Dancing Gabe

Gabriel Langlois (born January 29, 1963) better known as Dancing Gabe, is a well known fan of the Winnipeg Jets, 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, Langlois danced at his 1000th professional hockey game in Winnipeg.[4]

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

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

Early life

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 Treherne, 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, Langlois 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] Langlois often wears the number 91 on his jerseys to commemorate this moment.[13]

Honours

In 2013, Langlois 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]

References
  1. "Dancing Gabe, Winnipeg sports superfan, boogies onto book shelves". CBC news. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  2. "Dancing Gabe is a local sports legend". Winnipeg Free Press. 18 November 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  3. "The man behind the moves: Dancing Gabe, family share story on Winnipeg icon". CTV news. 30 October 2014. 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.
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