Can Man Dan

Dan Johnstone
Dan Johnstone AKA Can Man Dan poses for a picture at Edmonton's City Hall during the 2013 civic election.
Personal details
Born July 31, 1987
Edmonton, Alberta
Residence Edmonton, Alberta
Website www.danjohnstone.com

Dan Johnstone (born July 31, 1987 in Edmonton, Alberta), also known as "Can Man Dan", is a Canadian anti-poverty activist, philanthropist, community organizer and politician.[1] His fundraising group, also called "Can Man Dan", works to alleviate poverty and hunger in Alberta, Canada by working with several non profit groups and charities.[2] Johnstone also hosts many of his own created events and is perhaps best known for his annual "Moving Hunger Out" campaign, where he camps out multiple times every December in freezing cold temperatures in the back of a tractor-trailer, aiming to fill it with donations for various Food Banks around Alberta.[3] Due to the severity of the winters commonly found in Alberta and the freezing cold temperatures that go along with them, These campouts have become highly publicized and a staple event for various food banks around Alberta. Can Man Dan's campouts have proven to be very successful as Dan has raised several thousands of dollars and thousands of pounds of food for local food banks every year from these events alone.[4][5] Johnstone also has created and hosted many other events around Alberta aimed to help those less fortunate including his annual "We're Here For Ya Day" event.[6] Can Man Dan, along with a local hair salon offer free hair services, a free BBQ lunch, personal hygiene products and free food hampers to hundreds of men, women and children every year.[7][8] In June 2013, Can Man Dan provided immediate assistance to Calgary's Food Bank and those affected by the 2013 Alberta floods in the form of 4000 pounds of food.[9] Every December since 2013, local Edmonton chain restaurant - Delux Burger Bar has featured Can Man Dan as their "Celebrity Chef".[10] Delux Burger Bar locations across Edmonton add the "Can Man Dan burger" to their menus with a portion of the burger sales donated to the Edmonton Food Bank on Dan's behalf. Johnstone made headlines in April 2014 after he announced that he would wrestle in a professional wrestling match with Canadian promotion, the PWA (The Prairie Wrestling Alliance) to raise money, food and awareness for Edmonton's homeless youth population.[11] Despite suffering a fractured nose during the bout, Johnstone ultimately won his debut wrestling match raising thousands of dollars and thousands of pounds of food for Edmonton's Youth Empowerment and Support Services (YESS), an organization that Dan's mother had used when she was a teenager.

Johnstone's philanthropy and activist work began in Edmonton, Alberta in 2011 when he began going door-to-door around various neighborhoods by himself collecting food donations for various charities, such as the Edmonton Food Bank and many homeless shelters/soup kitchens. After growing up in a single mother, low income household, Johnstone was motivated to support the same services that his family had needed growing up.[12] Johnstone has stated that his ultimate goal is to spread a positive message about helping people in need, raise awareness for charities in need and ultimately assist in the ending of poverty and homelessness by forming a united community.[13]

On top of the major events[14] he holds around Alberta, Johnstone is also an motivational speaker that travels to many schools and fundraising events around Alberta to share his story and adventures. Johnstone also leads an inner city feed program where he and his group make and distribute lunches, care packages and backpacks filled with different items to the homeless. In June 2012, Johnstone was named an official ambassador to the Edmonton Food Bank. Johnstone has publicly stated that he "makes zero financial gain" from his work as he believes that helping others and spreading a positive message is more important than making a profit.

Personal life

Daniel Lee Johnstone, was born in Edmonton, Alberta on July 31, 1987 during the notorious Edmonton tornado (also known as "Black Friday") that claimed 27 lives and is the eldest son of Pamela Johnstone. Dan is an avid professional wrestling fan and board game enthusiast. He is also a huge reality television fan and has said that he one day hopes to compete on Big Brother Canada and The Amazing Race Canada. Johnstone, hobbies include acting and writing screenplays. It has been stated in many of his interviews that Johnstone's "dream job" is to be elected to Edmonton's City Council and eventually serve as the Mayor of Edmonton.[15]

Political career

In June 2013, Dan Johnstone announced that he would be running in the Edmonton municipal election, 2013. Johnstone announced that he would be running for the open seat in Ward 10 vacated by Mayoral hopeful, Don Iveson.[16] Johnstone, a self declared fiscal conservative was the youngest candidate running for any position in the 2013 Edmonton election, being only 25 years old when he announced his candidacy. Johnstone's platform was largely based on the repair of basic infrastructure, working to pay off the city's deficit, focusing on the revitalization of more mature neighborhoods, investing in the building of low income housing, building a stronger public transit system and lowering fares. Johnstone, also pledged to donate $10 000 for each year of his terms salary to various charities and causes around Edmonton citing that "politicians make entirely too much money". Johnstone ultimately placed 4th in his riding's election and was defeated by former Alberta Party candidate, Michael Walters. Johnstone finished with 4.9% of the votes.[17]

References

  1. ↑ "20 Questions: Dan Johnstone a.k.a "Can Man Dan"". Edmonton Examiner. 2013-05-13.
  2. ↑ Caley Ramsey. "Can Man Dan launches part two of his campaign to end hunger in Edmonton". Global News.
  3. ↑ "Can Man Dan camps out for Edmonton's Food Bank". Edmonton Examiner. 2012-12-12.
  4. ↑ "Can Man Dan campout nets 20000 pounds for food bank". CBC News. 2014-12-08. Retrieved 2014-12-08.
  5. ↑ "The return of Can Man Dan". CBC News. 2012-12-07. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
  6. ↑ "Can Man Dan". Global News.
  7. ↑ "Cutting Out Hunger fundraiser featured free hair cuts, hot dogs, ice cream and food donations to the Food Bank". Edmonton Examiner. 2013-05-08.
  8. ↑ "Can Man Dan is here for ya". Edmonton Examiner. 2014-09-04.
  9. ↑ "Businesses help". 2012-12-18. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
  10. ↑ "20 Can Man Dan at it again!". Edmonton Breakfast Television. 2014-12-04.
  11. ↑ "Can Man Dan fights for youth". Edmonton Examiner. 2014-04-26.
  12. ↑ "Can Man Dan success story: Dan Johnstone a.k.a "Can Man Dan"". Edmonton Sun. 2014-12-16.
  13. ↑ "Can Man Dan is 'Moving Hunger Out'". Edmonton Examiner. 2011-12-23.
  14. ↑ "Dan Johnstone, a.k.a Can Man Dan, hopes to meet his monetary goal for Edmonton’s Food Bank this weekend". Edmonton Examiner. 2012-12-18.
  15. ↑ . Edmonton Examiner. 2013-05-13 http://www.edmontonexaminer.com/2013/05/08/20-questions-can-man-dan. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. ↑ "Dan Johnstone, a.k.a. Can Man Dan, seeks vacant Ward 10 seat". Edmonton Examiner. 2013-05-13. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
  17. ↑ "2013 Official Election Results". 2013-10-21. Retrieved 2013-10-21.

External links