A self-made man to a man of faith
Real estate developer Chris Dobbin says he was brought up in a “nominal” Christian household.
And as he got older he went away from any aspect of the faith.
“I really never went back. I wasn’t interested. I kind of thought that religion was for people that needed it. And I really didn’t think I did. I formed my own company and paid my own way. I was a self-made guy,” says Dobbin, adding that he was kind of anti-faith for a big part of his life.
Dobbin is the main speaker at this year’s 47th Annual Calgary Leadership Prayer Breakfast on October 15 at the Westin hotel.
That self-made man became a success story. Successful at being a concert promoter. Then successful in real estate development, particularly in the northwest Kensington neighbourhood.
But in the late 1980s he started having questions about the spiritual life.
His wife was already going to church and found comfort in Christianity and following Jesus Christ. Dobbin saw the change and transformation in her life.
So one morning in 1988 he decided to open the Bible and start reading. He began with the Gospel of John.
“I got to the point where it said ‘you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free’. It jumped into my heart. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that what I was reading was true. I just broke down and wept. Everything changed,” says Dobbin.
Ivan Juul-Hansen, one of the organizers of the leadership prayer breakfast, says between 550 to 600 people typically attend the event on an annual basis.
“Mainly I look for (a speaker) that can tell the people how being a Christian affects their life, their business or whatever it might be,” he says.
That speaker is someone who can be a witness to their faith and inspiring to other people.
More information on the event can be found at
Juul-Hansen said the Calgary Leadership Prayer Breakfast serves as a way to re-affirm people’s faith in God in a public fashion and it is an opportunity to participate in fellowship.
The 63-year-old Dobbin, who is the chief executive of The Dobbin Group, started his concert promotion company in 1973 and over six years produced more than 200 concerts in Western Canada including the Eagles’ McMahon Stadium show in 1978.
He then turned to real estate. His company has been heavily involved in the Kensington area with buying and restoring older buildings as well as redevelopment of new projects.
He’s served on various boards and committees including the Calgary Planning Commission, Calgary Parking Authority, Calgary Urban Projects Society, Links Fellowship, as well as being involved with World Vision.
His transformation from a selfmade man to a man of faith has had a huge impact on his life.
“I no longer took my identity as something external. My identity was no longer husband, father, businessman. What I had. What I did. My identity became a child of God and I started to see life through that lens. And as I did all the opinions and things that I had thought before to be true turned out kind of not to be,” says Dobbin.
He was previously living an “illusion” as a self-made man but his purpose became celebrating the mercy, love, life, peace, joy and forgiveness found in living with Christ on a daily basis.
While Calgary grapples with an economic recession this year that has led to thousands of job layoffs, the successful businessman has some words of advice for people experiencing these turbulent times.
“We all live by faith. All of us,” says Dobbin, adding that where a person puts their faith is important. He says that no one knows the future but if they put their faith in Christ they can be assured that no matter what trials and tribulations they are going through that they are not alone. They have an advocate that will help them get through the storms in life.
“It has been my experience that prayer changes things,” says Dobbin