Rotary Program Aug. 14, 2008

Glasgow-born Nick Lees worked for several London newspapers and agencies before taking a cargo boat over the Atlantic and finding his way to Edmonton.His first job was with an news agency that covered the airports for the British press and several international news agencies and he honed his interview skills by talking with such people as Muhammad Ali, Liz Taylor and Richard Burton and the late Bobby Kennedy.

Lees found his way to Edmonton after a brief stay in Calgary, where he thought the natives in full regalia where part of the everyday scene. He moved on when he realized he was in the midst of the Calgary Stampede.Lees has been with The Journal for 27 years and reported on a wide variety of subjects.

He has been under the Atlantic in a submarine; broken the sound barrier in a CF-18 fighter; parachuted with the Airborne Regiment; spent 23 night on Mt. Logan, Canada's highest Mountain and driven in demolition derbies.The columnist has a passion for marathon running (he's logged 55) and has often combined trips abroad to run with researching wine. As well as a penning a thrice-weekly "People" column, Lees writes about wine for The Journal.

Lees has used his enjoyment of running to raise funds for many charities. With a couple of television broadcasters and a friend at a radio station, he helped create The Doughboys, which netted $250,000 for the Salvation Army in three years.

Lees has been recognised for his community efforts many times. He is a recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal and The City of Edmonton's Award of Excellence for Sport Volunteering. Grant McEwan College recognized him as an Outstanding Citizen and presented him with an Honorary Diploma and the Professional Society of Fundraisers recognised him with one its its annual Philanthropy Award.