Jacques Demers champions literacy in BC

A distinguished figure in the National Hockey League, Jacques Demers achieved a successful career as one of the most influential hockey coaches, general managers and TV commentators – all despite being functionally illiterate.

The NHL's Jacques Demers was able to win a Stanley Cup but he now admits there has been one skill he was never able to master: how to read. The former Montreal Canadiens coach revealed in his 2005 biography by sports writer Mario LeClerc that while he can write his name and a few other words, he is unable to read most sentences. 

Demers says he first admitted his problem to his wife in 1984, when she complained about always being his secretary. Demers managed to keep his low literacy a secret from just about everyone else as he built his career in the NHL. As a popular sport figure, Demers' admission is an important step to help bring the issues of low literacy to the forefront.

Jacques Demers shared his inspiring story in these communities:

Vancouver
September 27, 2007
St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church
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Prince George
September 29, 2007
Kin Arenas Atrium

Nanaimo
September 30, 2007
Coast Bastion Inn
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Jacques Demers accomplishments

Jacques Demers is a former head coach for the National Hockey League Montreal Canadiens, Quebec Nordiques, St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning. He has won two consecutive Jack Adams Awards (awarded annually to the NHL coach "adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success."), with Detroit in 1987 and 1988, and is the only person to do this in consecutive years. In 1993 he led Montreal to its most recent Stanley Cup. As of 2007, he was named the 100th most influential personality in hockey by The Hockey News magazine.

View a recent television interview with Jacques Demers