Can a dime save a life?

In 1971, Frank O’Dea made a phone call to an alcohol support line and with that call, started a new life. For years, he had panhandled and lived on the streets of Toronto, until one dime from one stranger sparked a fundamental change.

“I built my whole life on that dime, and he had no idea what he did,” reflects O’Dea. “You have no idea what the ripple effect is of just being there. You never know when reaching out to someone can change their whole life.”

O’Dea attributes his pivotal moment of change to the power of humanity, rather than crisis. It’s something that has stuck with him throughout his long career as an entrepreneur and philanthropist. In the years following his recovery, O’Dea co-founded the Second Cup Coffee Co., the largest chain of gourmet coffees and teas in the country. His entrepreneurial vision and success allowed him to build on the notion that one person can change lives if they just reach out.

On Feb. 15, Frank O’Dea will give a keynote presentation here at the University of Calgary in conjunction with an update on the Campus Mental Health Strategy. The event will celebrate resilience, a concept with a great deal of meaning for O’Dea. “For me, resilience is about commitment. A commitment to knowing who I am, where I’m going and whether it will make life better for others.”

In 1985, he co-founded Street Kids International, an organization developed to help homeless children in third world countries through education and self-reliance programs. A few years later, he became the founding chair of War Child (Canada), an organization that provides assistance against suffering and abuse of children in war affected countries. In the same year, O’Dea co-founded the Canadian Landmine Foundation, an organization that raises funds for the dismantling of minefields around the world. In addition to a number of awards and recognitions for his philanthropic work, O’Dea holds an honorary Doctor of Laws from Royal Roads University, and in 2004, he received the prestigious Order of Canada.

Since publishing two books about his journey, When All You Have is Hope (2007) and Do The Next Right Thing: Surviving Life's Crises (2013), O’Dea regularly speaks publicly about his personal and business life. While he is now in a place to inspire others with his story, his journey to a place of wellness is ongoing, especially for an entrepreneur with such a high-pressure career.

“Being an entrepreneur is the most difficult thing I’ve ever done. It’s lonely, scary, and unpredictable,” explains O’Dea. “Fear is the chief activator of all our mental challenges. If we can recognize fear when it starts, and reach out to others to gain perspective, we can be okay.”

To maintain his mental well-being, O’Dea attends self-help groups and meditates regularly. His spiritual path has been a great source of strength in recent years. “I see spirit as a sense of where we are going and what our purpose is in life, while the soul is who we are at this moment. If I remember to keep my soul in harmony with my spirit, I am able to work through fear and shame.”

Join us for A Story to Hear, with Frank O’Dea on Thursday Feb. 15, 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in MacEwan Hall A & B. RSVP here.

There will be other mental health activities held across campus on this day. Learn more about event details and the Campus Mental Health Strategy.