Cristal Crimi    September 26 2011 Metroland

From rags to riches, a local man shares his story

DURHAM — The Simcoe Street historic building that Channel 12 sits in today has a story not too unlike that of its present owner, Dan Carter. The historic building started off with a life full of promise, only to fall into a state of disrepair, before receiving a second chance to serve a cause that may never have seemed imaginable.

The same can almost be said about Mr. Carter, the man responsible for bringing the downtown building back to life and earning this year’s Business Person of the Year title from the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce.

“He’s just a committed individual to his community,” said Bob Malcolmson, CEO and general manager of the chamber. From being lucky enough to be adopted by the Carter family when he was just a baby, Mr. Carter grew up struggling with learning disabilities, the shame of being secretly raped by a stranger, and the death of his brother. At age 13, his life began a downward spiral of drug and alcohol abuse which would take him into his early 30s, and see him living on the streets of Toronto in 1991 — sleeping on park benches and underneath bridges.

But, as he recently sat in a suit and tie, sipping a cup of coffee and looking out the wall-size window front of his Simcoe Street studio, he was nothing but grateful for the life and chances he has received.

“This year’s been a pretty spectacular year for me,” Mr. Carter said, sitting on a couch in the Simcoe Street building he has put about $1 million into.

Mr. Carter started in the television world after getting cleaned up at a rehab centre in L.A., thanks to the support of his sister, who would later take her own life.

An aspiring, but “horrible” actor, Mr. Carter was encouraged by a friend to embrace his ability to speak to anyone and pursue a career in television news. He got an internship at CTV doing menial jobs, and it was there that the suggestion was made for him to make a pitch to Rogers, which he did. He found himself in a $75-a-day job with Rogers doing the Dan Carter show. While there, he made use of another piece of advice he received from CTV — to make himself as visible as possible in the community. He began making a name for himself by speaking at, attending and being the master of ceremony for events whenever he was invited.
In 1999, Mr. Carter started with Channel 12. He was told they had no money, a 150-square-foot space at Wilson Road and Wentworth Streets that was “horrid”, but would pay him a portion of their revenue share.

“I think I made $8,000 that first year,” he said, adding the support of his wife allowed him to take that financial risk.
What the opportunity gave him was the chance to do his own commercial programming.

Then, about 16 months ago, Channel 12 said it was looking to change how it does television and asked him how serious he was about working with them. He shared his visions for the company, Oshawa’s downtown, and what he was willing to do to make it happen. He made the gesture to provide the current space for Channel 12 and in doing so, be its exclusive production company locally. His long-term vision includes creating an eastern Ontario news network.

He chose the current location because of its central location in the region, along with its visibility to those passing.
“I knew that this particular building was a good investment for me,” he said, adding the owners wanted to unload the building and it needed lots of tender loving care, allowing him to pick it up at a good market price.

It also allowed him to have credibility when he’s talking about the importance of revitalization and leadership. He speculated that Oshawa has big things coming in the next 10 years.

“It’s not about what makes me money,” he said. “I always say to people do what you believe and the economics will follow.”
Some of his next plans include getting more artists working on the sidewalks and free concerts in downtown Oshawa. Attracting more people to the downtown will help attract more customers and, in turn, advertisers, he added.
“People investing in downtown, the time is now,” he added. “Because by 2015, you won’t be able to afford to.”
But news is only part of his business. Mr. Carter is also a public speaker, travelling all over Canada and speaking professionally about leadership and mental health and addiction. He aims to reduce the number of suicides which occur each day — such as the day his sister took her life.

He gives back to the community as well, through initiatives such as The Hope Centre of Learning, which he and his wife put $250,000 of their own into and raised money for, the Isobel Carter Youth Fund in honour of his mother, and a $20 challenge which has raised thousands to help charities and the personal mission of people through Durham.

“And he’s always giving of his time,” Mr. Malcolmson said.

Mr. Carter said it’s nice the Chamber has recognized his team’s commitment and vision and all the work that has been done.
“I don’t look at this as a Dan Carter moment, I look at it as a team moment,” he said.

May 25, 2011

Dr. Edward Broadbent, Mr. Daniel Carter and Dr. Doris Grinspun to receive honorary degrees

OSHAWA, ON. - The University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) will confer close to 1,200 undergraduate and graduate degrees during the 2011 convocation ceremonies on Friday, June 3. This will be a historic event for the university as it will be the first time PhD graduates will cross the stage.

