"Ian Patterson is the kind of guy that proves the old saying, 'You can't judge a book by its cover'". That's what the nomination form from Nanaimo Youth Services said about him.

"He can look rather grumpy at times," the nomination continued, "but, when you get to know him, you find a huge heart and a guy whose whole life revolves around his passion for youth. If he is not feeding hungry young people a meal, he's teaching them about work ethics, tools, trades and respect."

"There's nothing Ian can't do," someone else told me ... except perhaps, be a government bureaucrat!"

Patterson isn't a trained social worker. In fact, he doesn't have much formal education at all. He got his training working for 30 years in the Alberta oil fields.

Given only this "school of hard knocks" education, Patterson has found himself managing the Community Employment Training program, working with, motivating and inspiring young people who have been struggling in life, helping them to become job ready ... and doing it very successfully.

So what's his secret?

Simply put, he has been there himself. He had his own struggles as a young person but because he had parents who were strong, positive role models, he was able, eventually, to work through his problems.

Now he is trying to do for others what his parents did for him.

Patterson believes in his young students. He believes in their power and their potential ... and he wants them to believe in themselves.

He treats them with respect, he gives them responsibility, expects them to live up to it, and he models a strong positive work ethic.

Patterson seldom leaves the premises, never takes a lunch break, always works more hours than he is paid for, and ... "No one has ever seen me sit down here," he told me assertively.

"They don't get a lot of hugs and kisses from me either," Patterson continued, "but they do get a good dose of reality."

Brandy Abt, a graduate of the program had her own opinion of Patterson.

"Ian always acts selflessly," she said. "He is a genuine human being and when he expects something from you, he wants you to give it you yourself, not him.

"He always affirmed the things that were good about me," Abt continued, "and, in a productive way, he told me about things I needed to work on. Also, even with those that weren't good workers, he still tried to find something to say so they could feel good about themselves at the end of the day."

I talked to five different people about Patterson and got basically the same story from each one. He is totally committed to helping young people succeed, especially those that have had a difficult time ... and he is very good at it.

Everyone also mentioned that he did all kinds of things for both staff and his students outside his work hours - For instance, he and his daughter helped Brandy move.

"A lot of these young people don't have a family or a support group," he told me, "so, yeah, I go out on weekends and do the odd house move and stuff. I try to be as supportive as I can and then, once they are on their own, they will help others. I just try to be a good example."

Everyone also stressed that Ian Patterson is an extraordinary single father (He took this job so that he could spend more time with her) and I can tell you that he sure is proud of her.

I hope she is just as proud of him. Her dad is quite a guy.