SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Bill Riley

Honourable senators, I rise today to pay tribute to a hockey legend, trailblazer, role model and truly inspirational Canadian. Bill Riley was the third Black man to play in the NHL and the first to play a regular shift, which gave hope to other Black players like Tony McKegney and Ray Neufeld. Bill was a tough player who stood up for his teammates. He played 139 games with the Washington Capitals and the Winnipeg Jets. Born in humble beginnings in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Bill never forgot his roots. He values hard work and has dedicated his life to giving young people opportunities they wouldn’t have otherwise had.

His advice is simple but powerful: “Follow your dreams and eliminate the word ‘can’t’ from your vocabulary.” Bill spent most of his career in Moncton, where he helped the American Hockey League New Brunswick Hawks get to the Calder Cup in 1982, among many other things he has done for hockey in the community.

A few weeks ago I drove to Moncton to see Bill inducted into the city’s Sports Wall of Fame. As I sat in the audience, I heard many stories that captured the character of this great man. I will share one today.

Bill owned a hockey school in Riverview, New Brunswick. While other schools were charging $200 or $300 for tuition, Bill charged just $40. For Bill, it wasn’t about making money; it was about making sure that more kids were given a chance.

However, there were times when even this small fee was out of reach. Frankie was one of those times. As Bill tells it, Frankie was a little guy from a single-parent home. He and his mom came to Bill and asked if Frankie could attend the hockey school even though they couldn’t afford it. Bill waived the fee and told Frankie he was in. All he had to do was show up and play hard. The next year, the same thing happened. Frankie’s mom didn’t have the money. This time, Bill told her:

Miss, you can come back every year. All you have to do is pick up Frankie’s jersey. He is in for life.

That’s who Bill is: a legend to many and an unstoppable force for good in the sport that brings Canadians together. May we all live up to Bill’s example of determination, empathy and belief that everyone can follow their dreams if they are given a chance.

Thank you. Meegwetch. Mahalo. Shukran.