Jack White, 89

Meet Jack White, 89 years young.

For as long as he can remember, Jack has been a die-hard Toronto Maple Leafs fan. He grew up in Monastery, Nova Scotia, the second oldest of ten siblings, where life was challenging and money was tight. From a young age, Jack split his time between school and laboring on his grandparents’ farm to help support his family. At just 20 years old, he left everything he knew behind and moved to Ontario in search of a better life. Through every chapter in life (the ups and downs, heartbreaks and milestones) his love for the Leafs never faded.

Sports were always at the heart of Jack’s life. Though he never played organized sports as a child, he was a natural athlete. He skated on frozen ponds in winter and played baseball in the summer. Later, he would go on to excel in hockey, baseball, golf, and billiards. He passed that love of sport down to his children, becoming their biggest cheerleader, always coaching, encouraging, or watching from the sidelines. While working at Dofasco, he continued playing as a goaltender in a recreational hockey league and was a proud, active member of the Royal Canadian Legion.

Jack’s career began in the Air Force as an airplane mechanic before he settled into factory work in Ontario. When shift work pulled him away from his young family, he made a bold choice: he left the security of that job to start his own business called Whitey’s Sports; a sporting goods and skate sharpening shop. It was the perfect fit, combining his passion with his desire to be present for his children.

Life, however, hasn’t always been kind. A serious fall in the early 1980s left Jack with a broken back and wrist, ending his days of active sport. Over the years, he has endured unimaginable loss: his eldest son died in a tragic car accident, and years later, his 19-year-old grandson was killed by a train. In 2019, he lost his beloved wife of 50 years, and he’s battled three cancers and is still fighting lung cancer today. Yet through it all, Jack has remained the rock of his family, quietly putting others before himself.

Now, with his world grown quieter and his mobility limited, Jack spends most of his time in his chair, watching the Leafs and reflecting on a life lived with love, loyalty, and sacrifice. But despite decades of devotion, he’s never stepped foot inside the arena to see his team play live. “Everyone I know has been there except me,” he once said. Now, at this stage of his life, time is running out to make that dream a reality. This may be the last season of hockey he ever gets to watch, and the thought of experiencing the energy of a live game, surrounded by fellow fans, would bring him immeasurable joy.

For a man who has given so much, this wish isn’t just about hockey. It’s about reminding him that he is not forgotten, that he is still capable of experiencing the things he loves, and that he deserves a moment of pure happiness. It’s about breaking the cycle of isolation, lifting his spirits, and proving that no matter how old you are, dreams are still worth chasing.

Special Thanks: A special thank you to Blacklane for helping get Jack safely and comfortably to the game

Photography: Kochanka Visuals