May 12th, 2022

For the past 27 years, Dave Kurek (known by his friends, colleagues and students as Mr. Dave) has been volunteering his time to make Queensmount Senior Public School in Kitchener a kinder place. In April, the school came together to celebrate the Q’s super hero on National Superhero Day.

Mr. Dave’s contributions over more than a quarter century were recognized at a special assembly where he was presented with the door from the locker he had as a student at the school in 1972. Mr. Dave explained his reaction when he saw the locker door, custom painted to commemorate the milestone achievement.

“It was jaw-dropping, just jaw-dropping,” said Mr. Dave. “I just couldn’t believe it. It was so well done.”

Mr. Dave began volunteering at Queensmount in 1995, following a serious accident that led to him spending months in a coma, and a year in rehabilitation.

This experience began what would become Mr. Dave’s focus as a volunteer at Queensmount.

“I was in a bad accident at work almost 40 years ago. So many people had been kind to me all the way through that,” said Mr. Dave. “I found that, if you’re kind to someone, that kindness will eventually come back to you. And it really does, it’s like magic.”

Mr. Dave leads the Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) team at Queensmount, and he extols the virtues of these simple acts of kindness. It may take a few days, or it can be decades, but Mr. Dave explained that positivity and kindness always return to those who put them out there.

“Always, like magic, it comes back to you.”

Yasmin is a member of the RAK team and a Grade 8 student at Queensmount. She spoke about the difference Mr. Dave’s commitment to kindness makes for students at the school.

“It’s honestly amazing,” said Yasmin. “It really has a big impact on the students, since everyone always comes to school with a positive attitude knowing that they’re going to be able to see him.”

Dominic is another member of the RAK team, and shared how the power of kindness shapes the school environment.

“Mr. Dave has impacted how everybody thinks of school,” said Dominic, adding that his efforts help the entire school feel more positive.

In the hallway before the assembly, the RAK team and Mr. Dave came together for their signature chant.

“A RAK comes baaaack!” they shouted in unison.

Though students spend only a few years at Queensmount, many staff have been there a lot longer. During the assembly, they shared what Mr. Dave’s contributions have meant to them.

“We’re lucky, because no other school has a Mr. Dave,” said Martin Wolfe, a teacher at Queensmount. “I’m really honoured to count Mr. Dave not only as a colleague and a volunteer, but as a friend.”

Wolfe shared one of his favourite memories with Mr. Dave involving a performance for students and staff.

“I’ve shared this very stage with Mr. Dave for a very memorable rendition of Free Bird,” said Wolfe.

So, after 27 years, what comes next for Mr. Dave? There’s no end in sight for his belief in the power of acts of kindness, and like a RAK, he plans to keep coming back.

“I want to stay here, for as long as I can.”