Frank O’Dea, a founder of Canadian coffee chain Second Cup, will be the keynote speaker at Carleton’s New Student Convocation on Wednesday Sept. 5. The event is designed to give students a sneak-peek into graduation and will include a regalia-filled procession.
There will be two ceremonies. Media are invited to attend.
Where: Fieldhouse, Carleton University
When: Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012 at 9:45 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The convocation event is part of a broader Academic Orientation schedule, which is a set of activities that will help students become accustomed to academia at Carleton. Students can partake in a meet-and-greet BBQ, faculty and departmental open houses.
About Frank O’Dea:
Frank O’Dea, who is currently building large developments of affordable housing in Brazil, is a powerful and inspiring speaker with a story of triumph over adversity that brings audiences to their feet, and leaves a long-lasting impression. His inspiring message resonates with audiences who are going through the stress of difficult or uncertain times, bringing them perspective and confidence in themselves and the future.
In his early teens, Frank O’Dea’s life went off the rails into a downward spiral. Within a few years, he was living in 50-cent-a-night flop houses in Toronto’s bowery district where just surviving was about all one could do in a day.
At 23, with the courage to hope for a better life and the spirit to forge ahead, Frank began the long road back. Within a few short years he co-founded Second Cup, which became the largest chain of gourmet coffees and teas in the country. By the time he sold his interests, the company had stretched across Canada and into the United States. Building on that success, he was a founder of Proshred Security, a company that pioneered the entire industry of on-site document destruction.
As his businesses grew, Frank began serving on the boards of directors of charities and not-for-profit organizations. This led to his co-founding Street Kids International, an organization developed to help homeless children in Third World countries. A few years later, he became the founding Chair of War Child (Canada), an organization that provides assistance against suffering and abuse for children in war-affected countries. In the same year, Frank co-founded the Canadian Landmine Foundation, an organization that raises funds and awareness for the dismantling of minefields around the world. With support from the likes of Colin Powell, Paul McCartney and Kofi Annan, he went on to initiate Night of a Thousand Dinners, the organization’s most successful, worldwide annual fundraising program.
He has received the Ontario Volunteer Award, two honorary university degrees and has been invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada. This incredibly inspiring story of resilience and triumph in the face of adversity is retold in his best-selling autobiography When All You Have Is Hope.
For more information about Frank O’Dea, please visit www.frankodea.com.
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For more information:
Chris Cline
Media Relations
Carleton University
613-520-2600, ext. 1391
christopher_cline@carleton.ca
