Latest / Coffee In The Park with Jennifer and Cam / A Coffee with Darlene Whittaker President and CEO of Reliable Tube

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A Coffee with Darlene Whittaker President and CEO of Reliable Tube · Coffee In The Park with Jennifer and Cam

• 0:00
  Hey, good morning everybody.
• 0:01
  Cam here from Coffee In The Park, and I'm here with my co-host extraordinaire, Jennifer Herrick.
• 0:08
  Hello, Jennifer.
• 0:09
  Hello, Cam.
• 0:10
  Well, looking outside today.
• 0:13
  You know, I don't know where summer went.
• 0:14
  It's gone.
• 0:15
  It's gone.
• 0:16
  But nonetheless, it's summer.
• 0:18
  It is still summer.
• 0:18
  And it's August.
• 0:19
  It's very rainy today.
• 0:20
  Yeah.
• 0:21
  Here in beautiful downtown Acheson.
• 0:22
  Here in beautiful downtown Acheson.
• 0:23
  That's right, we're coming to you live from the Wall Coffee Roasters.
• 0:27
  And the month of August, we're doing something a little bit different.
• 0:30
  We are and Cam, why are we doing this differently?
• 0:32
  Well, Jennifer, you and I need holidays.
• 0:35
  We sure do.
• 0:35
  So we're going to take some holidays.
• 0:37
  So we thought as a great idea coming up to our gala for the Acheson Business Association, in the month of August, we would do some of the best of, of our lifetime achievement award winners podcasts.
• 0:51
  And those are some amazing podcasts.
• 0:54
  What stories?
• 0:55
  They really are.
• 0:56
  And so we want to present to you the best of.
• 0:59
  And we're starting off this week with Darlene Whittaker from...
• 1:03
  Reliable Tube.
• 1:04
  That's right.
• 1:05
  And what an amazing story.
• 1:06
  You know I love Darlene.
• 1:07
  I know you do.
• 1:08
  And she is an amazing lady.
• 1:10
  She sure is.
• 1:10
  So you, if you've already listened, you'll want to hear this story again.
• 1:14
  But if you haven't, you want to make sure to listen.
• 1:17
  Darlene is so phenomenal, not only in business, but just her philosophy in life and what she's done.
• 1:23
  So yeah, you don't want to miss this episode.
• 1:25
  So everybody, sit back, grab a cup of coffee.
• 1:28
  And here is Darlene Whittaker.
• 1:39
  Well, hello everybody, it's Cam here at the ABA Coffee In The Park podcast.
• 1:44
  And I am here with my co-host extraordinaire, Jennifer Herrick, the executive director of the Acheson Business Association.
• 1:51
  Hello, Jennifer.
• 1:52
  Hi, Cam.
• 1:52
  How are you this morning?
• 1:53
  Oh, it's a great day.
• 1:55
  It's sunny outside, it's beautiful fall day.
• 1:58
  I'm just having a great time so far.
• 2:00
  Me too.
• 2:00
  Yeah, it's awesome outside.
• 2:02
  And we are coming to you live from the Wall Coffee Roasters in beautiful downtown Acheson.
• 2:10
  That's right.
• 2:11
  So if you hear some noises in the background, some coffee whirring, people talking, kids screaming, it's because we are in this beautiful coffee shop right in the heart of downtown Acheson.
• 2:20
  And so, hey, we're just really excited to be with you today.
• 2:24
  Tell us a little about our sponsors.
• 2:26
  We would like to thank our gold corporate sponsors, which include the Myshak group of companies, Genics and Parkland County.
• 2:33
  We would like to thank these individual businesses for all that they do for the Acheson Business Association and their continued support.
• 2:39
  That's right, because without them, we would not be able to do this.
• 2:43
  Jennifer, we have a very exciting week coming up.
• 2:45
  We do, this is finally it, Cam.
• 2:47
  We are in the home stretch of the gala.
• 2:50
  That's right, Saturday night is our gala.
• 2:52
  I am so excited and it is pretty much sold out.
• 2:55
  It is sold out.
• 2:55
  Yes, that's fantastic.
• 2:57
  It's gonna be a great night.
• 2:58
  We're giving away lots of awards and capping it off with the Lifetime Achievement Award, which this year's recipient is Mr.
• 3:07
  Wes Wall of Genics.
• 3:09
  But Cam, I am so excited for today's guest because the guest we have today was last year's Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
• 3:18
  That's right! So you know what?
• 3:19
  We did this on purpose.
• 3:20
  We sure did.
• 3:21
  So Jennifer, why don't you go ahead and introduce our guest today?
• 3:24
  So I am absolutely honored to introduce Darlene Whittaker, who is the president and CEO of Reliable Tube here in Acheson.
• 3:33
  Hello, Darlene.
• 3:34
  Hi, Darlene.
