Award: Dave Stephen has been a longtime advocate for those in the community with disabilities

B5

ANDREW MCGILLIGAN
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

ROTHESAY - In late October, Dave Stephen had his named entered alongside those of Pope John Paul II, Nelson Mandela and Mother Theresa.

Enlarge Photo

Submitted photo

Paul Harris Fellow Award recipient Dave Stephen, centre, receives the honour from rotarian Dan Charlong, left, and Rothesay-Kings Rotary President Sunil Rajaram.

Stephen became one of about 950,000 people worldwide who have received the Paul Harris Fellow Award from Rotary International.

The award, the highest honour in Rotary, is named after the man who created the service club in 1905.

Stephen, who was presented the award during the Rothesay-Kings Rotary Club's Fall Classic Dinner held at the Riverside Country Club, said he's honoured and humbled by the award.

"It's a combination of things," Stephen said of receiving the honour. "You're being honoured by your peers, but it also brings to mind the realization of all the people involved in your life.

"I felt honoured to receive it, but my thanks goes to the many people who were instrumental in helping me. The accomplishments I've had were not done single-handedly."

President of the Rothesay-Kings Rotary Club Sunil Rajaram said Stephen was chosen for his tireless efforts working with people in the community with disabilities.

"Dave has really been a champion of getting businesses to become wheelchair accessible for example," Rajaram said. "He really has taken a well-rounded approach from working with individuals, businesses and government to make things happen in our community."

Stephen said his work began with a realization.

"In diseased-based situations where there is no cure, like most people, I had no idea what to do," he said. "In spite of all the advancements we've made medically, there are a lot of situations where we don't know enough about it and think all we can offer is sympathy.

"Years ago I discovered what you can do is try and help those people and the thrust for me has been to help disabled people with integration into our society."

While many people see the work done by him and similar groups as fighting for the rights of the disabled, Stephen said what's often overlooked is how the work benefits the community as a whole.

He cites the automatic doors installed at the Rothesay Post Office as an example. While the doors make it easier for someone with a disability to enter and exit the building, it also helps the larger community.

"Those doors didn't get installed by accident," Stephen said. "They benefit everyone from people holding too many parcels to elderly people having trouble opening the door.

"A lot of people don't realize the benefits of community integration."

Stephen said the groundwork for his efforts was laid by other community volunteers and hopes his contributions will inspire the next generation to continue working for the cause.