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

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]

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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