Dancing Gabe

Gabriel Langlois (born 1963), better known as Dancing Gabe, is a well known fan of the Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba Moose, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and the Winnipeg Goldeyes.[1][2] He first gained notoriety in 1984, when he attended a Bombers game and was noticed dancing in the crowd.[3] On December 20, 2014, Gabe danced at his 1,000th professional hockey game in Winnipeg.[4]

Dancing Gabe
Gabe at the 2017 Canada Summer Games
Born
Gabriel Langlois

(1963-01-29) January 29, 1963
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Years active1984–present
Known forDancing at Winnipeg Jets, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and Winnipeg Goldeyes games

Early life

Gabriel Langlois was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on January 29, 1963, to parents Angelina and Louis Langlois.[5] He was diagnosed with autism at the age of three and was institutionalized in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, at the age of six.[6][7] He was non-verbal until he was ten years old.[8] He took specialized classes in Notre Dame de Lourdes, Manitoba, where a nun taught him how to read and write.[9] On July 8, 1974, Langlois returned from the institution to live with his parents and siblings in St. Vital.[10] He graduated from Glenlawn Collegiate in 1981.[11]

History

On January 21, 1991, Gabe and his brother were attending an NHL game at the Winnipeg Arena, when he was given a personalized Winnipeg Jets jersey by Mike O’Hearn, who was the Jets director of public relations at the time.[12] Gabe often wears the number 91 on his jerseys to commemorate this moment.[13]

Honours

In 2013, Gabe was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.[14][15] In 2020, he received the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers by the Lieutenant governor of Manitoba Janice Filmon.[16][17][18][19]

In February 2021, he was awarded an honorary diploma in community development from Red River College Polytechnic.[20]

References
  1. "Dancing Gabe, Winnipeg sports superfan, boogies onto book shelves". CBC. Archived from the original on 20 February 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  2. "Dancing Gabe is a local sports legend". Winnipeg Free Press. 18 November 2019. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  3. "The man behind the moves: Dancing Gabe, family share story on Winnipeg icon". CTV. 30 October 2014. Archived from the original on 20 February 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  4. Perron, Daniel (2015). Dancing Gabe One Step at a Time. Daniel Perron & Associates. p. 195. ISBN 9780994808110.
  5. Perron, Daniel (2015). Dancing Gabe One Step at a Time. Daniel Perron & Associates. p. 32. ISBN 9780994808110.
  6. "Dancing Gabe: profile of the man". Winnipeg Free Press. 22 December 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  7. Summer, Chris (4 September 2015). "Story of Dancing Gabe Written by Winnipegger". Discover Westmen. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  8. "MEET DANCING GABE, ONE STEP AT A TIME". Goldeyes. 5 September 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  9. "'We all aspire … to be that happy". Brandon Sun. 26 December 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  10. Perron, Daniel (2015). Dancing Gabe One Step at a Time. Daniel Perron & Associates. p. 146. ISBN 9780994808110.
  11. Perron, Daniel (2015). Dancing Gabe One Step at a Time. Daniel Perron & Associates. p. 159. ISBN 9780994808110.
  12. Perron, Daniel (2015). Dancing Gabe One Step at a Time. Daniel Perron & Associates. p. 174. ISBN 9780994808110.
  13. "Dancing Gabe heading to Grey Cup with the Bombers". iHeart Radio. 21 November 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  14. Perron, Daniel (2015). Dancing Gabe One Step at a Time. Daniel Perron & Associates. p. 161. ISBN 9780994808110.
  15. Perron, Daniel (2015). Dancing Gabe One Step at a Time. Daniel Perron & Associates. p. 274. ISBN 9780994808110.
  16. "Dancing Gabe' among Manitobans to be honoured with volunteer award". CTV news. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  17. "'Dancing Gabe' among 10 Manitobans honoured for volunteer efforts". Winnipeg Sun. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  18. "Congrats Dancing Gabe!". Manitoba Post. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  19. "Dancin' Gabe among Manitobans receiving Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers". Global news. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  20. "Community icon 'Dancing Gabe' to get honorary diploma from Red River College | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
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