Arlene Dickinson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arlene Dickinson
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Dickinson in 2021
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| Born | 8 October 1956 Germiston, Transvaal Union of South Africa
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| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation | General Partner, District Ventures Capital |
Arlene Dickinson (born October 8, 1956) is a famous Canadian businesswoman, investor, and TV star. She is best known for being one of the "Dragons" on the popular CBC reality show Dragons' Den. On the show, entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to a panel of wealthy investors, hoping to get money to grow their businesses.
Dickinson is a self-made multi-millionaire. She has won many awards for her success in business. These include being named one of Canada's Top 100 Women Business Owners and receiving the Pinnacle Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence.
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Early Life and Family
Arlene Dickinson was born in Germiston, South Africa, and moved to Canada with her family when she was young. She grew up in Calgary, Alberta, where she finished high school.
She married when she was 19 years old and had four children. She and her husband divorced when she was 31. Today, she is a proud grandmother to seven grandchildren.
When it comes to politics, Dickinson calls herself non-partisan, which means she doesn't officially support any single political party.
Business Career
Building Her Company
In 1988, Dickinson joined a marketing company called Venture Communications. Ten years later, in 1998, she became the sole owner of the company. She worked hard to make it one of Canada's most successful marketing firms.
In 2012, she started a new company called Arlene Dickinson Enterprises (ADE). This company helps Canadian entrepreneurs by investing money in their new businesses and helping them succeed.
Helping the Community
Dickinson has used her experience to help many important organizations. She has served on the boards of groups like Kids Help Phone, a service that offers support to young people across Canada.
She has also been involved with the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, which is a center for scientific research, and the Stratford Institute at the University of Waterloo.
Television Appearances
Dragons' Den
Dickinson became a household name in Canada when she joined Dragons' Den in 2007 for its second season. As a "Dragon," she listened to business pitches and decided whether to invest her own money in the ideas.
She was a popular Dragon for many years. She left the show in 2015 but returned in 2017 for the 12th season because she missed helping new entrepreneurs.
Other TV Shows
Besides Dragons' Den, Dickinson has appeared on other TV shows.
- The Big Decision: She starred in her own show where she helped struggling businesses.
- Murdoch Mysteries: She had a fun guest role on this popular Canadian drama. She played a version of herself from the past in an episode about an "Invention Convention."
- Recipe to Riches: She was a judge on this cooking competition show in 2014.
- Under New Management: In 2017, she hosted this special show, guiding people who wanted to buy their own business.
Author and Podcaster
Dickinson has shared her life story and business advice in three books.
- Persuasion (2011): This is her autobiography, where she tells the story of her life.
- All In (2013): This book gives advice to people about their business and their life.
- Reinvention (2019): In this book, she talks about how to make big changes in your life and career.
From 2018 to 2019, she co-hosted a podcast with singer Jann Arden called The Business of Life. They talked about topics like starting a business, family, and overcoming challenges.
Awards and Recognition
Arlene Dickinson has received many honors for her work in business and her contributions to Canada.
- She was inducted into Canada's Most Powerful Women Top 100 Hall of Fame.
- In 2014, she received a Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award for her achievements as an immigrant to Canada.
- Her company, Venture Communications, was named one of Canada's Best Managed Companies.
She has also received several honorary degrees from universities, including Mount Saint Vincent University and Concordia University, to recognize her success and influence.
