By Frederick Halley
GUYANA-BORN Derek Devaram Dabee has long been known for his volunteerism in the community and has worked with a wide variety of organisations and groups, including the Manitoba Adolescent Treatment Centre, the Manitoba Round Table for Sustainable Development and has poured his time and energy into the areas and issues about which he is passionate.

A recipient of the City of Winnipeg Outstanding Volunteer Award for Recreation, Dabee is a long-time advocate for equity and diversity, having served on both the City of Winnipeg Task Force on Equity and Diversity and the Civil Service Equity Employment Policy Committee. Derek has also worked tirelessly on local and provincial levels, promoting sports, human rights, and culture within the Caribbean community.
However, for many Winnipeggers, Derek is perhaps best known as the Founding President of the Burton Cummings Community Centre and as a member of the Maples Community Centre Board who helped spearhead the first youth cricket pitch in the Seven Oaks Area.

In a recent interview with the Sunday Pepperpot from his home in Manitoba, Dabee stressed that as a School Board Trustee his focus is mainly on the educational needs of students and families in the Seven Oaks School Division, with a particular eye on building new schools, recreation, and sports facilities. He looks forward to helping the division explore the learning opportunities offered by new technologies and providing additional support for teachers as they prepare young people for the challenges ahead.
According to Derek, supporting students as they explore their education and their own connections to the community will ultimately bring people together and make the entire Seven Oaks School Division stronger.
Dabee decided to run for a seat on the Seven Oaks School Division Board of Trustees when he heard that a long-time Trustee was retiring, making history as the first Guyanese /West Indian to be elected on a Manitoba School Board. He saw it not only as an opportunity to contribute to the continued development of the public school system, but also as a chance to give back to the larger Seven Oaks community. He is currently in his third four-year term as a School Board Trustee.

Dabee, along with the nine-member Seven Oaks Board of Trustees, govern the fastest growing School District in the province with a budget of Canadian $102 million.
Apart from being a School Board Trustee, Dabee was also past Chair, Chief union negotiator, Policy and Budget committees. He led the equity employment and Anti- Racism Policy, was head of the first Canada Filipino Bilingual programme in public schools and led the Divisional Diwali and the Graduation PoW-Wow Indigenous celebrations policy.
Dabee is also the representative on the Seven Oaks School Division to the City Indigenous Accord, Community Reporter since 2011 with the Winnipeg Free Press, a member of the Committee (volunteered) on Employment Equity and Diversity Policies legislation (Adopted 1997) and the lead member – City of Winnipeg Equity and Diversity Policy- Task Force.
He also served as Chairperson of the Manitoba Disaster Assistance Appeal Board for three years and had the unique distinction of being the first person of colour to attain that position.
Among the other areas Dabee was associated with on a voluntary basis were: Manitoba Round Table for Sustainable Development, Adolescent Treatment Centre, the University of Manitoba (five years study of active adults, Winnipeg Arts Council, president Maples Community Centre, president Caribbean Health Info Academy, founding president Burton Cummings Community Centre, founding member: Lions Cricket Club, founding Member City of Winnipeg- North Recreation Association, lead volunteer r( (renovations) at the Maples/Elwick Community Centre, long-time senior volunteer – Philippine Basketball Association and, Manitoba cricket and tennis associations.

Dabbie also assisted in establishing the Council of Caribbean Centre, Filipino Centre, and Hindu Seniors Centre, the Maples Seniors Centre and successfully led or assisted in lobbying or advocating for: eight new schools, four community centres, six cricket pitches, 16 tennis courts, five ice hockey rinks, 10 basketball courts and four baseball fields.
After serving the Manitoba Civil Service for 27 years, Derek became the first Caribbean person to be elected as a School Trustee, where 95 per cent of the voters are none Guyanese.
Derek pointed out that he migrated to Canada to study and with the intention of returning to his homeland, but for several reasons, decided to change his original plan. He, however, continued his political involvement, advocacy and volunteer services in Winnipeg.
Despite these involvements, Dabee was still reaching out to Guyana and, along with his friends and family, organised book shipments to high schools and to the Georgetown Public Free Library, raising funds to build cricket pitches, mandirs and churches in Guyana.
Dabbie’s appreciations awards include: City of Winnipeg – Volunteer of the Year Award – Recreation Caribbean Association. – Millennium Award – Community Service, Guyanese Association of Manitoba Lifetime Award, Manitoba Cricket Association Builder- Lifetime Award, Mahatma Gandhi Centre – Community Service. Filipino Centre Distinguished Volunteer Award and Sikh Community/Kabaddi Volunteer Award.
Dabee grew up in Vigilance, East Coast Demerara, Guyana. He attended Friendship Government School, East Coast Demerara and Hindu College. In 1773 Derek enrolled at the University of Manitoba. He also studied at the University of Winnipeg.
Married to Sandy, they have two grown children. Derek’s parents were noted community leaders in the Vigilance/Strasphey Village where the family sustained a network of community support (small financial support) to a number of community members.
While Derek’s professional career is noteworthy, his advocacy, community leadership and volunteerism are certainly celebrated and inspiring, especially to new Canadians in Canada. He distinguished himself as one of the very few community leaders who reach out to serve all nationalities. And intentionally, reaching out to include women and youth to boards or community organisations where he serves.
During his university days (six years) in Canada/Winnipeg he became a driving force in volunteerism. Yet, always outreaching to Guyana.
In 1972, welcomed by the friendly Guyanese community in Winnipeg – as a university student, Derek assisted the community in forming the first Guyanese cricket club (Lions CC) in 1973. The popular club became the tenth team of the Manitoba Cricket Association and is still playing in the A Division of the now 45-team league.
Three years later, Derek was a lead founding member of the Guyanese Association of Manitoba Inc., the community organisation that brings Guyanese together for several activities including: Independent celebrations banquets, cricket festivals the annual picnic and curried-duck competition.