Officer of the Order of Canada
Awarded on: 2003-10-30
Invested on: 2004-05-14
Frank O'Dea's triumph over adversity continues to captivate the hearts of Canadians. His personal victory over substance abuse and willingness to share his rags-to-riches story have inspired others battling addiction. He enjoyed enormous success as co-founder of the Second Cup chain of coffee shops and has gone on to other business ventures. His many good works include support of Street Kids International which is devoted to protecting homeless children around the world from predators. Founding chair of the Canadian Landmine Foundation, he created and launched the "Night of a Thousand Dinners" annual fundraising event that has raised over $2 million for their cause.