• 3:34
  Hi, you guys are amazing.
• 3:37
  Oh, you're just so excited about it and everything. It's wonderful! We're so excited to have you here.
• 3:41
  This is really awesome.
• 3:42
  Thank you.
• 3:43
  Yeah, it's great.
• 3:44
  And like Jennifer said, you were our last year's recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the ABA Gala.
• 3:50
  And so I think this is awesome that you're here today with us.
• 3:52
  So do I.
• 3:53
  Yeah.
• 3:54
  And can I just say Darlene's always a little reluctant.
• 3:57
  And one time she actually, Cam, she accused me of bullying her into doing something.
• 4:00
  I did not bully her and she was happy she did it.
• 4:03
  Well, because Darlene has a great story, but she always is a little shy about telling it.
• 4:07
  So stay tuned because we did a video with her last year.
• 4:10
  We gave her the award last year.
• 4:11
  We're doing a podcast with her.
• 4:13
  The book's coming out.
• 4:14
  And I think the movie will be out really soon on the life of Darlene Whittaker.
• 4:18
  So but again, we are just so excited to have her here with us today.
• 4:21
  We are.
• 4:22
  So, Darlene, let's kick it off.
• 4:24
  Tell us a little bit about yourself.
• 4:26
  Where did you grow up?
• 4:27
  Well, thank you guys for having me.
• 4:31
  I'm honoured to be here.
• 4:32
  Thank you so much.
• 4:34
  I was born in Estevan, Saskatchewan, a little city, I guess it is now, in southern Saskatchewan.
• 4:43
  I was born the third child of a pastor and his wife, and a very sick child, as it happened to be.
• 4:53
  When I was six weeks old, they finally realized that I was actually starving for lack of nutrition.
• 5:00
  They thought I was just a colicky baby and throwing up all the time.
• 5:04
  So they had to rush me from Estevan to Winnipeg to have a surgery.
• 5:09
  And I had the surgery, and when they were doing the surgery, they actually broke a needle off in my hip, so I had to have two surgeries, and they couldn't get the needle out.
• 5:20
  So I had to be, as a child, go to the doctor every six months to be checked for where that needle was, and eventually muscle tissue just wrapped itself around it, and it might have dissolved now.
• 5:32
  I don't know.
• 5:33
  I haven't had a check.
• 5:33
  So is the needle still in you?
• 5:35
  Unless it's dissolved.
• 5:36
  I don't know.
• 5:37
  So you had a bit of a rough start.
• 5:39
  I had a rough start, and thankful for my parents who persevered through the journey and got me to where I was.
• 5:46
  And I always say I'm a very healthy adult because I had my sickness when I was so young.
• 5:52
  Now did you live on the farm?
• 5:53
  Did you live in the city?
• 5:54
  No, we lived in the city of Estevan.
• 5:55
  My dad pastored a church very close to our home.
• 5:58
  And, you know, being a pastor's daughter, you move a little bit.
• 6:03
  So eventually we did move to Medicine Hat and spent some time there.
• 6:07
  And then my dad was called to pastor a church here in Edmonton.
• 6:12
  And of course, being a teenager at that time, I did not want to leave my friends and boyfriends.
• 6:18
  Boyfriends?
• 6:18
  Do you want to talk about those?
• 6:21
  No?
• 6:21
  Because if they're listening, any of them are listening.
• 6:24
  OK, no, OK, we won't go there.
• 6:26
  All right.
• 6:27
  So I was reluctant to go.
• 6:30
  But anyway, we did end up moving.
• 6:34
  And of course, it was meant to be because I met the love of my life in the church.
• 6:38
  My dad went to pastor.
• 6:39
  So I was happy to make the decision to.
• 6:43
  So where did you go to high school?
• 6:45
  I went to Vic.
• 6:46
  You went to Vic, huh?
• 6:48
  I went to Ross Shep.
• 6:48
  So you were our rivals.
• 6:50
  Yeah, Vic comp was our rivals.
• 6:51
  Yeah, I don't know how I ended up there, but I did.
• 6:54
  I think because of the courses I was in before I got there, it was the only one that offered what I was taking.
• 6:59
  So that's where I was.
• 7:00
  But I did graduate from Queen E, actually.
• 7:02
  You did?
• 7:03
  I did end up moving to the North End and graduated from Queen E.
• 7:06
  Okay.
• 7:07
  Yeah.
• 7:07
  All right.
• 7:08
  Well, there's another story behind that.
• 7:10
  Not sure you want to hear it.
• 7:11
  Yes, we do.
• 7:12
  Well, you know.
• 7:13
  If it's as good as the boyfriends, I want to hear it.
• 7:15
  That's all I got to say.
• 7:16
  I have a sad story.
• 7:18
  But my parents were not happy that I connected and met a young man that was of a different race than I was.
