Hopeful Logan Mailloux serves as example for Montreal Canadiens' outreach plan
On the occasion of the opening of the Montreal Canadiens' rookie camp, the executive director of the Club de hockey Canadien Foundation, Geneviève Paquette, took advantage of the media coverage to reveal more details about the CH Group's Respect and Consent action plan.
Team president Geoff Molson announced that the CH would be implementing an action plan against sexual violence following the selection of defenseman Logan Mailloux in the 1st round of the draft last July. As promised, a $1 million fund will be deployed by the organization in two specific areas.
First, it will provide training on respect, consent and the concept of cyber-violence, as well as hiring women in key positions in the organization. Finally, it will attempt to become increasingly involved in awareness and education initiatives.
"We want to become an ally in promoting respect and consent. This is an important social issue," said Ms. Paquette.
With this fight against cyberstalking in mind, Geneviève Paquette admits that she wants to take advantage of Mailloux's selection to get her message heard even better, even though she admits that she was initially surprised by the choice of the team's staff.
"I immediately committed to turning this adversity into an opportunity, a positive, she said. He continues his journey in a serious and committed way, she explained of Mailloux. He's continuing with therapy, training and school. Soon he'll be doing community service, Paquette said. He understands what's going on."
The importance of a second chance
Speaking of Mailloux, he was obviously not present for the first day of the Tricolore's rookie camp, having not received an invitation so he could work on his person.
"It's a lesson that will serve him for the rest of his life. I don't want to diminish what he did, but he takes his punishment every day. Hockey is fun when you play games. That's not the case with him," said Rob Ramage, Director of Player Development.
He knows that everyone deserves a chance to redeem themselves. Ramage spent 10 months in prison after being sentenced to four years for impaired driving, which caused the death of his friend Keith Magnuson. The family of Keith Magnuson was open to giving Keith's former friend a second chance.
"I was given a second chance and that is why I am here today. I started talking to groups while I was still in prison," Ramage recounted.
"I was much older than Logan. I did outreach to kids in junior high, college hockey, NHL and Major League Baseball, he said. I wouldn't have been able to do it if I hadn't been given a second chance. We'll help Logan one step at a time."
Finally, Ms. Paquette also confirmed that she has contacted the family of Logan Mailloux's victim, without revealing more details, but one thing is certain, the new Canadiens prospect will have all the chances in hand to redeem himself.
Source: TVA Sports
