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Danie
McLean with presenter Buzz Hargrove, President of the Canadian
Auto Workers (CAW) and Andy Barrie.
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Forest, Ontario
From addiction and life on the streets to Native Alcohol and Drug Prevention Worker
Danie McLean grew up around many family members who were involved with motorcycle gangs and drugs, and it seemed easy for him to follow suit. Danie was orphaned at age 12 and at that time he began his struggle with drug addiction. He ran away, ending up in Toronto where he spent the next 16 years of his life addicted to drugs. There were numerous overdoses, very poor physical health -- he weighed just over 90 lbs -- criminal activities and subsequent charges leading to incarceration. His entire existence revolved around drugs and the drug world.
Along with this lifestyle came severe pain and loss. Danie suffered physical pain from broken bones resulting from fighting. At this time he was using damaged needles, and had lost all of his possessions to feed his habit. However, the most devastating of these losses was the repeated loss of his family. Danie's relationships did not last very long. He went through several failed marriages and the loss of contact with his children, with whom he did not have a solid child/father relationship. Losing his children again and again was devastating. He finally decided that he did not want to lose them forever, and his need for their love and respect was what finally made Danie get his life on track. Once more, Danie ran away but this time he ran from a life of difficulty -- the only life he had ever known.
Danie found work as a carpenter just as his father, uncles and grandfathers had until a work injury forced him away from physical work. He returned to school for his high school diploma and proceeded to go to college where he graduated with diplomas for Child and Family Worker and for Addiction Counseling. During and after college, Danie worked at a secondary school as a native guidance counselor and as a teacher. He was even able to teach at the college in the same courses that he had taken. Danie has done some private counseling and was employed as a team leader at a group home for people with autism. He is currently employed as a National Native Alcohol and Drug Prevention Worker for Kettle and Stoney Points First Nations and he serves on several committees for Sarnia/Lampton such as Suicide Prevention and Intervention and Youth Services Network. He will soon add Certified Gambling Counselor to his growing list of accomplishments.
Danie now has 17 years of being drug free, a solid relationship of 10 years and a job he really loves. He involves himself in native ceremonies and encourages others to participate. Danie's nominator says that he is willing to go the extra mile to help a client achieve their greatest potential. He helps them want to help themselves.
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This page was last modified on August 20, 2003.
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