• 7:25
  And so they decided the best thing for me to do was to be sent back to Saskatchewan.
• 7:31
  So I ended up going back and living with some family in Saskatchewan briefly, in hopes that this crush might dissolve and change.
• 7:42
  But now, can I just say, because that was a few years ago.
• 7:46
  Yes, a different time.
• 7:48
  1969.
• 7:49
  Yeah, and that was a very prevalent, not just your parents, but a very prevalent attitude.
• 7:53
  No, it was very common.
• 7:55
  It was a very unusual situation that I found myself in.
• 8:00
  But you know, you can't choose who you fall in love with sometimes.
• 8:05
  And that's just what it was.
• 8:06
  That's interesting.
• 8:07
  That's very interesting.
• 8:08
  And so they sent you back to Saskatchewan.
• 8:10
  So I went there, I got a job right away quick and worked.
• 8:14
  And so I took my my grade 12 grad exams, government exams in Moose Jaw.
• 8:21
  Okay.
• 8:22
  All right.
• 8:23
  And then you came back.
• 8:23
  And then eventually I went to Banff and worked in Banff.
• 8:27
  Okay.
• 8:28
  And I mean, I was young.
• 8:29
  I had just barely turned 18 when all this happened.
• 8:32
  Right.
• 8:33
  And so then eventually, Joe and I of course talked every day.
• 8:37
  And he came and picked me up in Banff and brought me back home.
• 8:40
  And I did not go back to my parents' home.
• 8:43
  I mean, although we reconciled, but I did not go back.
• 8:46
  We, I ended up living with a friend.
• 8:49
  And yeah, so life changed quite drastically at a young age.
• 8:52
  Joe is the love of your life.
• 8:54
  Yes, he's the love of my life.
• 8:56
  Tell us about Joe. How did all that happen?
• 8:58
  Well, Joe was part of a musical group that sang in the church that I attended.
• 9:03
  And he's very talented, him and his family, they traveled a lot.
• 9:06
  And, of course, very handsome, and so when I saw him, I immediately thought he was pretty cool, but out of his league, because very shy and intimidated person I was.
• 9:17
  And anyway, he went home the day he met me and told his mom, I'm gonna marry that girl.
• 9:23
  And then his mom said to him, you leave that preacher's daughter alone.
• 9:28
  Oh, yeah, those preacher's daughters, I'm telling you.
• 9:31
  Anyways, we did end up getting married, and got married in 1969.
• 9:38
  And yeah, life was good and challenging, and just life, you know.
• 9:45
  So you got married in 1969.
• 9:48
  Tell us a little bit about when the business started, when Reliable Tube started.
• 9:53
  So, Joe always worked at a high level in different businesses, and was always seemed to be, if a business was bought out, the top people would be let go.
• 10:04
  So we finally discussed in the last time, you know, this is enough of this.
• 10:10
  We need to do something to take care of ourselves, because now we're in our 40s.
• 10:14
  And so in 1988, we decided to start Reliable Tube.
• 10:22
  And the plan was just to be a very small distribution center and just make enough money in order to survive, pay our mortgage and utilities.
• 10:34
  So tell us a little bit about that leap, because I can only imagine going from a regular paycheck, how many kids did you have at this point?
• 10:41
  Two daughters.
• 10:42
  Two daughters.
• 10:43
  Going from a regular paycheck, and you're going to now start your own business.
• 10:46
  That must have been a bit of a leap.
• 10:47
  That was a bit of a leap, but we had decided together, you know, we can't dwell on what if.
• 10:54
  We have to step out because we don't want to regret later down the road that we didn't take a chance.
• 11:00
  So we realized that the worst thing that could happen is that we might lose our home, and we would live in an apartment, and we were both okay with that.
• 11:07
  We decided it was going to be okay.
• 11:09
  Wow.
• 11:10
  Yeah.
• 11:11
  And it turned out to be an amazing journey.
• 11:15
  Now, just a little tidbit, JAPA Industries' Paul Green was very instrumental in us starting the business together.
• 11:26
  Joe and him were partners for a brief time, and it was amazing.
• 11:31
  He was brought into our life for a time, and we're very thankful for him and how the journey with him evolved, and also that we were able to part in Friends and still continue on in the journey.
• 11:48
  So maybe before we go any further, you should tell us what Reliable Tube does.
• 11:52
  So we are a steel tube only, just tubing, round, square, rectangular tube.
• 11:59
  We don't do flats or anything else, and we started out with just a very small warehouse here in the park, and then we grew and needed a bigger warehouse, which is the one down the street from us now.
• 12:16
  And yeah, no, we just started expanding buildings and just found they were too small and ended up in the place where we are now.
• 12:25
  And yeah, it was just, I don't know, it was just amazing because we didn't anticipate the growth and the acceptance and of the different people out there that helped us in our journey along the way.
