Interview with an Influencer: Farel Anderson
By Rachel Boutet
Farel Anderson 6T6 has accomplished many things in his community since graduating from the Faculty of Dentistry. As a 2021 recipient of the Alumni of Influence Award, Anderson attributes his desire to help others to his upbringing.
“I’m a small community person from Jamaica,” Anderson says. “I was raised with parents who were very concerned with people around our village – maybe that has instilled in me some sort of desire to be involved in the small community.”
When Anderson moved to Collingwood in 1966, it was a community of less than 10,000 people. After taking over a dental practice for three months, Anderson decided to remain in Collingwood, getting involved in local clubs and organizations. He notes that as one of the only Black people in the town, he wanted to establish a connection between himself and the community.
“It was hard because there were no other Black members in any community affairs or local organizations,” he says. “I felt that getting involved would give myself and the people around me a sense of what a Black person can accomplish.”
And he did just that – serving as the first Black town councilor in any local government outside an urban centre in Canada. Anderson has received many awards for his volunteer service, including the Order of Collingwood in 2009 and the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Award in early 2000. These are just some of the examples of why Anderson was selected as a 2021 recipient of the Alumni of Influence Award.
“Receiving the Alumni of Influence Award after many, many years of working with the community, both inside and outside of dentistry, made me feel recognized and proud,” he says. “I have a great appreciation for this recognition – although I’ve had many awards over the years, this one was different because it was related to dentistry. It was the profession that made me who I am.”
Anderson, who self-nominated for the award, encourages others to do the same or nominate others on the basis of what they have been involved with over the years.
“If someone sees another person being involved and being part of what goes on in their community, it’s their responsibility to nominate them,” he says.
Anderson also reflects fondly on his time at the Faculty of Dentistry and wants to do his part to help future generations of students. He likens the importance of giving back to that of caring for a plant.
“My philanthropic outreach may be founded on the analogy of potato plants – if they are planted in the same worn out soil every year, eventually its robustness and flavour diminishes,” he says. “The Faculty is like the soil in which plants are grown. If it’s not replenished year after year, the plant won’t survive or thrive. The same thing applies to the Faculty – we need to help it each year to provide an environment where students can grow and innovation and research can excel.”
Do you know a Dentistry alum who has donated their time as a volunteer? Invented something that could be a game-changer for the profession? Had an extraordinary impact and influence on their communities as dentists, mentors, or individuals? The Faculty of Dentistry Alumni of Influence Award recognizes our diverse alumni and the exceptional ways in which they serve patients, our school, and our communities. We invite you to complete the nomination form HERE by January 26, 2022 and join us in celebrating our Dentistry Influencers in Spring 2022.
Photo: Farel Anderson (Katie Lintern)