“There was an aura around him, ‘Oh my god Jean Béliveau’; his presence was such that he inspired respect all the time. And it’s very rare that you have a quality like that.”
Former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien has many fond memories of Jean Béliveau, but his favourite is a surprise visit the hockey great made to a winter festival in the Yukon Territory.
“One day I had decided to take a guest with me to visit the Sourdough Rendezvous in Whitehorse. And I had invited Jean Béliveau to come with me. My god it was a hell of a hit when we arrived, nobody knew who I had invited. People were very impressed to have Jean Béliveau on the streets of Whitehorse. He had a fantastic presence when he was in a room.”
READ MORE: Montreal Canadiens legend Jean Béliveau dies at 83
Shortly after Chrétien became Prime Minister, he offered Béliveau the opportunity to become the Queen’s representative in Canada.
“I thought he had the personality that was unique and that he represented the best values of Canada. He was respected by everybody; on the ice and off the ice he was a real gentleman,” said Chrétien.
Béliveau politely declined the offer to become Governor General because he wanted to spend time with his family, after his son-in-law passed away.
“He will be remembered as a very great hockey player, but also someone who used his celebrity all his life to work for good causes. He was the best ambassador the Canadiens ever had — not only in Quebec and Montreal– but all over Canada.”
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