It was an eventful weekend in Swift Current.
The jam packed, chilly couple of days in Speedy Creek began Friday with Sheldon Kennedy speaking to 1600+ Chinook school students, sharing his message of abuse prevention.
His film Swift Current was screened later that night, which had many in attendance with their own connection to abuse in some way, including Arlene and Becki.
Arlene: "It was very well done. It hit the nail on the head in a lot of aspects. I had a daughter that was abused and I really feel for Sheldon for what he has gone through and see in him what my daughter has gone through. She is quite a bit younger but.. it's phenomenal."
Becki: "I thought the film 'Swift Current' screened here tonight in Swift Current was fantastic. In my comment I made in the audience after watching the film, my comment was thank you for having the courage to share your story over the last 20 years and having the courage to make people feel uncomfortable because often times the truth is uncomfortable and people don’t want to hear it."
Saturday and Sunday saw Market Square and Central Avenue bustling with locals and guests of Swift Current, taking in meet and greets and various hockey activities.
On Sunday afternoon, an emotional Sheldon Kennedy was honored at the Swift Current Bronco hockey game, given the Alumni Achievement Award for his humanitarian efforts by the Western Hockey League. The game was televised live on Sportsnet.
Hockey broadcast legend Ron Maclean spoke to SwiftCurrentOnline following the puck drop, and shared his thoughts on Kennedy, Saskatchewan hockey players and his co-host Don Cherry.
SCO: Tell us about your journey to Swift Current.
Maclean: I flew in last night (Saturday) from Toronto, the 10:20pm to Regina, overnighted in Regina, drove down this morning but the flight in at night over all the farms in southwest Saskatchewan.. I remember as a young Red Deer wrestler broadcaster we would leave Red Deer and go up and down Highway 2 and I wondered how far the Red Deer station signal went and could people in Drumheller hear the broadcast of the wrestlers and I just remember that so vividly. Hoping people would actually hear the work we were doing and then you end up on Hockey Night in Canada and of course you're in every nook and kranny in the nation. And every nook and kranny in the nation is hockey through and through. Swift Current is obviously that, it was really touching to be here today and see Sheldon back, in his prime and get an ovation like that. Terrific.
SCO: What are your thoughts on Sheldon Kennedy story and what is being done to rectify what has been such a dark issue?
Maclean: Well you know, its no reflection on Swift Current itself but its a brilliant light being shone by Jerrod Schafer the mayor and by Sheldon. You know what Sheldon has done is I think is so incredible, he's moved the investigations into areas of what has happened to children, that sort of pre-disposes them to the suffering they go through. It could be being raise in an alcoholic environment, an abusive environment, a victim of sexual abuse. There's so many things that happens they check away they don't know how to cope with. The secondary part of it, that's the victim side. What Sheldon is also doing with his child advocacy and with what Jerrod Schafer has initiated here in Swift Current is just teaching the adults. Hockey Canada has a pretty good program for coaches, but if you want to send your kid to a private tutor, power skating instructor, shooting instructor, they don't fall into the auspices of Hockey Canada so there's a program now they're creating just to teach people to behave around children, simple as that. And it is such a great initiative.
SCO: What about Saskatchewan breeds the best hockey players?
Maclean: I think probably if I was to pin it down, the bus rides, the harsh climate, the droughts, the diseases that affect livlihoods here in the prairies. its in your blood and bones to be rattled by it but not defeated and I think that is the ultimate lesson in hockey. You can be shaken to the core but you have to survive it and every kid from Saskatchewan I've met, some are tough as nails Dave Tiger Williams and Wendall Clark and some are the sweet as pie, Joe Sakik. I'm giving Joe credit, he's Burnaby (BC) boy but he learned his hockey here. They all have that resolve.
SCO: Where do you see hockey going in 10, 15 and 20 years ahead?
Maclean: I just think its the greatest game. The fact you have to use your imagination, your feet, the feeling you get skating especially outdoors, not everyone in Canada gets it but when you're in the prairies and you have the opportunity to feel the cold air in your lungs and you're stripping down layers at minus 10, its just the greatest sport. it can't ever fail or diminish. I think the future is seeing a healthier player. You always say if you want to develop your child for the NHL, develop that child for life. Or the Olympics in the case of the girls. We've come so far in terms of allowing you to be a well rounded individual, a citizen and not just an athlete.
SCO: Tell us something about Don Cherry we may not know.
Maclean: Don is shy. That's the thing that most don't understand. He was a kid that idolized his father, never crossed his Dad. Grew up very unassuming, but because he was that shy guy he was the observer, he became what I call the straw boss. He was the guy that would deal with the bully, be the policeman in the room. He definitely sherparded me through the difficult early years of Hockey Night in Canada when you're getting a lot of critcism, I didn't have necessarily the coping mechanism. He was there for me. He has a soft side, I would say people see that when he tears up over a fallen soldier. He's definitely a guy that has a very gentle heart.
Maclean later broadcasted live from Swift Current before cutting to the Ottawa Senators vs Washington Capitals game. He was joined by Tiger Williams and Wendall Clark on the broadcast. The full interview is available below.
Thu, Apr 18, 1:30 PM
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