From a background of immense personal challenge and tragedy, which he chronicles in his book It’s the Right Time Now, Dan has become an inspiration and role model to individuals across Canada. As a professional speaker and leadership expert, Dan has motivated many people to achieve their full potential. As a life-long learner, he has completed leadership training with the Zappos’ Team in Las Vegas and the Disney Institute in Florida.

Active in community development initiatives Dan lends his time to many philanthropic endeavours. His deep commitment to making a difference to those in need led to the creation of the Day of Hope and Leadership which has raised close to one million dollars for Carea Community Health Centre and the establishment of The Hope Centre of Learning. The objective of the centre is to enhance people’s opportunity for learning and was built on the belief that we can do more, be more, and help more when we learn more.

Dan’s leadership and contributions have been widely recognized and he has received several honours and awards for his work, including the Business Person of the Year by both the Whitby Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce, the CAMH Courage to Come Back Award, Paul Harris Fellow and the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medallions. In 2011, Dan was conferred a Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa, by the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.

As a Regional and City Councillor for Oshawa he chaired the Finance Committee. As a member of the Health and Social Services committee at the Regional level, he was instrumental in getting the mobile health unit on the streets. In his capacity as President of the Durham Region Non-Profit Housing Corporation, Dan worked successfully to bring to Durham the Building Up training program that provides employment opportunities for residents of supportive housing as well as the Rogers Connected for Success program which provides high-speed internet access to people living in rent-subsidized non- profit housing.

Dan takes his role as Mayor of the City of Oshawa to heart and feels very blessed that he has been given the opportunity to serve and to help people in his community every day.
He is committed to leading in a way that will bring out the best in all of us and be the light that brings hope, optimism, and pride to this great city.