A successful entrepreneur, well-known personality in the South Asian community and beyond, and a philanthropist – Dave Mann, founder of Isle of Mann Construction Ltd. and Mannkind Charitable Society, is known by many names. Behind each of these titles is his hard work, perseverance and the desire to do good to others.
A successful entrepreneur, well-known personality in the South Asian community, and a philanthropist – Dave Mann, founder of Isle of Mann Construction Ltd. and Mannkind Charitable Society, is known by many names. Behind each of these titles is his hard work, perseverance and the desire to do good to others. In 2016, the accolades and gratitude he received for his organizations is a clear indication that Mann does what he preaches. His smart entrepreneurial skills and love for humanitarian work rightfully makes him DARPAN’s 2016 Newsmaker.
Talking about a flourishing 2016, Mann describes the year as eventful and good. “It was a banner year. [I’m] grateful to be on the right side of the road,” he exclaims. Professionally, last year had Mann and his team taking smart decisions that let to the success of the company. “Prior to this year, we were quite a bit focused in two states, in Alberta and BC. But last year we shifted our focus more to BC and that really helped. We brought a few more resources into the market here,” explains Mann, whose organization aims at building greener communities comprising of environmental friendly concepts and power smart features. In fact, their architectural guidelines also include a mandate for multiple tree replanting.
Another professional victory: last year, Isle of Mann was voted as one of the legends in home construction by Greater Vancouver’s Home Builders Association. “I think that’s a great credit because Greater Vancouver Home Builders Association is not an easy place to get credit at and being an Indo-Canadian, I think its both well for our community,” says Mann.
As mentioned earlier, the eco-friendly entrepreneur is also the proud founder of Mankind Charitable Society (MCS), a registered charity started in 2009 that is very active in the welfare of orphaned children and the well-being of our environment. MCS solely aims at making the world a better place. It is involved in many projects; some of them include providing free surgical procedures to children in India with physical disabilities or deformities, helping orphans within impoverished parts of developing nations, and providing free food to the homeless residents of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
Talking about some of the other projects outside Canada, he says, “We have a 14-bed hospital in New Delhi that we sponsor for children that are poor and have cancer; we’re still working with the Syrian refugees in Serbia; and we have five different houses for children in Nepal that we look after and we have over 150 children there. We also have a food for children program in Nepal where we feed 2,000 children every month.”
Locally, the organization works in conjunction with Costco where every weekend MCS provides about $2,000 worth of grocery to various food places, native Indian youth places, and women shelters. The organization has also planted trees at a majority of Surrey’s Municipal Parks and some places in India.
Just a quick glimpse of all these initiatives undertaken by MCS and Mann suggests that the latter has a close connection with charity work and other causes. “We want to provide not only shelter, clothing and food, but to provide healthcare, education, access to arts and athletic programs, jobs, and love. To raise children that will be well adjusted and contributing citizens of this planet. To perpetuate this wonderful gift for future generations to give and maintain,” said the remarkable individual in an earlier interview with DARPAN.
What does success mean to you?
It has changed over the years. At one point it was about having a certain amount of money, successful career, now it’s having a spiritual life and living that spirituality rather than just believing in it. Not as a borrowed idea but technically living it.
What are your goals for 2017?
I don’t set goals. I’m a little bit different because all my life I have found that any goal I set I always blew past it. Goals can be limiting in a way. What happens is situations present themselves and we will dance with those situations the very best way we know how and we move forward and allow the chips to fall where they will. But we put our best foot forward. Life sometimes wants to give you a lot more than your ego believes, what your limited thinking believes. Life sometimes wants to be more generous to you so why restrict life.
I found my difficult experiences helped me the most. Difficulty experiences – financially, job-wise, even personally; they were my greatest boons because from there I spring forwarded to greater realizations and greater things. All of those experiences helped me.
What is your advice to those who wish to follow your path?
Stay humble; allow learning to flow to you. Learning can only flow to you if you stay humble. Allow things to come to you and become a student of life, and go into more depth into this life. In depth you will find your peace. We’re just grateful, grateful with existence, grateful to god, grateful to all the people we’ve met… the wonderful people that are in our lives.
