Parents pay tribute to Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau at sold-out Calgary gala

Parachutes for Pets names award in honour of the late Johnny Gaudreau at weekend fundraiser

It turns out pets and puck luck go hand in hand.

Parachute for Pets threw a gala fundraiser Saturday night at the Telus Convention Centre, and there was a large contingent of Calgary Flames present and past in attendance.

Flames ambassadors Mikael Backlund, Mackenzie Weegar, Ryan Lombard, Dustin Wolf, Devin Cooley and Adam Klapka were in attendance at the 11/52 & Friends Formal, in addition to Guy and Jane Gaudreau, who were there to present the inaugural Gaudreau Pet Legacy Award.

The award was created as a tribute to their sons Johnny and Matthew, who both had unbreakable bonds with their pets -- Bailey and Stella.

“John Gaudreau was a very good supporter of Parachutes for Pets,” said founder and executive director Melissa David. “(He) had an amazing relationship with his dog, Bailey, and I think he and Bailey had that relationship before.

“A lot of (Flames) players were talking about their relationships and how important their dogs were, and John wasn’t shy to say that, you know, Bailey helped him with his mental health and rising stardom being away from his family, so John understood the human animal bond,” she added.

That bond between Bailey and the Gaudreau family grew even stronger following the tragic deaths of Johnny and Matthew last August, David said, prompting the organization to reach out.

“We just started thinking last year when they came out for the tribute (to Johnny) that the Flames did, wouldn’t it be really cool if we could have more of a permanent place for John and Bailey in Parachute? So that was kind of how that came about.

“So they’re going to be presenting the first ever Gaudreau Pet Legacy Award tonight to an individual that works tirelessly in animal advocacy, animal welfare, and just understands (the) human-animal bond.”

Guy Gaudreau said there’s lots of human-animal bonds in the Gaudreau household -- and always has been.

“He (Johnny) was a big fan of dogs and animals,” Guy said. “Actually, all my kids are -- so he had his own, his dog, Bailey, and he raised him here (in Calgary), pretty much.”

Calgary Flames defenceman Mackenzie Weegar said the night was a celebration of the power of pets.

“(We’re) here for Melissa (David) and supporting Parachutes for Pets,” Weegar said. “You know, adopting dogs, taking dogs off the street, getting them neutered, getting them spayed. Taking dogs from the wildfires.

“There’s lots of things that Parachutes for Pets do, and it’s a great, great charity, but we’re here for the pets tonight.

“It’s been a blast to take the dogs to this event,” he added. “Usually, they’re supporting me, watching me on TV -- so tonight’s about them, and it’s been an honor, kind of being their plus one tonight.”

David said the organization hopes to raise $100,000 this week to help fund its programs.

For more about Parachutes for Pets, go here.