This is the first in a series of interviews with Rotarians who became members of the Rotary Club of
Brampton during the 2004/2005 Rotary year.
Rotarian Dale Flannigan
Introduced by Rotarian Norm Bindon
Editor: Dale has been attending the Club for over a year. We met him when he started driving Fernanda, our Exchange Student from Brazil, from her home in Mississauga to North Park Secondary School. Dale was also drafted by the Youth Exchange Committee and has assisted the Committee for several months. Personal commitments delayed his induction into our Club. Editor: Welcome Dale, we are very pleased to finally have you with us as a member of our Club. Tell us a bit about your self.
Rotarian Dale: I am a teacher. I've been teaching for 25 years. I'm presently the head of the Arts Department at North Park Secondary School in Brampton. I started teaching at the Prison for Women in Kingston and from there I spent 6 years in the wilds of northern B.C. working with mostly native students. I returned to Ontario in 1986 where I settled in Streetsville.
Editor: Tell us about your family
Dale: I am married, we met at Western when she did my makeup, for a play. My wife Renee Laba is the lead ESL teacher at Streetsville Secondary School, where the Zonta club she founded has just received the Emma L. Conlon Service Award for the best Z Club in the world. My daughter is presently enrolled at Seneca College in the Fire Prevention Engineering program, after which she hopes to pursue a career as a Fire Fighter.
Editor: What about hobbies and activities? Please explain the Chernobyl connection.
Dale: My family has been actively involved with two charity groups that sponsor and bring to Canada children whose homes were evacuated and the families were uprooted and relocated. These children come to us with next to nothing and we are their Canadian families for upwards of 12 weeks in the summer. When they leave we send them home with clothes for the entire family as well as medical and school supplies. My wife went over 3 years ago to visit all the children we have sponsored as well as the orphanages some of the children come from.
As for other activities and hobbies, I am a wood carver, graphic designer, children's book illustrator and I've even performed Stand Up at Yuk Yuk's.
Editor: And now perhaps the most important question of all. Why Rotary? Why did you choose to add Rotary to your already busy and productive life?
Dale: I have always enjoyed helping and getting involved with people. The warm welcome I received from the Brampton club while driving Fernanda last year made my decision very easy. Even more so when I discovered the scope of the programs your club sponsors that revolve around children. I have always enjoyed working with kids and helping them discover their potential. With the help of Rotary I know I can do more.
Editor: Welcome Dale. Welcome to the Rotary Club of Brampton.
