2023-10-16 23:46:59
A nationalist fiber hovered Monday evening in Montreal during the launch of the biography 50 days in the life of Mike Bossy while the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste admits having repaired a mistake of the past by awarding the late hockey player, posthumously, the Maurice-Richard prize.
By the own admission of Marie-Anne Alepin, president of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society (SSJB) of Montreal, “this surrender should have been made a long time ago.”
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As it is told in the book written by journalist Mikaël Lalancette, with the collaboration of Tanya Bossy, one of Mike’s daughters, the candidacy of the New York Islanders player was recommended for this award in 1982. In order to avoid controversy surrounding English-speaking origins [et ukrainiennes] de Bossy, the decision was taken not to award the prize even though the founder Pierre Harvey was also one of the candidates in the running.
“While doing research for the book, we spoke to family members, including my mother, to understand that my father had been deeply sad, disappointed and affected,” said Tanya Bossy, regarding this episode. We realized that it had had an impact on my father.
“Of course we would have liked it to have been done when my father was there, but we can’t change the past,” she added. To combine this awards ceremony with the book launch is really perfect. I’m sure my father is there somewhere.”
In the presence of the Prime Minister
Among the guests present at the launch, the Premier of Quebec, François Legault, spoke of Mike Bossy with admiration.
“I am happy that he has a biography in French and that he received the Maurice-Richard prize from the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste,” noted Mr. Legault. Like many Quebecers, I loved Mike Bossy.”
Launch of the book “50 days in the life of Mike Bossy” by Mikaël Lalancette, in Montreal, Monday October 16, 2023. In this photo: Pierre Karl Péladeau and Gilles Duceppe. Photo Agence QMI, JOËL LEMAY Photo Agence QMI, JOËL LEMAY
“It was regarding time,” said ex-politician Gilles Duceppe, who confirmed that he had often made a request to the SSJB to honor Mike Bossy during his lifetime. It’s quite extraordinary. This guy didn’t speak French, he arrived with Laval [dans le hockey junior], he learned French and became a commentator. There is no better example of integration.”
“When I arrived in Quebec, I was 6 years old,” recalled Tanya Bossy. My father might very well have sent my sister and me to an English-speaking school, but he wanted us to go to a French-speaking school, primary and secondary. In fact, I always spoke to my father in French.”
Speaking regarding the book launch, she now feels relieved and says she is no longer afraid that her father will be forgotten.
“This fear that I had is futile, because the book is there,” she said.
A preface by Gretzky
By signing the preface, the legendary hockey player Wayne Gretzky also put his finger on another important point which emerged on Monday evening during the launch held in the offices of the SSJB. He was a brilliant scorer, but behind it, he was the man with heart who left his mark on people.
“If I had one thing to say to him, it would be very simple, like the man he was: ‘Mike, watching you play was a very special experience, and it was a pleasure to to know you, to play with you and once morest you, and above all to be your friend,” Gretzky writes.
Launch of the book “50 days in the life of Mike Bossy” by Mikaël Lalancette, in Montreal, Monday October 16, 2023. In this photo: François Legault, Tanya Bossy, Gabrielle Bossy Lépine, Marie-Anne Alepin, Josiane Bossy and Alexe Bossy Lépine. Photo Agence QMI, JOËL LEMAY. Photo Agence QMI, JOËL LEMAY
Beyond his nine consecutive seasons of 50 goals in the National Hockey League, Bossy took particular care of his wife Lucie, his daughters Josiane and Tanya without forgetting his granddaughters Alexe and Gabrielle. Died on April 15, 2022, Bossy had often been reluctant to publish a biography, but his story deserved to be told. A duty of memory for his family, but also for Quebec as a whole.
“Mike Bossy represents what we all need,” concluded Marie-Anne Alepin. If we want to continue to live in French, in our Quebec culture, we need even more Mike Bossy.
Published by Éditions de l’Homme, the book 50 days in the life of Mike Bossy will be available in bookstores starting Wednesday.
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