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Former Canuck Gino Odjick speaks with Indigenous students about mental health
KAMLOOPS — In honour of Indigenous People’s Day, School District 73 Kamloops-Thompson hosted a district-wide aboriginal youth wellness conference at TRU. Students in Grades 8 and 9 attended the all-day event. The theme for the conference, as identified and selected by students, is ‘To care for one’s self’.
Gino Odjick played 12 seasons in the NHL, primarily with the Vancouver Canucks, until a fluke injury ended his playing career. Since retiring, the Algonquin First Nation born hockey player has toured internationally speaking to the younger generation — both of aboriginal ancestry and not — sharing his past experiences of the highs of pro hockey and the lows of depression.
“It’s real medicine for me. I always do it with Peter (Leech) because he can do a whole workshop for the entire day. As for me, I can speak for an hour,” said Odjick.