Frank O'Dea

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Francis O’Dea (born 1945 in Montreal) is a Canadian entrepreneur, humanitarian and author. He left a lifestyle of homeless panhandling and in 1975 co-founded the Second Cup chain of coffee stores with Tom Culligan. He is currently the President of ARXX Building Products and Chair of Royal Roads University Foundation^[1], and regularly speaks professionally on the subjects of his personal and business life.

He was involved with the founding of Proshred Holdings Ltd. an international document destruction service (1986) and Samaritan Air Service, a regional air ambulance service (1989).

O'Dea became founding President of Renascent Treatment Foundation, (1983), founded Street Kids International, with Peter Dagleish, (1988), and the Canadian Landmine Foundation (1999). He initiated the international charity, Night of a Thousand Dinners (2000).

A pilot since 1983, he commutes to work in Toronto and Cobourg from his residence in Ottawa by air in his own plane.

Contents 1 Awards and recognition 2 Books 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Awards and recognition

• 1991: Ontario Volunteer award
• 2004: Officer of the Order of Canada
• 2005: Doctor of Laws degree, Royal Roads University

[edit] Books

• 2007: When All You Have is Hope (Penguin Canada) ISBN 978-067006427-4

[edit] References

1. ^ Frank O’Dea to Head New Board for RRU Foundation. Royal Roads University (2005). Retrieved on 2007-10-11.

[edit] External links

• Order of Canada citation: Frank O'Dea
• Frank O'Dea Interview on The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos