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Mayor Kevin Davis and other community leaders are voicing their support for hometown hockey legend Wayne Gretzky.

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“I judge people on what they’ve done for our community not by their associations and Wayne and the entire Gretzky family have done a great deal for the City of Brantford,” Davis said Friday. “His contributions to the community and to Canada began years ago and continue to this day.

The Gretzky family has brought immense pride and greatness to Brantford, Davis said.

Gretzky has been widely criticized for supporting U.S. President Donald Trump by attending his inauguration in January. The Brantford born and raised hockey legend also attended an election victory party for the U.S. president and was reportedly seen wearing a Make America Great Again hat.

More criticism erupted when Gretzky served as Team Canada’s honorary captain at the Four Nations Face-off in February and wore a suit instead of Team Canada jersey for the opening face-off.

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Locally, Davis acknowledged that there are those who are upset with what happened at the Four Nations final and with Gretzky’s association with the U. S. president.

“They’re entitled to their opinions just like everyone else,” Davis said. “But I don’t think their views are at all representative of the city.

“The overwhelming majority of residents don’t support that view and those of us who have been involved with the Gretzky family over the years appreciate and respect what they’ve done for the community.”

Posts to community Facebook groups have been critical of Gretzky’s association with the U.S. president with some saying his name should be removed from a road and sports facility in Brantford.

The city has received 12 emails and 20 calls with feedback related to renaming the Wayne Gretzky Parkway and the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre.

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A spokesperson for the city said decisions to rename current infrastructure is typically only reviewed under exceptional circumstances with significant public engagement considered to inform the process.

Brantford-Brant MP Larry Brock took to social media to support Gretzky.

“As someone who is deeply grateful for all Wayne Gretzky and the Gretzky family has done for Brantford, I am  proud of Wayne’s legacy as an outstanding ambassador for our community and our country,” Brock said. “He has displayed his Canadian pride on a global stage time and time again.

“As one of the most recognizable figures in the world of sports, Wayne’s impact extends far beyond the ice rink.”

Gretzky has an unwavering commitment to using his success to improve the lives of others through his charitable work, he said.

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“Brantford is truly fortunate to call him one of our own,” Brock said.

Premier Doug Ford came to Gretzky’s defence earlier this week.

“He is a patriot, he loves Canada,” Ford said Tuesday at a news conference where he announced a series of retaliatory measures against the U.S.

“He never gave up his Canadian passport. So folks, give the guy a break, just give him a break. He loves Canada. He loves it like no tomorrow.”

Brantford-Brant MPP Will Bouma posted the premier’s support for Gretzky on his social media page.

“His commitment to Canada and patriotism has been steadfast and I stand with Wayne,” Bouma said.

Bouma’s post generated 27 comments, some of which were supportive while others were critical. .

“Good for Mr. Ford for trying to help Wayne save face, but if it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck. Long live the Great White North!” Jason Gibson posted on Bouma’s social media page.

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Nicole Stevens-Durnford, in a post on Bouma’s social media page, said “please tell me what he’s (Wayne) done for Brantford.”

Davis was pleased to respond to that question.

The mayor began by citing the CNIB tennis tournament that brought numerous celebrities to Brantford and raised thousands of dollars for CNIB.

“Wayne continues to champion our community to this day,” Davis said. “A lot of what he’s done has been done in a quiet, humble way and much of it is supporting young people involved in sports – young people who might not otherwise have that opportunity.”

“He insists that it’s done quietly.”

Wayne and his family are major supporters of Special Olympics, Davis said.

The mayor said one of the reasons Graeme Roustan brought his hockey stick manufacturing facility to Brantford is the city’s affiliation with the Gretzkys

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The company, Heritage Hockey Sticks, came to Brantford from Hespeler in 2020 and manufactures about 400,000 hockey sticks a year from its 65,000-square-foot Brantford plant.

The mayor said Wayne also gave the city a boost when former Brantford Bulldogs owner Michael Andlauer was looking to move his team out of Hamilton.

“He (Andlauer) had options including Brampton and Cornwall and there was a chorus of voices telling him that the city couldn’t support an OHL team,” Davis said. “He (Andlauer) approached Wayne who told him, without reservations, that going to Brantford would be a terrific move.”

(With files from National Post)

Vball@postmedia.com

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