‘I love back home’: Ted Nolan returns to Garden River for book signing fundraiser

It was only fitting that Ted Nolan held the first book signing for his new book, Life in two worldsin his hometown of Garden River First Nation.

That’s where his love of the game of hockey began, the catalyst for a storied career that led him to the Soo Greyhounds as a player — and then coach of the franchise’s 1993 Memorial Cup team — before move to the ranks of the National Hockey League. as a player and coach.

And it’s still very much home for Nolan after all these years.

“I like being back home,” he told reporters after Tuesday’s book signing. “Even when I played, all the people I played with didn’t think I liked being around where I played.

“It wasn’t that I didn’t like where I was playing; it’s just that I loved home more, and I couldn’t wait to get home.”

Tuesday’s book signing event, sponsored by the Royal Bank of Canada, raised more than $10,000 for Miijim Gaamig, the community food bank for the First Nation.

“I was one of those kids who would wake up in the morning sometimes without much to eat,” Nolan said.

The idea for Nolan’s book came about after Nolan opened up to TSN’s Rick Westhead about his experiences with racism in hockey for what would eventually become a self-titled documentary. The unwanted visitor.

Nolan’s powerful interview caught the attention of Penguin Random House Canada, who approached him to write a book based on his lived experiences.

The end result, Life in two worldswas released last October.

“It’s a lot more than just hockey, and I didn’t want to write just about hockey,” Nolan said of the book. “I wanted to use hockey as a metaphor for life itself, because sometimes people are judged by the way they look, what kind of income they come from and what you have – and that’s the only thing kids want to do when they are children, they just want to play.

“They want to feel part of a team, and when you don’t feel part of the team, it’s just very devastating.”

The feeling of pride was palpable in Garden River during the book signing event, and it wasn’t lost on the former National Hockey League coach next year. He said it reminded him of his first game with the Detroit Red Wings during the 1981-1982 season, which saw him taking pictures and meeting family members.

“The pride when you see that one of your own achieves certain successes – I don’t care what happens is – but there is only a sense of pride,” he said.

Garden River First Nation Chief Karen Bell, who presented Nolan with a beaded medallion of the community’s logo and the First Nation’s flag during the event, said Nolan has always been a proud member of his community.

“He never forgot Garden River, he never forgot where he came from — he never forgot his roots, and he mentioned them all the time,” she said. “I know when I was younger and you went to an NHL game, all you had to look for was Ted; as soon as he saw you, he made sure he stopped everything, and made you feel welcome.”

Nolan made his return to Garden River as a survivor: it’s the first time he’s been home since he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of cancer that forms from white blood cells called plasma cells, about seven months ago .

He is now on the mend after undergoing chemotherapy treatment for almost five months. Nolan lived in his second home in St. Davids, a small town in the Niagara on the Lake area, while undergoing treatment.

Nolan said that his blood is back to normal and that he is starting a new form of medication to ensure that the cancer “stays where it is”, but he is still waiting for the nod to “ring the bell” – a term used when cancer patients with success. complete chemotherapy or radiation treatment – by the medical staff.

“Hopefully he gets to ring the bell soon enough, but he says everything looks good,” he said.

Nolan credited the support of his wife, Sandra, and the medical care he received for his progress. Without it, he said, he doesn’t believe he “would have made it.”

“Every time someone hears that word ‘cancer,’ I mean, it sets you back a little bit, and you’re scared — you don’t know if you’re going to live for a year or two, or two weeks.” Nolan said. “It’s really tough mentally, and like I said, I’ve fought a lot of battles in my life, but none like this.

“This was all mental, and anyone who has ever been through it, I tell you, they are my new heroes, because the fight against cancer is one of the hardest things that I have personally gone through in my entire life – and I’m just. so grateful for the doctors who do this work, and the care and what they give, and how much work is involved.”

Nolan’s toughest battle to date left him with an even deeper sense of gratitude, which was on full display as he happily signed dozens of books and photographs for his fans.

And the community received that goodwill: Jingle-clad dancers and a youth drum group performed a traditional Anishinaabe healing song as part of the book signing event, while a handful of Nolan supporters had their heads shaved Tuesday to raise funds for the local food bank. .

“I’ll just cross my fingers every day,” he said. “Sometimes we take the simple things in life for granted – just life in general – so I’m happy to be here today.”