Faculty and staff from UOIT will be joined by graduates’ families and friends, and community members for the ceremonies, which will also include the presentation of honorary doctorate degrees to health-care advocate Dr. Doris Grinspun, former national political party leader and political scientist Dr. Edward Broadbent, and community leader and broadcast journalist Mr. Daniel Carter for their outstanding contributions and commitment to their professions and communities.

“Congratulations to the class of 2011 and our honorary degree recipients,” said Dr. Ronald Bordessa, president, UOIT. “Convocation is a day to celebrate and recognize our graduates for their hard work and dedication. I look forward to celebrating this milestone with our future leaders and to being inspired as they will be by our honorary degree recipients.”

Dr. Doris Grinspun is internationally recognized as a visionary, advocate and tireless champion for the development of a sustainable health-care system and for the health of Ontarians. She is credited for having transformed nursing and health-care policy and practice within the province and beyond to support a stable and effective approach to health human resource planning. Dr. Grinspun also transformed nursing and health-care practice at the bedside with the introduction of best practice guidelines, which are now considered across the globe as the model for bringing evidenced-based research to the point of care.

One of Canada’s most distinguished politicians and political scientists, Dr. Edward Broadbent has deep roots in Oshawa, Ontario. He began his political career in 1968 representing the then-riding of Oshawa-Whitby in the House of Commons and subsequently led the New Democratic Party from 1975 to 1989. Dr. Broadbent is known for his hard work to entrench Aboriginal and women’s rights in Canada’s new Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Dr. Broadbent is also recognized for having initiated the all-party resolution for the elimination of child poverty in 1989, which consequently defined the agenda for the House of Commons in the ensuing decades.

Mr. Daniel Carter has played a significant role in the Durham Region as a supporter, leader and community champion for better education and better opportunities for all. Emerging from a background of immense personal challenge and tragedy, he has become an inspiration and role model to individuals throughout Ontario motivating them to achieve their full potential and to lend a hand to their fellow citizens. Mr. Carter’s deep commitment to making a difference to those in need has led to the establishment of a number of community initiatives, including the Hope Centre for Learning at the Oshawa Community Health Centre, the annual Day of Hope and Leadership which has become a signature event for local community leaders, and the Isobel Carter Youth Fund, which provides educational bursaries for youth in the Region. Most recently, he opened the Carter Centre for Media and Cultural Studies in a refurbished Simcoe Street building in downtown Oshawa, Ontario.

by APRIL CULLEN

In late December, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dan Carter of Dan Carter Productions (CHEX TV Durham), to get his take on the developments in Oshawa’s downtown core, his thoughts about the future, and his plans for the new location of his studio in the heart of downtown.

The organization moved into the new studio and offices in September, 2010. Located on Simcoe Street, steps north of the four corners, the new location seems like a risky venture to the casual observer. Many people still view the downtown as a less desirable place to do business, despite the efforts of the GM Centre, local merchants, and the UOIT commitment to establishing a presence there. Not so, according to Dan, who explains that the relocation has been not only a great business decision but a real boost to morale for the staff who work there, and a welcome store front addition to the developing buzz in the creative community happening in the downtown these days.

Dan brings a new way of thinking that is refreshing. He believes strongly that the opportunities to develop the downtown community are endless, and just waiting to be uncovered. On the business end, Dan states that this was a good investment, and a very attractive one, considering the UOIT study that projects the needs of both the university and the City into the future, in this area. With $1 million invested in the downtown, he is confident that this has been the best investment for Dan Carter Productions, in terms of visibility, accessibility to the public, and the connection to the energy of the students from the university’s new downtown campus locations.

There is much more to come. Projections include 6,000 students in the downtown core in two years. The enthusiasm is contagious, and Dan has no doubt that wise investors will capitalize on the amazing deals to be had leading up to the explosive growth expected in the near future. “The best days are still ahead of us”, claims Dan. “The time to commit is not twelve months from now, not twenty-four months from now; it is right now.” His plans include working with partners, such as the local business community, the university, and the Economic Development departments of the City of Oshawa and the Region of Durham, to tap into their marketing expertise, and ensure the local economy benefits from events such as Frosh Week and other student-oriented activities. Additionally, he sees the arts and culture community working with commerce, to establish a hub for creative and musical endeavours.

