Image

Hayley Wickenheiser responded to her appointment to the Order of Canada in a video from Right to Play, whom she is currently with in Ghana (Photo: Right to Play International)

 

Shaunavon native Hayley Wickenheiser has been named an officer of the Order of Canada by Governor General David Johnston.

The three-time Olympic Women's Hockey Gold Medallist was named one of 50 inductees to the honour, for her achievements as an athlete and her contributions to the growth of women's hockey.

 

Wickenheiser says she was honoured to be considered in the category of all the other accomplished Canadians, and adds she grew up watching the different Order of Canada ceremonies and never thought she would ever be a part of that.

 

Wickenheiser is currently in the African nation of Ghana for Right to Play, a charity that she has been involved with since 2000, and says they are looking at the different projects in the country that they are involved with, and hearing stories of how Right to Play is changing kids' lives through sport.

 

Wickenheiser will be back home later this summer for the Grand Opening of Shaunavon's Crescent Point Wickenheiser Centre, the town's new recreation facility that is named in her honour. She says she's excited to see the new building and adds it will be a building that will serve Southwest Saskatchewan, and hopefully be a place where the next generation of hockey players can come from. The Grand Opening event takes place July 15 and 16.

 

Wickenheiser will officially be inducted into the Order of Canada at a ceremony later this year.

 

Colin Powers talked with Hayley Wickenheiser about the Order of Canada Appointment, and her time in Ghana with Right to Play: