A Canadian premier makes an impassioned statement urging support for Don Cherry

Danielle Smith has publicly urged Mark Carney to support awarding Don Cherry one of the nation’s highest honours.

The call came after a growing petition pushing for Cherry to receive the Order of Canada in recognition of his long-standing contributions to the country’s hockey culture and his support for Canadian veterans and charitable causes.

Smith, Alberta’s 19th premier, took to social media on Saturday to throw her backing behind the campaign. In her post, she encouraged Carney—known for being a passionate hockey fan—to publicly support the push to honour the legendary broadcaster.

“It’s time for the Prime Minister to join me and millions of our fellow Canadians in supporting the appointment of Don Cherry to the Order of Canada, one of our nation’s highest honours,” Smith wrote.

She went on to describe Cherry as a defining figure in Canadian sport and culture, highlighting his decades-long influence on hockey fans across the country. According to Smith, Cherry’s voice and opinions about the game have long carried enormous weight among supporters of Canada’s national sport.

Smith also emphasized the broadcaster’s efforts in honouring Canadian veterans and his involvement in charitable work over the years, arguing that these contributions alone make him deserving of national recognition.

“Don Cherry is a Canadian icon, a hockey legend and is loved by Albertans,” she added. “His contributions to Canadian sport and culture are undeniable, and the work he did to honour our nation’s veterans was invaluable.”

Cherry—widely known to fans as “Grapes”—became one of hockey’s most recognizable personalities through his years on Hockey Night in Canada, where his outspoken commentary and colourful personality made him a household name.

Smith closed her message with a hockey-themed appeal to the prime minister: “Put the puck in the net and give Grapes the recognition he deserves.”

While Cherry’s later years in broadcasting were marked by controversy, many supporters argue that his decades of influence on the sport and his advocacy for veterans remain an important part of his legacy.

The debate over whether Cherry should receive the Order of Canada is likely to continue, but the public push from Smith has added significant political weight to the campaign.