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PM unveils monument for "father" of organized hockey
24 October 2009
Ottawa, Ontario
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today attended the unveiling of a monument in Beechwood National Cemetery for James George Aylwin Creighton, a founding father of organized ice hockey. The event was organized by the Society for International Hockey Research, which led the fundraising and organizational effort to erect the monument."It was with great pride that I named Mr. Creighton as a Canadian of National Historic Significance last year and I am delighted to be here today," said the Prime Minister. "This monument marks another milestone in honouring the legacy of one of our country’s pioneers."
Creighton is credited with organizing the world’s first indoor hockey game at Montreal’s famed Victoria Skating Rink on March 3, 1875. He went on to captain a team and inspired others to do the same, laying the foundations for the rapid development and popularization of organized hockey.
On May 22, 2008, Prime Minister Harper announced the designation of James Creighton as a historic person and unveiled a plaque in his honour at the Bell Centre in Montreal, home of the Montreal Canadiens.
"Future generations of Canadian hockey fans who wish to pay homage to this founding father of our national sport will now be able to do so," said the Prime Minister. "Canadians will find him at rest in Canada’s national cemetery, surrounded by notables of Canadian political, military, economic and cultural history."
Earlier this year, on March 5, the Government introduced legislation to establish Beechwood Cemetery as the National Cemetery of Canada and the bill received Royal Assent on April 23.