• 12:41
  Yeah.
• 12:42
  So Darlene, when Joe started the business, you weren't always working though, were you?
• 12:46
  No, I worked only part-time at another company, Mansfield Importers, very old business and it's no longer there, but I did the accounting there, which was very wonderful experience for me because I worked with an accountant who really trained me and got me to a point where I would be very capable at running the business where I am now, even though I have no actual educational background, like I haven't got a degree or anything, but just because of the on-hands training I had, it worked out very well for me.
• 13:22
  So you were working there but still doing part-time at Reliable?
• 13:26
  Yeah, no, I wasn't doing anything at Reliable yet because we'd agreed not to work together.
• 13:31
  This was a thing we had decided.
• 13:33
  No, this is not a good thing to work together.
• 13:36
  It's not easy husband and wife working together and we thought, we need to keep our marriage okay without bringing in the dynamics of working together.
• 13:45
  So we decided not to.
• 13:47
  But one day in 1994, Joe called me up and said, Dar, enough's enough, quit that job and you're coming to work here because I can't do this.
• 13:57
  He needed you.
• 13:58
  Yeah, which was, it felt good that he told me to do that but it was difficult to do because now I'm going from a little bit of a paycheck to work for the company.
• 14:07
  Now you're really all in.
• 14:08
  Now I'm all in.
• 14:09
  It's all in.
• 14:11
  Anyway, it has turned out to be very good.
• 14:15
  I mean, we had some slamming of doors and some firings back and forth and you're fired.
• 14:21
  Oh, Dar, I'm sorry, no, come back.
• 14:24
  I would love to have seen you two.
• 14:25
  That would be kind of cool.
• 14:26
  I'd slam the door and say no.
• 14:28
  You're fired working with the company but you're not fired as my wife.
• 14:31
  Let's just make sure we understand that.
• 14:33
  Yeah, no.
• 14:35
  We had a few interesting.
• 14:36
  I can't say it was all 100 percent, but all in all, it was great and we made very good partners.
• 14:45
  Our accountants, our lawyers told us you both are so good in the areas that you specialize in that you just blend together and do so well.
• 14:53
  Wow, that's fantastic because that doesn't always work the husband and wife.
• 14:57
  No, no, no.
• 14:58
  That can end anyway, but it didn't.
• 15:00
  Yeah, because then you go home and that's all you do.
• 15:02
  That's your life.
• 15:02
  Right.
• 15:03
  You got to learn to separate.
• 15:04
  And to be honest, now I do miss that because I go home and just think by myself and have nobody.
• 15:08
  I mean, I have my kids, they're involved in the business, but I often think about things and try and get my head around them.
• 15:16
  So the company was growing.
• 15:17
  Yes.
• 15:17
  And you guys were expanding.
• 15:19
  We expanded to Calgary, like five years into the business, we expanded to Calgary and it's done well.
• 15:27
  We're in a slow year this year, all the businesses, but overall we did very well.
• 15:34
  And so you're working together as husband and wife, but then there becomes a point when Joe became sick.
• 15:40
  Yes.
• 15:41
  Now that was a 10 year adventure in a way, because it started out with a small surgery and just kept going on and on.
• 15:50
  And he had five surgeries actually before he passed, but the last one, we had just come back from a trip to Africa to see our project there.
• 16:05
  And we came back in January and he had a stroke.
• 16:10
  And they figured that the stroke was caused actually either, they couldn't decide if it was by a blood clot from flying or whether it was from the medication he was on for the cancer that he was fighting.
• 16:20
  Okay, so he had cancer.
• 16:22
  Yes, he had cancer, just cancer, gastrointestinal strom tumors, which is very rare.
• 16:31
  Yeah.
• 16:31
  And so he had surgeries for that.
• 16:34
  Right.
• 16:37
  And was on medication.
• 16:40
  And it did help it for a while, but then the medication didn't work and it came back.
• 16:45
  And so he was on a different test medication.
• 16:49
  Right.
• 16:52
  And they figure that was the medication that maybe caused the stroke.
• 16:56
  Right.
• 16:56
  So he had a stroke.
• 16:58
  He had golfed the day before.
• 17:00
  He golfed two under par.
• 17:01
  His best round of golf did very well.
• 17:03
  He was a very avid good golfer.
• 17:05
  Yeah.
• 17:07
  And after the stroke, of course, it changes a bit.
• 17:12
  And he was damaged on the right side of his body.
• 17:16
  And although they told him he would not walk out of the hospital, he had the stroke in the state.
• 17:23
  We were in the states when it happened.
• 17:25
  So he was in the hospital there and had surgery and everything there, which in itself was an experience.
• 17:30
  I can imagine.
• 17:31
  Yeah.
• 17:31
  And they told him he would never walk out of there.
