Mr. Speaker, I would say to my hon. colleagues, friends and everyone across Canada that I know, when we hear the name Ken Dryden, as we have heard today, the first image for many is of a towering figure in the net, calm, steady, unshakable, leading the Montreal Canadiens to six Stanley Cups and earning his place in the Hockey Hall of Fame. However, Ken Dryden's greatest legacy is not measured in wins or banners, but in his tireless work to ensure that every child in this country has a chance to dream, learn and succeed.
Ken Dryden understood something fundamental, which is that greatness in sport comes and goes, but greatness in service to others is a lasting legacy. Even while he was guarding the net for the Canadiens, he was also finishing his law degree at McGill University. It is a sign of his determination, balance and foresight, which would define his life after hockey. He could have chosen an easy path of fame and comfort. Instead, he chose learning, leadership and ultimately public service. He retired, in fact, at the height of his career.
Dryden then became a writer, a teacher, eventually a member of Parliament and then the minister of social development. In that role, he championed what he has always believed, which is that the future of Canada rests in the opportunities we give to our children. Ken Dryden had a deep respect for children, who are often overlooked in places of power.
At a time when we find so many people and groups disconnected from our very own humanity, Ken Dryden reminded us always that every child matters, that every child had a right to dignity, safety and security and to be nurtured as a flower, to grow and to flourish. What inspires me time and again is that he reminded us that early childhood education was not, in fact, a luxury, but a necessity, and that child care was not a private burden, but a public responsibility. As somebody who started their career in early childhood education, that meant so very much to me and early childhood educators throughout the country.
He also understood that, if we want to build a stronger country, we must start by giving every child, no matter where they came from, a fair chance to grow, thrive and succeed. He deeply cared about the human rights of children, something that is often up for debate in political spaces.
What inspires me the most in Dryden's persistence is that he never settled for short-term fixes or political convenience. He called on governments of every stripe to think beyond election cycles and to think about generations. His questions were always about what kind of country we wanted to leave our children. We need to learn from his example. We need to work across party lines to ensure that we never lose sight of ensuring that children in Canada are given everything they need to thrive and are provided with everything they need to live in dignity and flourish as the delicate flowers Ken Dryden was able to see in all children.
Reflecting on this, I know that, through listening to Ken Dryden and seeing what he did, he pushed all of us to see education as not simply reading and arithmetic, but as the very foundation of citizenship. A strong education system does not produce workers. He reminded us that it produces good leaders, dreamers and citizens with compassion and courage. As somebody who comes from the field of education, we often lose sight of how to build a good country. It goes beyond the pocketbook. It is about ensuring the well-being of all people.
Today, as we reflect on Ken Dryden's legacy, we are reminded that true leadership is not about the applause we receive in the arena, but about the lives we lift up in our communities. His commitment to children and education has touched countless families. His vision continues to challenge us to be better, to do more and to dream bigger to ensure that the next generations are better off than the ones before.
Let us honour Ken Dryden not only with our words but also with our actions. Let us carry forward his fight for universal child care, for stronger schools, for policies that put children at the very heart of every decision we make, whether in Canada or across the world. In the end, the most fitting tribute we can offer Ken Dryden is through our very own actions.
On behalf of the NDP, I offer condolences to his wife Lynda, his children Sarah and Michael, the rest of his family members and all those whose lives he touched.