NEW YORK & TORONTO -- Dean Smith of Halifax, Nova Scotia, is the recipient of the Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award presented by Hyundai, given to an individual who - through the sport of hockey - has positively impacted their community, culture or society in Canada.
For the first time, the NHL is presenting the 2023 Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award to one winner in the United States and the Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award presented by Hyundai to one winner in Canada. The United States winner of the 2023 Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award will be announced on June 26 during the NHL Awards™ ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee.
Smith is a Halifax lawyer with a passion for sharing his love for hockey by creating safe and welcoming spaces for everyone to enjoy the game. He served as Chair of Hockey Nova Scotia's Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, and now sits on the Board of Directors as their Chair of Diversity and Inclusion. Smith also serves as Secretary to the Black Ice Hockey and Sports Hall of Fame Society, a not-for-profit highlighting and celebrating Black achievement in sport. He has dedicated himself to creating systemic change in hockey and is the driving force behind Hockey Nova Scotia's Halifax-based Black Youth Ice Hockey Program, which strives to increase diversity in the game by introducing the sport to more than 30 young Black Nova Scotian's each season with several graduates of the program advancing to elite levels of the sport in the province. Smith also helped lead Hockey Nova Scotia's #StrongerTogether campaign with Recreation Facilities Association of Nova Scotia by partnering with arenas across the province and was an integral part of the organizing committee that launched the Halifax Hockey Summit. Watch the winner announcement video here.
"Dean gives back to Halifax, Nova Scotia in so many different ways to grow the game, and the work he has done with Hockey Nova Scotia over the years has been incredible to positively impact families, said Willie O'Ree. "Dean constantly works to create a friendly and safe space for everyone to enjoy the great sport of hockey and he truly showcases what this award is all about. Congratulations to Dean on this very well-deserved honour."
"Dean has driven the game of hockey forward in ways that will have a positive impact on his community for generations to come," said Christine Smith, Director of Marketing of Hyundai Canada. "Dean's leadership, perseverance and courage have left every program and initiative he has touched in a better place than where he found it and has afforded kids a more inclusive environment. Congratulations to Dean and the other finalists."
Other finalists for the Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award presented by Hyundai were Derek Klein (Shellbrook, Saskatchewan), CEO of Big River First Nation and Saroya Tinker (Toronto, Ontario), Executive Director of Black Girl Hockey Club Canada, founder of Saroya Strong and defenseman for the Toronto Six in the Premier Hockey Federation.
Fans submitted candidates for the Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award presented by Hyundai at NHL.com/OReeAward. The three finalists, and ultimate winner, were determined by a judging panel with weighted votes from Willie O'Ree, NHL and representatives from Hyundai Canada. A public fan vote also helped determine the winner.
Smith will receive a $25,000 USD prize and Klein and Tinker will each receive a $5,000 USD prize, each of which will be donated to a charity of their respective choice.
The Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award honors former NHL forward Willie O'Ree, who on Jan. 18, 1958, became the first Black player to compete in the League. O'Ree, who lost sight in his right eye at a young age, went on to play professional hockey for 21 years. For more than two decades he has served as the NHL's Diversity Ambassador, traveling across North America to schools and hockey programs to share his story and experiences as well as to promote messages of inclusion, dedication, and confidence. O'Ree has used hockey as a platform to build character and teach life skills and has used his influence to foster positive values through the sport. In 2018, O'Ree was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
