Richard Froese
South Peace News
A popular former National Hockey League standout shared a message of hope to high school students in the High Prairie region Oct 1.
Theo Fleury inspired the youth with his story of his Indigenous life from growing up to becoming a star in the NHL and moving on to motivate people on his healing journey the last 15 years.
The High Prairie Native Friendship Centre hosted Fleury at the event the day after National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Hope, healing and inspiration were the key points of his 36-minute speech from the heart.
“We are never alone in our struggles because we have all faced adversity in our lives,” Fleury says.
He is grateful for the countless lessons he learned during his life, starting with his coaches as a young minor hockey player.
His speech began with three points.
“The first is respect, respect, respect,” says Fleury, who played in the NHL for 16 seasons from 1988-2003, the first 11 seasons with the Calgary Flames.
“It starts with please and thank you.”
The second point was love.
“We were taught to love and care for our teammates,” Fleury says.
“Every person on the team is important.”
He says the players also learned about consequences of bad choices.
“We are all responsible for our own choices, actions and behaviour,” Fleury says.
He found that out early in life, when he got caught up in addictions and substance abuse to deal with pressures of life and sport.
“I became an alcoholic,” Fleury says.
Now he’s has been living in sobriety for 6,952 straight days – and counting!
Communities and the world are filled with hurting and suffering people and he encourages people to seek help.
“Every single issue in society starts with unresolved trauma,” Fleury says.
“Emotional suffering is mental health.
“We have a mental health epidemic – with addictions.
We, as a society, are not willing to admit trauma is the core.”
He was kicked out of the NHL for his addictions.
“I was going to end my life,” Fleury says.
“I had the gun in my mouth – rattling against my teeth.”
Then he heard a voice in his mind.
“You’ve never quit anything in your life before, so why quit now?” Fleury says.
He also recalls playing for the Horse Lake Thunder in the North Peace Hockey League in the 2004-05 season when the Thunder played the High Prairie Regals in the championship final series. He recalls playing in the Sports Palace where he shared his life story with students 19 years later.
That season was the end of his addiction to alcohol.
He was also in High Prairie on the Day of Truth and Reconciliation and participated in local events.
“It reminded me ofwhat needs to happen,” Fleury says.
“It’s our time to heal.”
“We need to be a more compassionate society.
“We need to listen to peoples’ pain and suffering.
“The whole entire world needs to heal.”
He encouraged youth to be part of that change and healing.
“It’s important you become the next leaders of our communities,” says Fleury.
“When I used the tools, I became a powerful man.”
He also found hope and help in a higher power.
“The one missing piece to my life was spirituality,” Fleury says.
“I indulged in sports and my issues went away.”
Despite tough and difficult challenges in life, he encourages people to seek a higher power.
“If you’re dealing with mental health issues, lean on that spirituality,” Fleury says.
Indian residential schools caused extensive trauma and unresolved issues for Indigenous people and families, he says.
“Bullying is a side effect of trauma,” Fleury says.
Everyone needs to be heard and healed.
“It’s about compassion, empathy, and love,” says Fleury, who has shared his story to audiences across Canada and in numerous books he wrote.
“When I tell my story, the world opened up for me.”
Help to heal is available though various professional services.
“People are willing to listen,” Fleury says.
“Don’t feel alone.
“Reach out for help.
“It doesn’t mean you’re weak.
“It will save your life,” he adds.
He told the youth to believe in themselves and they can be anything they want to be.
“I wanted something better for my life,” Fleury says.
“I worked hard for everything I did.”
Adversity turned into resiliency.
“If you have resiliency, you can do and be anything in life,” Fleury concludes.
Friendship Centre executive director Sacha Martens was pleased with the Fleury visit and grateful to everyone who supported it.
“What an incredible day of impact stories, healing tears and hope for a kinder tomorrow,” Martens says.
“This gathering took a stand against bullying and was inspired by the RCMP-led youth project.
“Our Friendship Centre was pleased to host this first event of its kind, bringing together more than 500 students from the region from eight schools in the High Prairie School Division, Northland School Division and Holy Family Catholic Regional Division.
“We are so grateful for the generous support of our local municipal partners and businesses and funding partners, including Education Alberta for enabling this wholistic approach to mental health.”