Can Man Dan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dan Johnstone
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Johnstone during a winter campout in 2016
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| Born | July 31, 1987 |
| Education | MacEwan University |
| Occupation | Activist, philanthropist, author |
| Years active | 2011 – present |
Dan Lee Johnstone, born on July 31, 1987, in Edmonton, Alberta, is also known as "Can Man Dan." He is a Canadian activist, philanthropist, and author. He works to help people who are struggling. With his non-profit, the Can Man Dan Foundation, he helps communities. He works with local people and other groups to do good deeds.
Dan grew up in a family that didn't have much money. They often needed help from charities. This inspired him to start "Can Man Dan" to help others. His main goal is to spread a positive message. He wants to help end hunger, poverty, and homelessness in Alberta. He believes a united community can achieve this.
Besides his community events, Dan also visits schools. He travels across western Canada as a motivational speaker. He shares his story and experiences with students. He also runs a program that helps people in the inner city. Every month, he and volunteers give meals and supplies to homeless people in Edmonton. Dan also supports other important causes. These include helping victims of domestic abuse. He also supports LGBTQ rights and social housing projects.
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Dan Johnstone's Early Life
Johnstone was born in Edmonton, Alberta, on July 31, 1987. This was during the big Edmonton tornado. He is the oldest son of Pamela Johnstone. Growing up, he and his brother lived with their single mother. They often relied on local charities for help. These included the Christmas Bureau and the Edmonton Food Bank. After high school, Dan studied at MacEwan University. He left after a year when his mother became ill.
Dan Johnstone's Charity Work
Dan Johnstone started his charity work in Edmonton in June 2011. He began going door-to-door by himself. He collected food and clothing donations. These went to charities like the Edmonton Food Bank. They also went to youth and homeless shelters. By June 2021, Dan had raised $4.4 million. This money helped people in need across Alberta.
Annual Events and Campaigns
Dan hosts many community events in Alberta. He is very well known for his annual Christmas campaign. Every December, Dan camps out for weeks. He stays in the back of a tractor-trailer. His goal is to fill it with food and toy donations. These donations help children and families in need.
Alberta winters are very cold. Because of this, his campouts get a lot of attention. They have become important events for many charities. Can Man Dan's holiday campaign has raised millions of dollars. These funds and resources help various charities. They also help people in need across Alberta. Dan also hosts other charity events. One is "We're Here For Ya Day." At this event, he offers free hair services and barbecue meals. He also gives out hygiene products, school supplies, and food hampers. Thousands of people who need help benefit from this event.
Notable Ways Dan Johnstone Has Helped
In June 2013, Can Man Dan helped Calgary's Food Bank. He provided 5000 pounds of food. This helped people affected by the 2013 Alberta floods. In December 2013 and 2014, a restaurant called Delux Burger Bar featured Dan. They added the "Can Man Dan burger" to their menu. A part of the sales went to the Edmonton Food Bank. Dan also arranged for this burger to be served to hundreds of homeless people. He hosted a "Burger Night" at a local shelter.
In April 2014, Dan made news. He announced he would wrestle in a professional wrestling match. This was to raise money and food. It also raised awareness for homeless youth in Edmonton. Dan won his first wrestling match. He raised thousands of dollars and pounds of food. This went to Youth Empowerment and Support Services (YESS). His mother had used this organization when she was young. In spring 2015, Dan started "Localive." This project helps small local businesses get new customers.
In summer 2015, Dan was voted an honorary parade marshal. This was for Edmonton's annual K-Days festival parade. He and other community heroes were given $2500. They donated this money to a charity of their choice. In November 2015, Dan became honorary chairman for Adopt-A-Teen. This is a program he and his family used when he was growing up. Since 2015, Dan has helped thousands of teenagers. He provides them with a $50 gift card for Christmas.
In December 2015, Dan made national headlines. He announced he would tour Alberta. He camped out in different cities. This was to raise resources for food banks. Many food banks were struggling due to the economy. Dan's "Tour of Alberta" raised 25 tonnes of food. It also raised thousands of dollars for food banks. In May 2016, Dan started a campaign. It aimed to raise awareness for domestic abuse victims. He also raised money for a women's shelter. His campaign included six "extreme and wacky" stunts. These stunts raised awareness and money.
