never saw my father as disabled. He was the strongest, most capable man I knew. He didn’t make excuses, and he didn’t let anyone else make them either.
He taught me that hard work is everything. He showed me that problems are just opportunities to find solutions. And most of all, he proved that your mindset—not your circumstances—determines your success.
When I started Rouse Roofing, I carried those lessons with me.
We don’t cut corners.
We don’t shy away from hard work.
We treat every job like it’s the most important one.
Because to me, roofing isn’t just about installing shingles. It’s about making sure families feel safe in their homes—just like my father made sure his family was always taken care of.
A Legacy That Lives On
My father, Bert Rouse, passed away in the year 2000, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, hard work, and determination that continues to inspire.
In 2016, my mother, Alice Rouse, passed away. She was not just his life partner—she was the backbone of our family, standing beside him through every challenge and ensuring that our home was filled with love and strength.
Every time I step onto a job site, I think about them both.
Every time I face a challenge, I remember my father’s words:
“They can who think they can.”
And every time a customer asks why they should trust Rouse Roofing, I know the answer is simple:
Because we build roofs with the same integrity, work ethic, and relentless dedication that my father carried in every step of his life.
That’s his legacy - and I carry it forward every single day.
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