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Norm McLeod Awards
David Kochie, 2006 Community Inclusion Leadership Award
Leadership award winner is in the business of smiles
| David Kochie of Medicine Hat was all smiles as he received the 2006 Leadership Award at the Norm McLeod Community Inclusion Awards in Edmonton in June. The same qualities that won him the award—a strong work ethic, energy and drive, a commitment to helping others, and a smile as warm as an Alberta summer—are what have made David a success in business as well. |
David Kochie receives the Leadership Awards from (left to right) Norm McLeod, LeeAnn Plain (awards host), Derrick Seabrook (awards host) and MLA Rob Lougheed. |
| After working 26 years at REDI Enterprises in Medicine Hat , a workshop for adults with developmentally disabilities, David found himself without employment when it closed. Undeterred, he thought about what he could do and decided to start his own business. Staff at REDI helped him with his plans. | |
His first enterprise was Dave's Bike Repair, which he opened in the community of Irvine . Although his father was a mechanic and helped him set up, David says he learned the trade on his own by tinkering with his own bicycles. His next independent venture is his current business, Dave's Handyman Service, which offers snow removal, yard clean-up and window cleaning.
“I like learning how to do different jobs,” says Dave. “If someone wants me to do something for them, I usually can figure out a way. If you have your two hands, you can work.”
Although Dave is ambitious and fearless, he knows others are not always so. He has been chair and vice-chair of The Action Group (TAG), a self-advocacy group in Medicine Hat which helps people with disabilities to achieve their dreams. He has also attended and been a speaker at South Region Self-advocacy Network meetings and plans to attend the provincial Self-advocates Summit in September.
He will be presenting a responsibility workshop at the Summit because, he says, “you can't have rights without responsibilities.” Part of the responsibilities he also willingly assumes is delivering presentations about disability issues to school groups, service clubs and business associations.
Dave is a big believer in giving back to his community. For the past 12 years he has raised money cycling in the Brain Injury Relearning Society's 5/10 km Fun Run. He also volunteers at other community events such as Canada Day and International Day of the Disabled—playing the guitar, donning a costume, selling his poetry book—whatever it takes to raise funds or fun and make people feel part of the community.
In 2005, he mobilized members of TAG to assist in disaster relief efforts during spring flooding. To Dave it seems like no big deal, “citizens help out when their community needs them.”
As his nominator Shawna Churchill of REDI says, “David's continual growth toward excelling at leadership, citizenship and community development deserves recognition.”