When Walter Gretzky, father of NHL Hall of Famer Wayne, died last week at age 82, Canada lost more than just a cherished citizen. His home may have been in Brantford, Ont., but the reach of "Canada's Hockey Dad" grew outwardly, well beyond the borders of his hometown.
The impact of the man knew few boundaries. Take, for example, here in Summerside, P.E.I., where, 1,800 kilometres from his home, our city also benefited from his kindness and generosity.
The complete details of the connection between the famous Ontario hockey dad and this Maritime city can be found on Page 11 of this week's Journal Pioneer, but the end result is that a chance encounter between Gretzky and a local couple led to a big boost to the local Boys and Girls club.
Walter Gretzky made a lasting impact in Prince County, P.E.I.
Walter Gretzky became an important supporter of the club and eventually other Prince County projects. He was a regular at the club's popular celebrity golf tournament event for several years.
Said Boys and Girls Club executive director Adam Binkley: “He didn’t just do the golf tournament. He went to teas with seniors, he was a judge with the Lobster Carnival Parade, he visited Lennox Island (First Nation), he used to clear the tables at the dinner gala. Instead of sitting there like a celebrity, he wanted to go to work.”
Most importantly, Gretzky knew the real reason for his visits was the children. He made sure he spent time with them when he was here. He also brought many positive messages to the young Islanders, including urging them to be the best they can be, to always remember where they came from and to never change who they are.
Today, with permission from the Gretzky family, the Summerside Boys and Girls Club still operates the Walter Gretzky Ball Hockey Program.
Former Boys and Girls Club employee Nathan DesRoches witnessed first-hand Gretzky's sincerity with the club members.
“Over the summers working there, you would have the celebrities come in, possibly say ‘hi’, sign some autographs and head out to the golf tournament,” said DesRoches. “Walter was a little bit different than some of the others. He made it very clear he was going to have his time with each of the kids and sign everything for everybody.”
His work here began at the Boys and Girls club, but it also grew to include youth projects at Lennox Island First Nation.
In the lives he touched with his visits and his kindness, Walter Gretzky's legacy will live on longer than many of the programs he supported.
His son is indeed more famous and perhaps, as the greatest hockey player in history, deservedly so. But in the minds of many in Summerside it may be the elder Gretzky that is "The Great One".
