REGINA – Frank Flaman might be a multimillionaire, but anybody who saw him on his last trip to China wouldn’t have guessed.
He wore an old suit bought at the Army and Navy and his shoes were slightly tattered because he’d been wearing them since the 1970s. The rest of his clothes were packed in a small company duffle bag, which was worth 50 cents.
“I don’t need the fancy stuff,” Flaman says. “I’m not a big spender.”
Flaman has built a multimillion-dollar agriculture business, but the 75-year-old is not swimming in wealth because he gives most of his money away.
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“We live in such affluence here,” he said. “I’m just trying to do my part.”
Flaman’s success came from selling and renting agricultural equipment across the country and internationally. He later diversified into fitness equipment and security alarm systems and eventually formed the Flaman Group of Companies with offices across Western Canada.
The success of his companies, prompted him to form the Frank Flaman Foundation to help distribute the profits into various development projects such as World Vision and Operation Eyesight. Many of the projects are in Latin and South America, but he also supports community initiatives in Canada.
Flaman also sends employees to developing countries to work with local people to complete a project.
Two years ago, David Sundlie was one of 16 Flaman employees who travelled to Nicaragua to see development projects.
“It’s great to see how the money we make as a company is making a difference,” Sundlie said.
He visited a well project that helped provide water to more than 50 families. Before Flaman’s contribution, people received their water from a nearby pond.
Often the water was contaminated, making villagers ill.
“Because of my involvement with Flaman, I am able to make some pretty remarkable differences in people’s lives,” Sundlie said.
Some companies send their employees to all-inclusive resorts, but Flaman’s workers find themselves building a well or restoring a school, with all expenses paid by Flaman.
“Every time I run the shower a little bit too long, I think about over there and I think about the lack of water,” Sundlie said.
“It is a life-changing thing. You see things that you will never forget.”
Flaman also goes on these trips and finds each extremely moving.
“It’s kind of like therapy for me, knowing a lady doesn’t have to spend three hours walking for water anymore.”
Flaman wanted to share these experiences with his employees because he felt it made them feel like they are part of something bigger.
“I tell my staff ‘you’re not working for me’, ” he said.
“We’re all in this together.”
Sundlie said the development projects help employees create a different pride in their work.
“You take a bit of ownership that you helped contribute to that project. Frank still owns the company, but the other 50 employees are the ones that make things happen.”
To fund the development projects, Flaman formed a foundation that is managed by daughter Crystal Flaman, the eighth of Flaman’s 10 children. Her job is to organize the employee trips and ensure her father’s money is well spent.
“He gives most of his money away,” she said.
“I’m very proud of him and what he’s done and I think it is extraordinary.”
Crystal said her father wants to spend money on the necessities of life – $600 to help a Canadian child go to high school or to correct the eyesight of dozens of people. Clean water, food security, and eyesight are her father’s main projects.
“He cares a great deal about making a difference in the world.”
Crystal also tags along on many of the Flaman excursions. On one trip she helped rebuild a school in Peru, where for four days she, other Flaman employees and local villagers repaired an all-girls dormitory that had more than 40 beds with only six inches between each one. They also repaired the school where the girls would study for weeks at a time.
On another trip, Crystal helped dig a well in a community where clean water was going to run for the first time.
Once the well was complete, the community came out to celebrate with the Flaman employees.
“On every single trip I could give you 10 things that were life changing.”
Crystal said her father lives modestly in a small condominium and drives a Smart car.
He continues to work, popping by the office to visit with staff and making the odd sale.
Crystal hopes he never stops.
“If only he could live to be 250 years old. He really still has much to do.”
