Georges Laraque

Georges Laraque was born in Montreal, Quebec on December 7, 1976.  He is the oldest of three siblings and speaks fluent English, French and Creole.   When Georges was young, he was actively involved in many sports, including soccer, speed skating, figure skating, judo and hockey.  Even as a young boy, Georges' goal was to make it to the National Hockey League.

Through hard work and dedication, Georges was drafted to the NHL in 1997 for the Edmonton Oilers. In addition to playing for Edmonton, Georges played for Phoenix and Pittsburgh before returning home to Canada in 2008 to play for his favourite childhood team, the Montreal Canadiens.

In January 2010, Georges decided to dedicate his life to serving his community and the city he grew up in. The devastating earthquake in Haiti was a life-changing experience for Georges.  Georges became heavily involved in the humanitarian relief mission and the rebuilding of the Grace Children’s Hospital in Port-au-Prince. He is still actively involved in the World Vision project, Hockey for Haiti.

Mr. Laraque is a committed environmentalist, supporting green businesses like TerraSphere, an innovative vertical farming technique which maximizes space in facilities and promotes eco-friendly farming techniques. Georges is also a major spokesperson for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

In addition to his compassionate humanitarian and environmental work, Georges is also a co-owner of two vegan restaurants called Crudessence in Montreal. He is also president of Super-Glide Canada, a synthetic ‘skate-like-ice’ surface that is more affordable than traditional ice, making Canada’s national pastime more accessible to all Canadian children regardless of economic means.

Mr. Laraque joined the Green Party of Canada in February 2010, and was named Deputy Leader in July, 2010. Georges' passion for his community and the environment make him an ideal candidate to help take the Green Party forward with a pragmatic vision for the Canada of tomorrow.