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OTTAWA — As he was awarded his country's highest civilian honour, Canada's most celebrated hockey dad shared some memories of his famous son they call the Great One.
But Walter Gretzky's first thoughts were of his own parents — who like millions of other immigrants arrived in Canada with no fanfare or stardom, but with brilliant dreams for their offspring.
His Order of Canada award is a tale of three generations of Gretzkys.
He was cited for his charity work on a star-studded list of winners that included basketball star Steve Nash, UN human rights commissioner and former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour, oilman Jack Irving and Bank of Canada Governor David Dodge
Walter Gretzky at his home in Brantford, Ont. last month (Kevin Van Paassen/The Globe and Mail)
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Gretzky had known about the prize for two months but the retired Bell Canada lineman was still shaking his head when Governor General Michaelle Jean released the winners' names Friday.
He wondered how his parents would have reacted to a telephone-cable repairman getting an award from the Queen's representative.
His own father Anthony immigrated from Belarus to join the Canadian army in the First World War and his mother Mary came from Poland at age 18 in 1921.
"My dad always said, 'We're the luckiest people in the world to live in a country like Canada.' He was so proud," Walter Gretzky said in an interview.
"If he were alive, if my mom were alive today, they wouldn't be able to comprehend what is happening.
"Because over there a commoner wouldn't receive such an award like we do over here. Over here, everybody's special. We're all equal."
Walter Gretzky is best known for fathering the NHL's all-time leading scorer and producing the famous backyard rink upon which his son Wayne learned to skate.
But the press release from Rideau Hall says he was named for his work with various charities.
That famous son spoke with pride Friday upon learning of his father's good fortune.
"I am tremendously proud and happy for my father to be included in the Order of Canada," said the coach and part owner of the Phoenix Coyotes. "My parents instilled in our entire family a sense that it was our duty to help other people whenever we could, and obviously my dad always led by example when it came to helping others.
"I know that he takes a great deal of pride in his charitable endeavours, and for him to be honoured with Canada's highest civilian award is truly a memorable achievement."
Walter Gretzky recalls the night he sat around the kitchen table with his then-teenage son for a conversation that triggered their three-decade relationship with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.
Earlier that evening, Wayne had arrived at the Toronto airport and was waiting for a lift home. In front of the airport he saw two blind children who were also waiting for a lift to his hometown, Brantford.
"Wayne went over and started talking to them," Walter recalled.
"And while he's talking to them one of them interrupted him — and you've got to understand they're both visually impaired, totally — and one of them said, 'I know who you are. You're Wayne Gretzky, aren't you?' "
At the time Wayne Gretzky was a rising superstar with the Edmonton Oilers. The boys had recognized the sound of his voice.
Hours later, the young hockey star was telling his dad they needed to organize a celebrity tennis tournament for the blind. They have since helped raise over $3 million, also hosting golf tournaments and summer camps, and also done work for cancer and heart-and-stroke charities.
"We're sitting at the kitchen table — 12:30 at night. I've gotta go to bed," Walter says.
"I've gotta go to work the next morning, and Wayne's talking about meeting these two visually impaired students. He said he was so impressed."
Walter Gretzky doesn't quite recall what year they had that conversation.
It was a long time ago. Besides, his memory isn't what it used to be.
The 69-year-old lost some of that in an aneurysm that almost took his life in 1991. He also had a serious scare back in 1964 when a work accident left him in a coma and claimed the hearing in his right ear.
He recalls that after his stroke, his family had been warned he might not survive the night.
Nearly 20 years later, Walter Gretzky was taking home a prize from the governor general and on the same day participated in the opening ceremonies of Brantford's Gretzky international hockey tournament.
"I'm thankful for every day," he said.
"I just try to help as many people as I can."
Wayne won his own Order of Canada prize in 1984, while he was still in the early stages of his stellar NHL career.
Friday's list included Amnesty International's Alex Neve and Reform party stalwart Deborah Grey. In 1989, Grey became the first MP elected under a fledgling party that four years later brought a young man named Stephen Harper to Parliament.
Dodge, who is stepping down at the end of January after seven years as Canada's central banker, was made an officer of the Order.
He was the finance department's top bureaucrat when the Liberal government successfully reversed years of budget deficits and set Ottawa on course to a string of fiscal surpluses.
Olympic speedskater and cyclist Clara Hughes was also named an officer of the Order — but it wasn't just for her five Olympic medals.
She also received the award for her work with Right to Play, the international charity that helps disadvantaged children play sports.
Hughes also learned of her nomination back in October. She was about to leave the house in the morning when she got a call from Rideau Hall.
"(I was told) 'Clara, you'd better sit down for this news,' " she recalled.
"You've been accepted as an officer of the Order of Canada. Would you accept this appointment?"
And with a laugh she recalled her reply: "I said, 'Has anybody ever declined it?' "
When the call came in, she was getting ready to go to the skating rink for her morning training.
She's also getting ready to go to Ghana early next year for Right to Play.
Hughes says athletes must use their celebrity as a means to an end — as a chance to do something good for others.
She says that even though she's being rewarded for past accomplishments, she hopes her best work is ahead of her.
"This award is telling me, 'You're on the right track.' "
