Jets Players Bring Mental Wellness Message to École Sage Creek Bonavista

Students at École Sage Creek Bonavista got a lesson in mental wellness this January — delivered in part by a pair of Winnipeg Jets players.

Winnipeg Jets forward Gabe Vilardi and goaltender Eric Comrie visited the school as part of Project 11, a mental health awareness program founded in memory of former Manitoba Moose player Rick Rypien and supported by the True North Youth Foundation.

The day began with classroom activities focused on mental wellness, including worksheets, videos, and guided conversations. Students prepared questions for the players centred on well-being and self-care.

Sarah-Rae Elhatton, a teacher at École Sage Creek Bonavista, said the visit helped students see the real-world relevance of what they learn in the classroom. Having NHL players speak openly about their wellness experiences, she noted, carries weight.

"For some kids, these are some of their idols," said Elhatton. "So, for them it is really meaningful when it comes from somebody like that."

Teacher Makaela Homenick added that hearing professional athletes discuss mental health openly sends an important message to young students.

"It normalizes it for them and lets them know it's not just kids who are struggling with this," said Homenick. "Everybody deals with these different emotions and different hard times in their lives."

Elhatton noted the impact of Project 11 goes beyond the Jets players’ visit, with students continuing to engage with Project 11 activities in the weeks that followed.