Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser Announced as 2023 Gala Keynote Speaker

SARNIA & PETROLIA – March 24, 2023 –Bluewater Health Foundation, with the generous support of NGL Supply Co. Ltd., is delighted to share that World Champion and Olympic gold medalist Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser will be the keynote speaker for the 2023 Gala, which will be held at the Badger Hangar at the Chris Hadfield Airport. She will also be engaging with local youth and touring Bluewater Health hospital when she is in town for the gala.

Wickenheiser’s trailblazing career earned her a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame and the prestigious Order of Canada. She made hockey history as the first female player to notch a point in a men’s professional game, and as the first woman to have played in or coached at four NHL development camps. She has worked with the Philadelphia Flyers, the Edmonton Oilers, and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

She retired from hockey in 2017 and the International Olympic Committee in 2022. She is currently serving as the assistant general manager of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs, while completing her medical residency.

“We are so excited to be welcoming Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser to the Sarnia-Lambton community; the gala always aims to bring internationally recognized speakers to share personal stories that inspire. As one of the best hockey players in the world, with seven world championships, six Olympic appearances, and five Olympic medals, she is a titan of sport and a leader both on and off the ice,” says Kathy Alexander, Executive Director, Bluewater Health Foundation. “Hayley is truly an accomplished Canadian hero and we are so lucky to have her speaking at this year’s gala.”

Wickenheiser's passion for sport is paralleled by her desire to give back to the community through her work with dozens of philanthropic organizations, including Lace ‘Em Up, Jumpstart, KidSport, Project North, and Right to Play — organizations dedicated to ensuring kids of all financial and cultural backgrounds can play sports. She is also the founder of the world-renowned personal and athletic development weekend, The Canadian Tire Wickenheiser World Female Hockey Festival, which provides mentoring and growth opportunities for young athletes around the world.

Wickenheiser holds several honorary degrees from institutions across Canada, as well as a Masters in Kinesiology from the University of Calgary, where she also studied medicine.

“NGL Supply Co. Ltd is proud to continue supporting the gala as presenting sponsor, as we have done for the last decade,” says David Palmer, Chief Commercial Officer, NGL Supply Co. Ltd. “We value the work of Bluewater Health Foundation in supporting Sarnia-Lambton’s community hospital, and are so happy to be a part of this important fundraising event that brings such distinguished individuals to our city.”

Tickets to Bluewater Health Foundation’s gala are now available and can be purchased by contacting Adelle Stewardson at 519-464-4439 or [email protected]. Tickets are $250 each and include a $100 tax receipt.