While this is a commercial good news story, the real message that Dan carries forward is the commitment to community development. He has made a long term commitment to the downtown, both financially and personally. Traditional corporate thinking does not understand the value of community building, and this is a prime example of what this term actually means. The financial investment is positive, but the impact on the local economy and people is the true benefit.

Although Dan Carter Productions is a for-profit company, the effort to make a difference in the way the community functions and interacts, sets it apart. Community Economic Development (CED) is all about influencing the community in a positive way, through both commercial and social enterprise. The promotion of the creative economy, the interaction between the various sector of the community, and the ability to be more inclusive and accessible as a media influence, all contribute to CED as it applies to the downtown in Oshawa. These initiatives should be celebrated and encouraged. All sectors should be included at the table.

This blog will be looking for other examples of CED, and the people who are making a difference in the community. Please share your stories by e-mailing me at aprilcullen@socialinnovationdurham.ca. I will follow up any suggestions, and provide readers with interviews and profiles of others who are contributing to this movement.

Optimism and hope can be a little harder to find in these difficult times.

Some families continue to cope with job loss, the lingering casualties of the Great Recession.

Others work two or more part-time jobs to make ends meet. Still others face the prospect of exhausted unemployment benefits and a job market still recovering from the downturn of 2008.

Youth in Durham, many of whom lived through difficult times due to parents losing established, long-service jobs and are now on the cusp of adulthood themselves, are especially vulnerable to currents that push society in one direction or another.

To address the issues facing youth, to provide a beacon of hope and optimism, Canadian Autoworkers Local 222 officials are inviting youth from across Durham Region to their Our Youth, Our Future event featuring inspirational keynote speaker and Canadian boxing legend George Chuvalo and Oshawa’s own Dan Carter.

If anyone has discovered the secret to finding and sustaining hope in the darkest of times, it is Mr. Chuvalo. He lost two children to drug overdoses and one to suicide. His wife, too, took her own life after the death of her second son.

Since then, Mr. Chuvalo has emerged as a powerful and credible speaker who has inspired thousands of young people. His story of courage and determination that grew from the most difficult of personal challenges is awe-inspiring.

Mr. Carter, too, has grown into a successful local media personality and has shared his story of personal conflict and growth with young people.

Together, the two will bring a powerful and timely message to youth across the region and provide insight into the challenges they faced, the road they travelled and the tools they used to reclaim their lives.

The event’s focus is on youth, but the message should resonate with everyone. We encourage anyone who can take a couple of hours next Wednesday to attend this free event at the General Motors Centre.

The times we live in pose many challenges, but armed with tools to cope, a fresh perspective and the inspiring story and message of Messrs. Chuvalo and Carter, residents will benefit from a couple of hours of exceptional insight.

Thanks to DurhamRegion.com
http://newsdurhamregion.com/article/155014

OSHAWA — Local TV personality and motivational speaker Dan Carter has a new book.

It’s The Right Time Now was released Sept. 23, with a portion of proceeds going to the building of The Hope Centre of Learning, part of the new Oshawa Community Health Centre and Oshawa Senior Citizens Centre at the Conant Centre in south Oshawa.

More than 250 people, including local politicians, turned out for the book launch. The book is the result of Carter’s personal journey and blends reflection, inspiration, education and motivation as he discusses adversity and success in his life. It’s ideal for people who deal with adversity in their lives or realize society isn’t doing enough to help our fellow citizens make the world a better place, Carter said.

The book also contains reflections by Carter’s friend and mentor, Rev. Doug Schneider, head of The Embassy of the Kingdom of God, Taunton Road.

In his life, Carter has overcome a 20-year addiction of drugs and alcohol and has since gone on to raise awareness about mental health and addiction issues throughout Canada. He’s also a TV producer and host.

His book is available at Chapters in Oshawa and online at www.dancarter.ca.

The Hope Centre, the dream of Carter and his partner Paula Beebe, is designed to enhance people’s opportunities for learning, providing books on history, biography, leadership and success stories. Computers and workstations will be provided and afterschool snacks offered. The centre is due to open later this year.

Thanks to DurhamRegion.com
http://newsdurhamregion.com/article/109628