Hayley Wickenheiser on why Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom should be essential reading
Ryan B. Patrick | CBC | Posted: September 7, 2017 5:46 PM | Last Updated: December 8, 2017
'(It) makes me appreciate how fortunate we are to be Canadian.'
Hayley Wickenheiser is regarded as one of the best female hockey players in the world. The Shaunavon, Sask.-based Wickenheiser is Canada's most decorated Olympians. She participated in the Winter Olympics five times, capturing four gold and one silver medal and twice being named the tournament's most valuable player in both 2002 and 2006.
In 2017, the Order of Canada marked 50 years of honouring Canadians and Wickenheiser is one of the 50 Canadians featured in the anniversary book They Desire a Better Country. She was named to the Order of Canada in 2011 — Canada's highest civilian honour.
Wickenheiser says that Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom should be essential reading for all Canadians.
"[I recommend] Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela. You can't help but be inspired to do more for your fellow man, as well as increase one's empathy and tolerance standard to a whole other level. Makes me appreciate how fortunate we are to be Canadian."
Hayley Wickenheiser's comments have been edited and condensed.