Desmarais: A true champion

MONTREAL -- Morning skates generally aren't memorable, but Patrick Desmarais attended one earlier this month at Rogers Arena that was.

After the majority of the Canadiens were done warming up for their matchup against the Canucks, he watched as interim head coach Martin St-Louis and his fellow staffers went head-to-head with a few players in a fast-paced and fun small area game.

That immediately struck a chord with the longtime Habs fan, who was in Vancouver because he was named an Air Canada Community Champion for his outstanding activist work on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community both domestically and internationally, chiefly as president of Fondation Émergence.
Desmarais was flown to the Lower Mainland for a once-in-a-lifetime Canadiens experience alongside Air Canada Fan Flight contest winners, Nathalia Di Battista and Anita De Francesco.
Every year, the Fan Flight program celebrates deserving fans across Canada and recognizes them for making a difference in their communities.
"Martin St-Louis can still skate like the wind. It was cool to see his energy and his closeness with his players. The synergy between them is really special," said Desmarais, who was presented with a personalized video message from the Hall of Famer when he was initially informed about the trip. "You could tell that he still enjoys playing, and it's a great way for him to get to know the guys and see their qualities up close."

Fondation Émergence is a non-profit organization fighting against homophobia and transphobia by educating, informing and sensitizing the population to the lived experiences of people within a broad range of sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions. This includes, but is not limited to those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex and two-spirit (2S).
"We're focused on reaching the public at large, and we're trying to sensitize people to the realities of members of the LGBTQ+ community. That includes sensitizing people to the challenges young people are facing, and those who participate in sports, too," explained Desmarais. "We hold training and education sessions in workplaces to help create more open and inclusive environments. We want people to see each other as humans above all else."
Among several core activities of Fondation Émergence is the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, which is held annually on May 17. The date was specifically chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization's decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.

After decades of hard work, Desmarais was honored to be recognized by Air Canada for his efforts.
He still can't believe that a "surprise party" of sorts was organized at the Bell Centre on his behalf to share the news - and that Youppi! stopped by for a visit.
But Desmarais says there was far more to this trip than a round-trip flight, hotel stay and watching his beloved Canadiens in action on the road.
"As a gay person, to be chosen for this experience, it's a good opening. It creates a good opportunity for dialogue," he insisted. "There are still a lot of challenges ahead, but we're gradually making progress in society and in the world of sport as well."
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