• 17:34
  And he had such intestinal fortitude and such drive, which is through his whole life, as shown in what he accomplished, that he did walk out of that hospital and was amazing.
• 17:48
  And he did have to have some other rehab, but he never recovered necessarily his total use of his right arm.
• 17:58
  So tell us, how did that affect the business?
• 18:00
  Because I would imagine that would have a major effect on the business.
• 18:04
  You and the business.
• 18:05
  Well, it was very difficult.
• 18:07
  Our girls flew down right away and stayed down there with us for two months while he was in recuperation.
• 18:11
  So of course, we just had to think about that.
• 18:15
  And that's all we thought about.
• 18:17
  But thank goodness, we had very capable people in our businesses that just carried on and were so loyal and supportive of everything.
• 18:25
  And we're just hoping and praying that everything would go well.
• 18:28
  And everything just fell into place and all was taken care of.
• 18:33
  And yeah.
• 18:34
  And then when we came back, Joe did continue to come into the office, but it wasn't as easy for him.
• 18:40
  And so that was at the point when we started.
• 18:44
  I started taking a little bit more of the responsibility for the business.
• 18:51
  And so what year did Joe pass away, Darlene?
• 18:53
  2014.
• 18:55
  So 10 years this past spring.
• 18:59
  So full disclosure, I've known you for quite a number of years.
• 19:03
  And I knew you and Joe and your daughters.
• 19:07
  I knew them.
• 19:09
  And Joe was an amazing person.
• 19:11
  He was bigger than life.
• 19:13
  There's no question.
• 19:14
  When Joe walked into a room, the room literally, in my opinion, and I was in many rooms that Joe walked into, the room lit up and he had that vivacious smile.
• 19:26
  He was so good natured.
• 19:28
  He made you laugh.
• 19:29
  But when he, I remember this, when he laughed, we all laughed.
• 19:33
  It was just that big, broad Joe laugh.
• 19:36
  And but yet he was so, what's the word I'm looking for?
• 19:41
  He was just, he was just such a good man.
• 19:44
  Like he was just good and smart and brilliant and, and wise and yet very down to earth.
• 19:51
  Yeah, I think so many people have told me even recently, is just here a few months ago, we miss him so much when we get together because he was the light of the party.
• 20:00
  And he was just so much fun.
• 20:02
  And, and he, he was, he was, he was a character.
• 20:05
  He could tell a joke like nobody else.
• 20:07
  Yes, that's right.
• 20:08
  And then he could lead you in a very serious conversation as well.
• 20:12
  Yeah, he could challenge you to be better and to do better and to work hard to achieve what you want to achieve and to follow your dreams.
• 20:22
  And so, yeah, no, missed very much.
• 20:26
  I do have another point that I want to bring up though, because Darlene, after Joe passed away, and it wasn't long after Joe passed away, you had people pretty much almost walk into your office and tell you, you can't run this business.
• 20:40
  Basically.
• 20:40
  As a woman, you can't run this business.
• 20:42
  Yeah, no, this is too much for you, and we're willing to offer you a price, and we'd like to buy your business.
• 20:49
  And I was quite surprised.
• 20:51
  In fact, I just talked to one of my staff about it this morning and said, you know, I said to that person, do you know what?
• 20:59
  I'm quite capable of running this business.
• 21:01
  And how do you feel about that?
• 21:01
  And we are continuing.
• 21:02
  And they were telling you.
• 21:03
  Yeah, like it kind of, like it threw me for a minute, but then I had the courage to speak up, which is not really necessarily my personality.
• 21:11
  But I have been growing in the past 10 years in that way.
• 21:15
  And I did speak up and say, you know, listen, we're carrying on.
• 21:19
  This is a family business.
• 21:20
  This is what Joe started for, you know, his children and grandchildren.
• 21:24
  And we will carry on.
• 21:26
  And thank you, but you have a good day.
• 21:28
  Yeah, so I can only imagine.
• 21:31
  So when Joe passed away, not only were you grieving through all of that, your family was grieving through that.
• 21:37
  The girls had lost their dad.
• 21:39
  People were walking into your office saying, sell, you can't do this.
• 21:44
  Yeah.
• 21:44
  And you're having to work through all of this emotion and all of this.
• 21:48
  At the end of the day, what was it that you said?
• 21:51
  No, I'm doing this.
• 21:53
  Well, I just knew in my heart it was what I had to do for Joe's legacy for one thing and for my kids and grandkids.
• 22:01
  I remember Joe sitting with our oldest grandson on his knee, sitting in his office and saying to him, one day this will all be yours, Brayden.
• 22:11
  So challenging him at a very young age that he needed to be responsible.
• 22:16
  And we've always challenged our kids to be people of integrity and to be compassionate and to be charitable and carry on.
• 22:25
  So we just knew we could do it.
