As the plane took off from Prince George's airport on January 16—it's second attempt to get going to Kwadacha that day—it carried a famous Canadian: Theo Fleury. The Olympian and Stanley Cup champion landed on the gravel airstrip at the confluence of the Fox, Kwadacha, and Finlay rivers in the Rocky Mountain Trench. His visit was part of the village's ongoing commitment to dedicate a week every 2 months to new and innovative health and healing activities.

At the school, kids chattered and smiled, thrilled to have Fleury in their midst. "I was the shortest guy in the NHL," said Theo, and many people discouraged him from pursuing his dream. The message to the kids was not to listen to those voices. "Don't let anyone tell you you're going to fail."

Theo explored Kwadacha, sometimes incognito in his toque. At the community dinner people were busy talking when Theo started to tell his story. This guy was getting deep, and people listened. He shared about the sexual abuse he suffered repeatedly as a youngster. He took his listeners into the shadow world of secrets and addiction, and then he brought them back into the light.

Fleury was visibly moved when talking about being a Pipe Carrier and an honorary Chief, and how important that is to his healing journey. As a Métis man with a Cree grandmother, his Aboriginal identity is central to this success story.

After dinner, Kwadacha residents lined up, shook hands, took photos and had books autographed, sharing a personal moment with Theo. The next day the 1.5-hour flight south was cancelled and Plan B implemented: an 8-hour drive on winter logging roads through Kwadacha Nation, leaving behind a village moved by one man's story.