Born in Brandon, Sheldon Kennedy was raised on hockey in Thompson and Elkhorn, Manitoba.
Well-known for his NHL career (1988 to 1998), he is perhaps better known for turning the tragedy of a history of sexual abuse into awareness, hope and help for other victims throughout North America and around the world. Sheldon Kennedy played professionally for the Detroit Red Wings, the Calgary Flames, the Boston Bruins and the Manitoba Moose. He was also a member of Canada’s gold-medal winning team at the 1988 World Junior Hockey Championship in Moscow. In 1996, his junior hockey league coach, Graham James, was charged and convicted of sexual assault for the abuse Sheldon Kennedy suffered over a five-year period while a teenager under his care. He detailed the traumatic effects of the abuse in his 2006 autobiography Why I Didn’t Say Anything and for close to 20 years, has been a tireless advocate for abuse survivors and for programs and legislation that better protects youth from abuse. In 1998 his cross-Canada in-line skate raised $1 million for the Canadian Red Cross abuse-prevention programs. A former ambassador for Sport Manitoba’s Respect in Sport online coaching tool, he co-founded Respect Group Inc. in 2004, which provides online education for the prevention of abuse, bullying and harassment. In recognition of his courageous advocacy, Sheldon Kennedy was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2014.
