Gr. 8 student makes history with PK Subban

Selwyn House Grade 8 student Justin-Harry Burdman-Castravelli recently made history with one of the biggest stars of the Montreal Canadiens, defenceman P. K. Subban.

 

On September 16, Subban was at the newly opened McGill University Health Centre to dedicate the P.K. Subban Atrium, a large entrance space on the south side of the new superhospital. The atrium was named for Subban in recognition of the hockey star’s recent $10-million donation to the hospital.

 

The donation is the largest philanthropic gesture in Canadian sports history.

 

A portion of the money will go toward supporting PK’s Helping Hands, a foundation created by the hockey star to help families who can’t afford their child’s treatment.

 

Justin-Harry got involved in all this as a result of being the spokesman for the Equipe Burdman Foundation. He says he has a long history with the MUHC Children’s Hospital as a result of childhood illness. “I’ve been treated there many, many times,” he recalls.

 

To show the family’s appreciation, two years ago Justin-Harry’s mother, Brigitte, who is a real estate agent, set up the Equipe Burdman Foundation, which makes a donation to the hospital for every house she sells.

 

Speaking with an assurance beyond his years, Justin-Harry explains that he and his mom created the Equipe Burdman because, “You have to give back somehow.”

 

As a result of this involvement with the MUHC, Justin-Harry has become very involved with many aspects of the hospital, including speaking at an NDG borough meeting to help mediate relations between the hospital and the neighbouring community. He is also frequently in touch with the director of marketing for the hospital.

 

Justin-Harry has appeared in a CJAD radiothon and has done a television commercial for the Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation.

 

So it was no surprise that Justin-Harry was invited to take part in the dedication ceremony for the P.K. Subban Atrium. He escorted Subban’s parents into the hall and got to ask a question during the question-and-answer session that followed Subban’s speech.

 

Brigitte says her son thanked everyone at the ceremony “from the bottom of his heart for all those children who don't have a voice. There was not a parent with a sick child who was not moved by his words,” she says.

 

“Why did you choose the MUHC for your donation?” Justin-Harry asked Subban. The Habs star answered that the hospital has long been a favourite cause of his. He has been quietly visiting sick children there for some time, and last Christmas showed up at the hospital to distribute gifts to young patients.

 

 

“You can tell the guy is sincere,” says Justin-Harry. “He’s not doing this for the media attention.”

Geoff Molson, owner and president of the Canadiens and a Selwyn House graduate of 1987, said he was impressed with Subban’s generosity, but did not think this gesture would influence the decision of which player would become the Habs’ new captain.