Dan Maertins is always ready to go with his prized gas-powered weed eater. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

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‘I’ve never been out of work in my life:’ tireless Nanaimo senior not afraid to roll up sleeves

Apr 13, 2024 | 5:56 AM

NANAIMO — Dan Maertins has never had a hard time finding work, and it’s easy to see why.

While the 78-year-old Nanaimo man has technically been retired for years, he devotes much of his free time performing volunteer clean-up jobs throughout his neighbourhood and around Nanaimo.

This time of year Maertins is constantly armed with his weed-eater attacking brush, sightline restricting grass and weeds along roadsides, near homes and businesses all over Nanaimo.

“I’ve never been out of work in my life, never…when I wanted to take time off they’d come and get me and then I ended up with the nickname Mountain Dan.”

Maertins grew up on a farm in Cedar, went to elementary school in Cassidy and high school at John Barsby Secondary.

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“You’ve got to have something to do to keep your mind working, but nobody thinks like that anymore; ever since this computer crap, it’s ridiculous,” Dan Maertins (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Aside from many jobs on the family farm, his first paid gig was delivering the Vancouver Sun newspaper in Cedar at 10-years-old.

Maertins said the ‘Mountain Dan’ nickname came during his 40-years working various roles in the forestry industry. He gained notoriety for falling and clearing trees from hard to access and often dangerous terrain in B.C’s Cariboo region.

As a young man he worked in sawmills and construction in the Nanaimo area.

After his mother passed away about five years ago, Maertins sold his home on Gabriola Island and assumed her place on Wellington Rd., near NanaimoNewsNOW and the Wave/Wolf FM radio stations.

He typically spends several hours a day weed-eating in the spring and summer in his local neighourhood and other parts of Nanaimo.

When it snows, he’s busy shoveling.

Armed with a blunt, yet endearing personality, Maertins said his daily clean-up routine is essential for his mental and physical health.

“I see everybody else as soon as they get up to my age, they basically just shut it down and quit, you’ve got to keep going. I don’t know, I was raised old fashioned.”

Reflecting back on his life, Maertins, said having an unparalleled work ethic was instilled in him at an early age and he never forgot that.

He was held accountable for his decisions and a lot was expected of him on a farm full of cows and chickens.

Things weren’t easy at times for Maertins during his childhood. He struggled academically and ran away from home at 14-years-old for a three year stint as a horse racer of all things.

“When I came back to Nanaimo the old man, as soon as I walked in the door, he looked around the corner and said ‘are you back again?'”

While he misses working in the bush, Maertins is completely at peace with his simple and rewarding life of helping people.

“I love every minute of it. Some people think I’m just crazy working for nothing, but it’s what keeps you going, people appreciate it, I understand that.”

Crystal Cross works at Shar-Kare Feed & Pet Supplies on Wellington Rd.

Describing Maertins as “one of a kind” constantly volunteering his time in the area, Cross said Maertins is a valued neighbour.

“He’s a very sweet, kind, generous guy, who just wants to stay fit, happy and healthy. He’s more than happy to help everybody,” Cross said.

One of many examples of Maertins’ handy-work. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes