The NHL announced Canada's 2023 Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award goes to Dean Smith from Nova Scotia.
While the Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers took part in an important Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final on Monday night, the NHL presented an award to someone who's positively affected his community through hockey in a significant way.
Dean Smith of Halifax, N.S., is 2023's winner of the Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award presented by Hyundai, given to one recipient who "has positively impacted their community, culture, or society in Canada."
Smith is a Halifax lawyer who served as the chair of Hockey Nova Scotia's Diversity and Inclusion Task Force and now serves as the chair of diversity and inclusion on the board of directors. He's also the secretary to the Black Ice Hockey and Sports Hall of Fame Society, which is a not-for-profit that celebrates Black achievement in sport.
Smith's work doesn't stop there – the NHL also said he's the driving force behind Hockey Nova Scotia's Black Youth Ice Hockey Program in Halifax, "which strives to increase diversity in the game by introducing the sport to more than 30 young Black Nova Scotians each session with several graduates of the program advancing to elite levels of the sport in the province." He even led Hockey Nova Scotia's #StrongerTogether campaign, which painted logos at center ice in several arenas to signal the organization's intentions around equity, diversity and inclusion.
"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 in the NHL's announcement. "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 honor."
It's the first year the NHL is presenting the award to a winner in Canada and a recipient in the United States; the latter is scheduled to be announced on June 26 during the NHL Awards.
Other finalists were Derek Klein, CEO of Big River First Nation, and Saroya Tinker of the Toronto Six, Black Girl Hockey Club Canada and Saroya Strong. Klein and Tinker will receive a $5,000 prize to donate to a charity of their choice, while Smith gets a $25,000 prize to donate.