SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — The Late Honourable Ken Dryden, P.C., O.C.
September 23, 2025
Honourable colleagues, I rise today on behalf of the Government Representative’s Office to pay tribute to the Honourable Ken Dryden, who passed away earlier this month.
Ken Dryden led an exemplary life. Some of us grew up dreaming of raising the Stanley Cup over our heads. Some of us grew up dreaming that our words would be published one day. Some of us grew up dreaming of helping our neighbours and dedicating ourselves to changing our country for the better through public service. Ken Dryden not only accomplished all of these things, but he truly embodied what it means to be an exceptional Canadian.
As young hockey fans, Ken Dryden gave us more than dreams. He made us proud to be Quebecers.
Ken Dryden was a goalie in Montreal and hoisted the Stanley Cup in Quebec in the 1970s. Sports have always been a political issue, especially in Quebec, and Ken Dryden, an English-speaking Ontarian, made an effort to learn French and to speak it with his teammates and reporters. He embraced Quebec culture and sports fans.
It was on this foundation of Quebec pride that Ken Dryden built the rest of his legacy. As he stoically defended the net during the Summit Series against the Soviet Union, he made us all proud to be Canadian.
His devotion to Canada extended to his public service through which he laid the foundation for early childhood services that are affordable and accessible for everyone and for the health and safety of Canada’s young athletes.
Mr. Dryden hoisted the cup and carried the torch of serving others. He is now passing that torch on to us to continue his work.
On behalf of the Government Representative Office and from the very bottom of my heart, I want to express my condolences to Ken Dryden’s family and friends.
Honourable colleagues, like many Canadians, especially those who grew up in Montreal, I was deeply saddened to learn of Ken Dryden’s passing. To us, he wasn’t just a hockey player; Ken Dryden was a towering presence, both literally and figuratively, in the golden era of the Montreal Canadiens.
As a boy growing up in Montreal, I remember watching him between the pipes at the old Montréal Forum with that unmistakable stance: calm, upright, unshakable. He made you believe that anything was possible, that no matter how tough the opponent, we had a chance because Ken Dryden was in our net.
He was the backbone of a team that gave our city six Stanley Cups in eight years, but more than that, he represented something bigger; he was the thinking fan’s goaltender, a Cornell Law graduate, a Rhodes Scholar and the bestselling author of The Game — not only one of the finest books ever written about hockey, but a work that gave fans a glimpse into the mind of an athlete deeply engaged with the world around him. And perhaps most notably, he was a man who walked away from the game at his peak — not out of injury or defeat, but rather, to ask deeper questions about life, purpose and public service — and who later brought that same thoughtful determination to the House of Commons.
As a member of Parliament and Minister of Social Development, Ken Dryden advocated tirelessly for Canadian families and children. He believed in the power of good public policy that would lift people up, and he worked to bring intelligence and empathy to the national conversation.
Ken Dryden may not have been born in Montreal, but he became a Montrealer through and through in every way that counts. He wove himself into the fabric of our city and this country. He gave us memories that we’ll carry for a lifetime: not just the saves or the championships, but the way he played the game, with poise, intelligence and respect. He was a hero to many and a role model to all. His loss is felt across Canada, particularly in my hometown of Montreal, where his legacy lives in every young fan who pulls on a Habs jersey and dreams of greatness.
To his family, his teammates and all those he inspired around this great country, we offer our deepest condolences. And to Ken Dryden, we say: Thank you. Rest well, number 29.