• 22:26
  And thankfully, I have two wonderful son-in-laws, as well as my daughters.
• 22:31
  And they came, stood up, and they have been immensely helpful to me in the journey.
• 22:38
  And we work well together as a family.
• 22:41
  Sure.
• 22:42
  Yeah.
• 22:42
  And you have a great family, Darlene.
• 22:44
  Thank you.
• 22:45
  I think so.
• 22:46
  I mean, everybody thinks their family is the greatest, but you know what?
• 22:49
  We love them.
• 22:50
  News Flash: We have the best.
• 22:51
  News Flash: Yes.
• 22:52
  News Flash: And I wouldn't expect you to say anything less than that.
• 22:55
  News Flash: Listen, anybody you can get their mom to go to Disneyland for two weeks and go on the rides with that.
• 23:01
  News Flash: Oh my gosh.
• 23:01
  News Flash: Some of the rides, I will say, like, you know, less this time than last time.
• 23:05
  News Flash: But I'm telling you one thing.
• 23:07
  News Flash: I told them, no way.
• 23:08
  News Flash: You are not getting this old lady back up there again.
• 23:10
  News Flash: What was your favorite ride?
• 23:12
  News Flash: Come on.
• 23:13
  News Flash: Ratatouille.
• 23:18
  News Flash: I love it.
• 23:19
  News Flash: That's fantastic.
• 23:20
  News Flash: So you're never too old to go to Disneyland.
• 23:23
  News Flash: Folks, listen to that.
• 23:25
  News Flash: Even if you're just sightseeing.
• 23:26
  News Flash: That's right.
• 23:26
  News Flash: But you're with your family.
• 23:28
  News Flash: Yeah.
• 23:28
  News Flash: And you guys are very tight.
• 23:29
  News Flash: You are.
• 23:29
  News Flash: You're very close.
• 23:30
  News Flash: We witnessed that last year at the award ceremony.
• 23:33
  News Flash: Your family was all there with you.
• 23:35
  News Flash: And that was actually for me, actually, it was a very emotional moment to see all your family there with you and standing with you.
• 23:42
  News Flash: That was really something.
• 23:43
  News Flash: So that was emotional for me as well.
• 23:45
  News Flash: Yeah.
• 23:46
  News Flash: Thankful for my family for sure.
• 23:48
  News Flash: Yeah.
• 23:49
  News Flash: So you had mentioned earlier when we were talking about you and Joe, we're doing some things, some philanthropic, there we go.
• 23:57
  News Flash: Sorry.
• 23:58
  News Flash: Not enough coffee yet.
• 23:59
  News Flash: Yeah.
• 24:01
  News Flash: And tell us a little bit about it, because I know your heart is just to help people.
• 24:04
  News Flash: I know that about you.
• 24:06
  News Flash: So tell us a little bit about that.
• 24:08
  News Flash: You know, we've always tried to be charitable and giving and support different things in the community.
• 24:16
  News Flash: And, you know, in Alberta in particular, but we were challenged at one point by a former pastor to maybe broaden our horizon.
• 24:27
  News Flash: And we took a trip with him to Africa and visited a village of hope, which is a very unique set up that falls under the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada.
• 24:41
  News Flash: Started by Gary Skinner.
• 24:43
  News Flash: Yes.
• 24:44
  News Flash: And David Hazard was very involved in that.
• 24:46
  News Flash: And so we went with him to visit a particular village.
• 24:51
  News Flash: And with the thought, David was hoping that we would help sponsor building of a home.
• 24:57
  News Flash: Now, over there, they do an orphanage a bit different.
• 24:59
  News Flash: It's not like a big institutional building where everybody stays together.
• 25:03
  News Flash: They build homes on a property, 8, 10, how much ever the property will hold.
• 25:08
  News Flash: And in each home, there's eight children, a mother and an aunt taking care.
• 25:12
  News Flash: So, it's more like a home base for the kids than, you know, that's their mom, they're doing their work.
• 25:19
  News Flash: It's a fabulous way to do it.
• 25:20
  News Flash: They do amazing work, yeah.
• 25:22
  News Flash: And it had a school at this particular place.
• 25:25
  News Flash: And so, he was challenging us that we should, you know, perhaps sponsor the building of a home.
• 25:33
  News Flash: So, we were talking about it and, you know, asking what it would cost to sponsor the home.
• 25:38
  News Flash: And it was somewhere around $25,000, $30,000 to sponsor a home.
• 25:43
  News Flash: And so, we were thinking and looking at each other.
• 25:47
  News Flash: And Joe, out of his, of course, desire, you know, he always thought ahead.
• 25:54
  News Flash: And he said, well, what about doing a complete village?
• 25:59
  News Flash: Could, would that be possible?
• 26:02
  News Flash: And the gentleman that, Serge, that was in charge of that at the time, he said, well, funny, you should say that.
