Thank you. It's nice seeing you again.
In terms of racism in sport, obviously when we started out we did not look like the typical hockey family. There were so many obstacles in our way. Obviously, one was our skin colour. When we started out with P.K., my first son, everyone knew who P.K.'s parents were because we were the only people of colour in the arena. Things have changed, you know. When my last son, Jordan Subban, was drafted to the OHL, I think there were 17 kids of colour that year. That's good.
Unfortunately, there is still this lingering problem in the arena. Obviously, cost is a problem and, obviously, racism is a problem. The GTHL struck an independent committee. I was one of a number of people on that committee who came up with 44 recommendations for how we can make the sport more welcoming and safer for the growing diversity of people in our arenas.
I'm going to share this with you. It was 1970 when I came to Canada. I didn't like this new home environment. When I looked out the window, I didn't see anyone who looked like me. They didn't speak like me because all the kids on my street spoke French. But those same kids invited me to play hockey with them.
I think, in some ways, that spirit is missing in our arenas today. I think we're taking steps. I think Hockey Canada is the leader, and I think it is moving us in the right direction. I think hockey organizations around Canada are taking steps to move us in the right direction.
You know, I sit on the GTHL board of directors. I sit in the hearings. I know that when these issues come up, we have stuff in place not only to educate, but to continue to communicate to everyone that hockey is for everyone.
I think things are getting better, but we're not where we need to be yet. It's not just racism, but also the cost.