Dan Carter - Courage to Come Back Award Recipient 2004

Bowmanville, Ontario

May 2004

Dan Carter began his life amidst tragedy. He was born in St. John, New Brunswick and when he was only weeks old, his mother died of a brain aneurysm.  Dan was sent to the Children's Aid Society in Scarborough, Ontario. There, Dan lived in a series of foster homes until he was placed in the care of a family who had fostered more than 20 children. They felt there was something special about Dan and despite having three children of their own, adopted him into their hearts and home when he was two years old.

Dan had a learning disability called dyslexia that was not identified until later in his life and as a result he suffered many disappointments and humiliations in his life.  Dan's parents however loved him and instilled many good qualities in him. He took up a paper route to help him earn extra money and to learn the value of work.  He had been told not to go into the gas station on the corner, but one very cold day, he ventured in to find some warmth. He was only eight years old when he was violently raped. Dan didn't tell his parents or anyone else about his horrific experience until he was thirty. As a small boy, he was frightened that he would get into trouble because he had disobeyed his father's orders. 

When Dan was 13 years old, his family faced a shocking tragedy when his brother was killed. Dan began drinking shortly after the funeral. His drinking would continue for the next 17 years of his life. In the years to come, Dan would get married, divorced, lose a succession of jobs and eventually became so addicted to alcohol and drugs that he could barely function. On a trip home to visit his family, his sister - who had been like a mother to him - asked him to do her a favour;  "either sober up or die - but do one of them well."

Within 24 hours Dan was on a plane to a Rehabilitation Centre where he spent six months in intensive care and therapy. Dan was determined to be one of the few who survived and went on to live a normal life.  Upon his release he spent a few years trying to be an actor and then knew it was time to go home and be with his family. Then tragedy struck again. On May 17, 2000, Dan's beautiful sister, Maureen, who had been so helpful to him, committed suicide. He was devastated, but he did not succumb to the temptations of his past and remained sober throughout this horrible ordeal.

Dan has now been sober for fourteen years. He enjoys running marathons and he is a talk show host on Channel 12 CHEX TV Durham. His show First Take Live airs five days a week and he has a prime time interview show called Centre Stage. He is very honest about his past. He gives motivational talks to high school students, refuge centre s and adult groups. He has spoken at various Alcoholics Anonymous Sobriety Medal Presentations. He feels it is his responsibility to help and encourage others.   He lends his time to over 150 charitable events each year. In 2003, he was honoured with a Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal for his outstanding service in his community. Dan's nominator says that "his courage, perseverance and honesty are truly an example to us all."

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