Windsor native Dan Woods is a man of dual identities. To the gearheads and grease monkeys who frequent the automotive television circuit, he is the face of high-octane restoration hits like *Chop Cut Rebuild* and *Classic Car Restorations*. He knows his way around a chassis and a manifold. But for a massive, global demographic of TV junkies, Woods will forever be encased in the amber of Canadian broadcast history as Principal Daniel Raditch.
He was the stern, sometimes misunderstood figurehead who navigated the chaotic halls of *Degrassi Junior High*, *Degrassi High* and *Degrassi: The Next Generation*. It is a legacy that follows him everywhere. This month, the man behind the desk returns to his home turf. Woods is set to appear at Windsor ComiCon alongside fellow alumni Pat Mastroianni, the legendary Joey Jeremiah, and Stacie Mistysyn, known to millions as Caitlin Ryan. They will be taking over the floor on Sept. 29 and 30.
Walking through a convention hall like The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor provides a visceral shock to the system. There is a specific scent to these events—a mix of fresh ink, vintage plastic and the electric hum of thousands of fans. For Woods, these appearances are a grounding wire. He is no longer just an actor or a host; he is a custodian of childhood memories.
“You don’t really realize how much the show has impacted people’s lives until you have people coming up to you telling you how important the show was to them when they were younger,” Woods says of the Degrassi phenomenon. “You sort of lose that over the years and forget about it. And then you get a great reminder when people are so enthralled to come meet you. It’s really humbling.”
It is a strange thing to be a pillar of Canadian pop culture. The original cast of *Degrassi High* reunited for the first time in 20 years at Toronto’s ComiCon back in 2017. That event coincided with the 30th anniversary of *Degrassi Junior High*, a milestone that felt less like a birthday and more like a national holiday. For over three decades, this franchise has functioned as a surrogate sibling for kids growing up in the Great White North.
Degrassi is our international calling card. It is the grit beneath the fingernails of Canadian identity. While American teen dramas were busy casting 25-year-old models to play freshmen, Degrassi gave us acne and awkwardness. It gave us reality.
The timeline is a sprawling map of social evolution. The original run burned bright from 1987 until 1989. Then came *Degrassi High* in 1990-91, followed by the marathon success of *Degrassi: The Next Generation* which dominated the airwaves from 2001 until 2015. Through every iteration, the show refused to blink. It stared down the barrel of suicide, HIV and AIDS, drugs and alcohol.
But the peak of the show’s confrontational nature arrived in 2004. It was a two-part special that depicted a high school shooting, an event that fundamentally altered the DNA of the series and the trajectory of Woods’ character.
We’re going to give fans of the show an opportunity to talk with us, meet us and share their stories about the show. You’ll find that Pat, Stacie and myself are very open to talking about the show and sharing our memories with fans. And we’re getting the good fortune of meeting the ones who gave us a chance to enter their homes and lives.
The "Time Stands Still" arc remains one of the most controversial and discussed moments in Canadian television. It was the moment the show stopped being a "teen drama" and started being a mirror for a post-Columbine world. Raditch, the man who had seen it all, was suddenly out of his depth.
“There’s actually been a few shootings on the Degrassi series,” Woods explains. “There was a suicide in Degrassi High, followed by Aubrey being shot in Next Generation and then a couple seasons later another primary character was killed. The writers of the show were watching things going on in the US at the time and would take stories from the actors about what was happening at their actual school and incorporate them into storylines. The big thing at the time was Columbine which happened in between Degrassi High and Next-Generation. The idea that Mr. Raditch would have been transferred as a result of that shooting is generally what the Canadian attitude would be.”
That transfer was a bitter pill for many long-term viewers. Raditch was a fixture. Removing him felt like a cold, bureaucratic response to a tragedy—which was exactly the point. It was a critique of how institutions handle trauma by shuffling the deck chairs instead of addressing the rot.
Woods carries these stories with a certain level of grace. He understands that for the fans, these characters are real. When he sits at those autograph tables, he isn't just Dan from Windsor. He is the authority figure who helped them make sense of a confusing world.
The upcoming Windsor ComiCon is a homecoming in every sense. It is a chance for the local crowd to see the man behind the principal’s blazer. And he isn't coming alone. Mastroianni and Mistysyn are the two-headed beast of Degrassi nostalgia. Their presence ensures that the weekend will be less of a signing event and more of a massive therapy session for Gen X and Millennials alike.
“We’re going to give fans of the show an opportunity to talk with us, meet us and share their stories about the show,” Woods adds. “You’ll find that Pat, Stacie and myself are very open to talking about the show and sharing our memories with fans. And we’re getting the good fortune of meeting the ones who gave us a chance to enter their homes and lives.”
There is a lack of ego here that is refreshing. Most actors from a show that spawned a global superstar like Drake (the "Aubrey" Woods mentioned earlier) might be more guarded. Not this trio. They are the working-class heroes of the Canadian screen.
The event at Caesars Windsor is expected to draw massive crowds. Tickets start at $20, a steal for a chance to stand in the presence of the man who ran the most famous fictional school in the country. It is an affordable entry fee for a trip down a very emotional memory lane.
The Colosseum is a fitting venue for this. It has a certain weight to it. When the lights hit the stage on Sept. 29, the air will be thick with the kind of reverence usually reserved for rock stars. But this is different. This is family.
Woods’ transition from the hallways of Degrassi to the garage floors of his automotive shows proves he has range. But he knows where the heart of his legacy lies. He knows that the "Canadian attitude" he speaks of is one of empathy and community.
We don't just watch our stars in this country. We grow up with them. We let them into our living rooms on Tuesday nights and we let them tell us the truth, even when it’s ugly. Especially when it’s ugly.
The shooting storylines and the heavy-handed social themes were the crucible that forged this show's reputation. It wasn't always easy to watch. Sometimes it was downright painful. But it was necessary.
And Dan Woods was the steady hand through much of it. He was the adult in the room when the world felt like it was falling apart for the kids of Degrassi. Now, he’s coming back to Windsor to say thanks.
If you find yourself at the convention this month, look for the man who looks like he could either fix your car or give you a week of detention. He’ll be the one with the stories. He’ll be the one listening to yours.
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