I Remember Ken Dryden

I am an ardent Montreal Canadiens fan, so when I learned that Ken Dryden would be attending a board of directors meeting of the Canadian Pediatric Society, I felt both excitement and trepidation. Excitement because he was the former outstanding goalie who had led the Canadiens to six Stanley Cups, and trepidation because in my previous experience at similar meetings, the politicians made extreme partisan comments that did not address the issues at hand. At the time, Mr. Dryden was the Minister of Social Development and thus issues of child health fell within his portfolio. He spent over an hour discussing issues related to child poverty. As an ex officio member of the CPS board, I had the honour of meeting Mr. Dryden at the meeting.

Mr. Dryden did not need us to inform him about the consequences of child poverty. He arrived at the meeting extraordinarily well-informed. He knew how children growing up in impoverished environments often suffer negative consequences compared to children living with more resources. He recognized and clearly articulated how impoverished children start life a few steps behind those who do not live in poverty. He was aware that children who do not have adequate nutrition do not learn as well as those who have regular meals. Mr. Dryden addressed these issues thoughtfully and recognized their significance. He discussed potential ways to address child poverty and its consequences. He spoke calmly, with great humility, and obviously cared deeply about the well-being of Canada’s children.