Dean Hopkins wants to be our next mayor. Listen to our conversation to find out why motivated him in this direction and hear our discussion about our shared love for rugby, his military career, and his charity - OneDirection. Dean was not born into a family of privilege but is a descendant of many working-class ancestors. Dean’s father was a coal miner and his mother a seamstress. Both worked hard to feed their children and to put a roof over their heads. Growing up and living in low-income housing gave Dean the grounding that would launch him on many adventures. Dean’s education was a tough one where he faced bullies on a daily basis over many years. This was a time when only children from wealthy families could expect to go to university or the academically astute went on to college. Kids like Dean were expected by society to follow in their father’s footsteps; that being a career in the coal mining industry. However, at only 15 years old, Dean had other plans. As a small boy Dean’s father would say “Dean if you ever want to change your life all you need to do is be prepared to take that first step”. Even before leaving school Dean took it upon himself to take that first step and he travelled to the big city away from his small town and signed himself into a junior leadership military academy for boys, with the support of his parents. Connect with Dean Here: Website: deanhopkinsyyc.ca/ Social: deanhopkins1dc/ Connect with Bryon here: www.thehowardteam.net https://www.facebook.com/thehowardteamcalgary https://www.instagram.com/calgary_living/ Email: bryon@thehoeardteam.net Phone: 403-589-0004