• 26:10
  News Flash: We've been offered a piece of property in Changui that if we could secure, we could start a whole new village of hope there.
• 26:23
  News Flash: If, but, you know, of course, it's hard to get sponsors.
• 26:26
  News Flash: It's very difficult.
• 26:28
  News Flash: And Joe, in his wisdom, said, you get the property for us and we will sponsor the building of that village.
• 26:37
  News Flash: And that's where it started.
• 26:38
  News Flash: Right.
• 26:38
  News Flash: So we started off by going over for a groundbreaking, which was amazing, just to see the people come out and all the people that were excited.
• 26:46
  News Flash: I mean, people from the army came, the chiefs, the chieftesses, right-hand people came.
• 26:53
  News Flash: It was just amazing.
• 26:54
  News Flash: It brought tears to my eyes and to see all the- And they can sing and dance.
• 26:57
  News Flash: Oh, and they came down the road, a pile of them.
• 26:59
  News Flash: My goodness, I know.
• 27:00
  News Flash: And it just brought tears to my eyes and we were out there.
• 27:03
  News Flash: It was amazing.
• 27:04
  News Flash: And so we started, we got a concept.
• 27:07
  News Flash: We had somebody here help us draw up a concept for the village.
• 27:10
  News Flash: And then we went to work, you know, getting our funds together and getting it going.
• 27:16
  News Flash: And we went there in 2000, that was 2007, 2010.
• 27:20
  News Flash: We went there for the grand opening for, you know, a few homes and part of the school.
• 27:25
  News Flash: Yeah.
• 27:26
  News Flash: Amazing.
• 27:27
  News Flash: Yeah.
• 27:27
  News Flash: How many kids are in the village now?
• 27:28
  News Flash: I mean, now we've got 700 to 750 right now that attend school there.
• 27:32
  News Flash: We have what they call baby class up to grade 12.
• 27:35
  News Flash: Yeah.
• 27:36
  News Flash: And we have eight homes with children and aunts and mothers in it.
• 27:42
  News Flash: And it's changed a little bit over the years.
• 27:46
  News Flash: Social services there has changed trying to keep the children with family.
• 27:50
  News Flash: And so, it's becoming...
• 27:54
  News Flash: We're more a place where police actually bring children who have been abused to stay and live.
• 28:00
  News Flash: And it's quite amazing.
• 28:02
  News Flash: And so, the big thing there is the school.
• 28:04
  News Flash: But the amazing thing, which we were told would never be able to be done, we managed to get approval and put a medical clinic on the premises.
• 28:13
  News Flash: And they said that would never happen.
• 28:16
  News Flash: And so, that is amazing in itself.
• 28:18
  News Flash: That is not an easy thing to do in Africa.
• 28:20
  News Flash: That is a very, I know that for a fact. That's difficult.
• 28:22
  News Flash: We had a contact here at the Alberta University of Alberta.
• 28:27
  News Flash: And he had a contact over in Zambia.
• 28:30
  News Flash: And he actually went over and he promoted us to them.
• 28:34
  News Flash: And they just said, here's the plans, build the clinic, and we will support you in what you're doing.
• 28:39
  News Flash: And so, it's been amazing.
• 28:41
  News Flash: And you make me, I miss that.
• 28:42
  News Flash: Now I miss Africa.
• 28:43
  News Flash: I want to go back.
• 28:44
  News Flash: No, it's amazing.
• 28:46
  News Flash: So, that clinic was named in honor of Joe because it never did get completed before he passed.
• 28:52
  News Flash: Incredible.
• 28:53
  News Flash: And how many times have you been over there now?
• 28:55
  News Flash: I think eight times, maybe nine times now.
• 28:58
  News Flash: And you're going to go again?
• 28:59
  News Flash: I'm hoping to go next year.
• 29:00
  News Flash: Like if everything works out well, I'm hoping to go next fall.
• 29:04
  News Flash: Yeah.
• 29:04
  News Flash: Oh, Darlene.
• 29:06
  News Flash: I just love talking to her, don't you?
• 29:08
  News Flash: Well, I do because every time before these conferences, she says, I don't have any story.
• 29:13
  News Flash: And this is just an amazing story to me.
• 29:16
  News Flash: I just sit here in awe of you.
• 29:17
  News Flash: I really do because it's amazing.
• 29:19
  News Flash: And you inspire us.
• 29:21
  News Flash: You really do.
• 29:22
  News Flash: And that's the exciting part.
• 29:23
  News Flash: You do.
• 29:24
  News Flash: And so to end it off, you're off the hook now.
• 29:28
  News Flash: See, that wasn't so bad, was it?
• 29:29
  News Flash: Well, I did okay.
• 29:30
  News Flash: Yeah, you did amazing.
• 29:32
  News Flash: Last question, we asked all of our guests.