In December 2016, Dan started his "Feed Alberta Tour." He wanted to raise food and money for food banks. These food banks were hit hard by the economy. Dan traveled to affected cities. He camped out in freezing cold temperatures for days. His tour raised over 50,000 pounds of food. It also raised close to $20,000 in cash donations. In March 2017, Dan urged Edmonton's city council. He wanted them to use money to fix low-income housing. In May 2017, Can Man Dan took 55 students. They went to Edmonton's inner-city streets. They handed out hundreds of care packages. These had food, hygiene products, and socks. They gave them to homeless people.
In November 2017, Dan hosted a city-wide food drive. This was to help Edmonton's struggling food bank. It was being used more than ever. Dan asked Edmonton residents and the city council for help. He wanted to "refill all of the empty shelves." He wanted to make sure "no one goes hungry" during the holidays. His food drive raised over 110,000 pounds of food. It also raised $65,000 in 30 days.
In March 2018, Can Man Dan raised over $10,000. This was for a center for seniors in Edmonton. In September 2018, Dan helped 2,100 children. He gave them school supplies, backpacks, and food. He also provided haircuts and breakfast supplies. This was before the 2018/2019 school year. In December, Dan hosted another drive. It was the "Can Man Dan City-Wide Food and Toy Drive." He said "no child in his city will go without a gift." This drive brought in over 60,000 pounds of food. It also brought in nearly $60,000 worth of new toys. These went to Santas Anonymous.
The Can Man Dan Foundation
On September 1, 2019, Dan helped thousands of children. He gave them free school supplies and backpacks. On the same day, he announced his new non-profit. It was called the Can Man Dan Foundation. In October 2019, Dan and his foundation helped youth. They gave hundreds of low-income youth new Halloween costumes. This was because the economy was slow. Dan wanted to make sure they could still celebrate Halloween.
In November 2019, Dan announced four winter campouts. These would happen before Christmas. He said "every child deserves a hot meal." His campouts raised 75,000 pounds of food. They also raised $75,000 worth of new toys.
Helping During the COVID-19 Pandemic
In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dan helped homeless people. He gave out hundreds of "COVID-19 Emergency Packages." These helped stop the spread of the disease. Each package had about thirty dollars worth of items. These included hygiene products and food. There were shortages of these items at the time.
On August 30, 2020, Dan and his foundation helped two thousand children. They lived in the greater Edmonton Metropolitan Region. They received free backpacks with school supplies. They also got food, haircut vouchers, and face masks. This was for the upcoming school year. Dan felt it was important to support these children.
In October 2020, Dan helped two hundred children. He gave them new Halloween costumes. This allowed them to join the annual tradition. Many families were struggling financially. On November 19, 2020, Dan started his tenth annual holiday drive. He camped out in freezing temperatures. He wanted to raise food and toys. He said "COVID cannot take Christmas." He raised over 60,000 pounds of food. He also raised $130,000 in new toys.
A Break and Return to Helping Others
In August 2021, Can Man Dan announced he would take a break. He was feeling very tired from his work. In fall 2022, Dan returned to helping others. He opened a new "faith and wellness" center in Edmonton. He also released his first book. It was called "...I Think God is Real: The Extraordinary Journey of Can Man Dan." Dan spoke about his struggles. He found faith and respect for therapy. He now wants to help others find value in these services.
At the end of 2022, Dan camped out for four days. The temperature was -36 degrees. He raised donations for Edmonton's food bank. He also spoke about mental health during the holidays. In April 2025, Dan shared his frustration. He felt the City of Edmonton needed to do more. He wanted them to help with homelessness and poverty.
Awards and Recognition
In June 2015, "WO Magazine" named Dan Johnstone. They listed him as one of their "Top 5 Anti-Poverty Activists." Readers of Vue Weekly voted him "Best Activist" in 2017. In 2018, he was voted Edmonton's "Best Philanthropist." In November 2018, Avenue Magazine gave Dan an award. It was the "Top 40 Under 40" award. This was for his dedication to helping the community.
Dan Johnstone's Personal Life
Dan is a big fan of professional wrestling. He also loves movies and board games. He has said his favorite TV show is Game of Thrones. He also enjoys reality television. He hopes to compete on shows like Survivor one day. Dan considers himself a political independent. He believes government should take a balanced approach. He thinks extreme politics can harm society.
