November 2, 2009
Lodge 128 Apprentices Meet the Champ
Former Canadian Heavyweight Champion and current motivational speaker, George Chuvalo, spoke to a Lodge 128 Boilermaker upgrading apprentice class at Humber College in Toronto on Tuesday October 27, 2009.
George Chuvalo on left with Lodge 128 Apprentice Ryan Creech
Mr. Chuvalo spoke to the 47 apprentices about instilling pride and self-esteem by first looking after body and mind. He encouraged the value of a good education that will lead to career opportunities while at the same time promoting good mental health along with strong love of family.
Mr. Chuvalo told of his own personal tragedy of losing his three sons Jesse, George Jr. and Steven to heroin addiction along with his first wife Lynn who committed suicide after their second son succumbed to his addiction. Needless to say the world heavyweight contender, who was never knocked down in the ring; fighting Mohammed Ali twice, Joe Fraser, George Foreman, Jimmy Ellis and Gerry Quarry to name a few and all in their prime, was floored by all the grief in his life.
Jim Watson the Business Manager of Lodge 128 said "It is imperative that we get the future of our Industry to understand that we care about them and we want them to enjoy all the opportunities the Boilermakers offer, Mr. Chuvalo speaks volumes about how important each one of us are."
Never the quitter, Mr. Chuvalo, who has two other children from his first marriage, has remarried and is a strong advocate against substance abuse. His message has been delivered all over the world and his preference is to deliver to it to those still impressionable minds.
For more information on Mr. Chuvalo please visit his website www.fightagainstdrugs.ca.