• 29:35
  News Flash: What is the best piece of advice you've been given either personally or professionally that you carry with you to this day?
• 29:42
  News Flash: Oh, goodness sakes.
• 29:44
  News Flash: You know, there's so much out there, but I don't know.
• 29:48
  News Flash: I think the most important thing is, of course, my faith has been a big part in the journey, and following the leading and feeling the leading of what to do.
• 30:01
  News Flash: But, you know, the biggest thing is to be people of integrity, to be compassionate, to be charitable.
• 30:09
  News Flash: It's not all about the business.
• 30:10
  News Flash: You know, we're given businesses in order to work on other projects that need to be done, and so I'm thankful for that.
• 30:19
  News Flash: But, yeah, no, it's worked out quite well.
• 30:25
  News Flash: Yeah.
• 30:26
  News Flash: Darlene, you are an amazing person, and what I love the most about you is your love for people, your love for your family.
• 30:33
  News Flash: I think that's, you know, as I've watched you, that is extraordinary to me, and that you just, life's not done.
• 30:41
  News Flash: It wasn't done when Joe passed.
• 30:43
  News Flash: No, it was disappointing.
• 30:45
  News Flash: Yes, absolutely. Heartbreaking.
• 30:45
  News Flash: But, you know, the journey continues on.
• 30:47
  News Flash: Yes, and you picked up, and away you went, and I'm sure there's not a day that doesn't go by that you don't miss Joe.
• 30:53
  News Flash: Absolutely.
• 30:54
  News Flash: But you have decided to push forward, and the legacy, and here's the thing, the legacy you are leaving, and sometimes we don't talk much about that these days.
• 31:03
  News Flash: We don't talk about legacy, but the legacy that you are leaving is phenomenal, and will carry on for years and years and years to come.
• 31:12
  News Flash: And so I just, I'm honoured to, I hope, be able to say you're my friend.
• 31:17
  News Flash: Yes.
• 31:17
  News Flash: And we're honoured to have you in Acheson.
• 31:20
  News Flash: I'm honoured to be here and to be part of the association.
• 31:23
  News Flash: It's, you know, we haven't been hugely involved a lot, but you know what, we do want to be.
• 31:30
  News Flash: You're there, and we know you're there.
• 31:31
  News Flash: We know you're there.
• 31:32
  News Flash: That's right.
• 31:33
  News Flash: Well, thank you, Darlene.
• 31:34
  News Flash: Thank you so much for having me.
• 31:35
  News Flash: Appreciate it so much.
• 31:36
  News Flash: Thank you very much.
• 31:37
  News Flash: Jennifer?
• 31:38
  News Flash: Hey.
• 31:39
  News Flash: I know.
• 31:40
  News Flash: What's left to say?
• 31:41
  News Flash: I know what's left to say.
• 31:42
  News Flash: I think you and I get the most out of this.
• 31:45
  News Flash: And it takes us, I know for me personally, it takes me the whole day to come down now because this is just so incredible.
• 31:51
  News Flash: So thanks everybody for listening.
• 31:53
  News Flash: Really appreciate you listening to us.
• 31:55
  News Flash: Really appreciate everybody who downloads our podcasts all over the world.
• 31:59
  News Flash: We're excited about that.
• 32:01
  News Flash: And so from the Wall Coffee Roasters in beautiful downtown Acheson.
• 32:06
  News Flash: Thanks for listening everyone.
• 32:08
  News Flash: See you.
• 32:08
  News Flash: Bye bye.
• 32:11
  News Flash: I could listen to Darlene's story over and over and over again.
• 32:15
  News Flash: What an amazing story.
• 32:16
  News Flash: What an amazing lady.
• 32:17
  News Flash: She's such an inspiration.
• 32:18
  News Flash: So incredible.
• 32:20
  News Flash: Thanks everybody for listening.
• 32:21
  News Flash: And you can make sure to tell your friends and your family and your business partners and your enemies.
• 32:26
  News Flash: And if you don't have any friends, make one so that you can tell them about this amazing story that you just listened to.
• 32:33
  News Flash: That's right.
• 32:34
  News Flash: And next week in our Best Of, we're going to have Mr.
• 32:38
  News Flash: Wes Wall.
• 32:39
  News Flash: Mr.
• 32:40
  News Flash: Wes Wall.
• 32:41
  News Flash: That's right.
• 32:41
  News Flash: The owner of Genics, a lifetime achievement award winner with the Acheson Business Association.
• 32:45
  News Flash: And he's going to share his incredible story of how he got to where he is today.
• 32:50
  News Flash: You won't want to miss it.
• 32:51
  News Flash: You won't want to miss it.
• 32:52
  News Flash: So, hey, tell everybody about it.
• 32:53
  News Flash: We look forward to seeing you next week.
• 32:55
  News Flash: Thanks everybody.