Let's talk about Walter

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The City issued a request to residents to submit their fondest memory of Brantford's beloved Lord Mayor Walter Gretzky. The response was overwhelming as several stories and photos were submitted. Using some of those submissions, a tribute video was created to honour Walter Gretzky and his contributions to Brantford and its residents.

Let's talk about Walter video


The Let's Talk about Walter video is one of the many ways the City will honour the legacy of Brantford's beloved Lord Mayor. In 2020, the City renamed the newly renovated Walter Gretzky Municipal Golf Course in his honour. Later this year, a

The City issued a request to residents to submit their fondest memory of Brantford's beloved Lord Mayor Walter Gretzky. The response was overwhelming as several stories and photos were submitted. Using some of those submissions, a tribute video was created to honour Walter Gretzky and his contributions to Brantford and its residents.

Let's talk about Walter video


The Let's Talk about Walter video is one of the many ways the City will honour the legacy of Brantford's beloved Lord Mayor. In 2020, the City renamed the newly renovated Walter Gretzky Municipal Golf Course in his honour. Later this year, a portrait of Walter will be unveiled at the golf course that bears his name. Additionally, Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant is currently raising funds to create a tribute bust in Walter's honour with plans to feature the special tribute at Brantford's new City Hall at 58 Dalhousie Street.


Do you have a story about Walter you'd like to share?

Please tell us about a personal experience that you or someone you know had with Branford's Beloved Lord Mayor, Walter Gretzky. Thank you for sharing. 

Thank you for sharing your story with us.
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  • Share THE GREATEST ONE on Facebook Share THE GREATEST ONE on Twitter Share THE GREATEST ONE on Linkedin Email THE GREATEST ONE link

    THE GREATEST ONE

    by Kingston Georgeff, over 3 years ago

    THERE IS A BRIGHT NEW STAR OVER GOD’S GOLF COURSE OF LOVE,

    JOINING PHYLLIS IN HER CRYSTAL CATHEDRAL IN HEAVEN ABOVE.

    WALTER OR “WALLY” THE WORLDS ULTIMATE HOCKEY DAD IS GONE,

    BUT FOR HIS FANS AND THE WORLD, HIS MEMORIES LIVE ON.


    IN THE DRESSING ROOM OF LIFE,WE HANG MEMORIES AND SKATES,

    SIT IN OUR HOCKEY STICK CHAIR AND REMEMBER ALL THE GREATS.

    THANKS WALTER FOR LOVING THE GAME,WHILE SERVING OTHERS,

    GIVING YOUR LIFETIME INSPIRING CHILDREN, DADS AND MOTHERS.


    EVERY SECOND OF EVERY DAY WAS NOT ENOUGH IT SEEMS,

    WALTER ASKED HIS FAMILY & WAYNE TO FOLLOW THEIR DREAMS.

    HOW... Continue reading

  • Share The Hyde Family 1996 Hockey Tournament in Los Angeles with Walter on Facebook Share The Hyde Family 1996 Hockey Tournament in Los Angeles with Walter on Twitter Share The Hyde Family 1996 Hockey Tournament in Los Angeles with Walter on Linkedin Email The Hyde Family 1996 Hockey Tournament in Los Angeles with Walter link

    The Hyde Family 1996 Hockey Tournament in Los Angeles with Walter

    by Walter Gretzky, over 3 years ago

    Our family story of Walter happened in 1996 when our son Paul was on Walter's hockey team, two years after he had his aneurism. He was all better and back at the arena coaching. Wayne was so happy his dad was doing great he said "Dad why don't you bring your team to Los Angeles and we can have a tournament. Walter brought this to the next practice to see if we were interested. Everyone was so excited!! Every family was able to go and everyone in the family came too. We played lots of hockey games and Wayne also... Continue reading

  • Share Quiet Generosity on Facebook Share Quiet Generosity on Twitter Share Quiet Generosity on Linkedin Email Quiet Generosity link

    Quiet Generosity

    by Lynn Christene Bilton, over 3 years ago

    For many years, I was a volunteer with TEAD – Equestrian Association for the Disabled. Several of our classes included students who attended W. Ross Macdonald School for the Blind in Brantford. Staff members from the school always spoke highly of Walter Gretzky’s generosity to the school. When there was a need, it was quietly looked after by Walter and his son Wayne.

    TEAD held a major fundraiser each year called “A Night at the Races” at Marriott Hall on the Ancaster Fairgrounds. One of the evening’s events was a silent auction that Walter always donated to. Often the auction... Continue reading

  • Share Hockey Sticks & Friendship!!!!!!!!! on Facebook Share Hockey Sticks & Friendship!!!!!!!!! on Twitter Share Hockey Sticks & Friendship!!!!!!!!! on Linkedin Email Hockey Sticks & Friendship!!!!!!!!! link

    Hockey Sticks & Friendship!!!!!!!!!

    by Deanna Finch-Smith, over 3 years ago

    I met Walter in 2002 when we ran into each other at the local gas station. I jokingly asked him why he got all the hockey sticks from the local arenas as my husband had been searching for sticks to build an Adirondack chair for a charity event. After several minutes of bantering back and forth joking he told me to follow him home. This was the beginning of our friendship that I will treasure forever. I followed him home, had lunch with Phyllis and Walter and he supplied me with bobbleheads, autographed pictures, calendars and pens to use for... Continue reading

  • Share Wonderful friend on Facebook Share Wonderful friend on Twitter Share Wonderful friend on Linkedin Email Wonderful friend link

    Wonderful friend

    by sylvia steele, over 3 years ago
    We have had the pleasure of knowing the family for approximately 30 some odd years. We have so many memories to treasure that we could go on and on . We were given experiences of which we would have never been able to have. Wally took Butch on pretty well all of Wayne's games all over different cities until Wayne retired. Wayne's last games were ones to be treasured. We also had the pleasure of attending Wayne;s induction to the Hockey Hall of Fame and what a wonderful day that was and we were catered to every step of that... Continue reading
  • Share Ordinary Poems for an Extraordinary Man on Facebook Share Ordinary Poems for an Extraordinary Man on Twitter Share Ordinary Poems for an Extraordinary Man on Linkedin Email Ordinary Poems for an Extraordinary Man link

    Ordinary Poems for an Extraordinary Man

    by CLMota, over 3 years ago

    I can’t remember the first time I saw Walter. He was always around. In the mall. At the Paris Cenotaph every November 11th. At the rink. Hamming it up for kids. Telling stories to someone. Signing autographs. Taking time for others. On December 19, 2005, Walter lost his dear wife Phyllis. I remember that day because it was my son’s 5th birthday. So sad and especially six days before Christmas. I felt sorry for Walter, and I wanted to comfort him somehow. I wrote a poem about Phyllis and the love their family shared, and how she... Continue reading

  • Share Walter's Gift on Facebook Share Walter's Gift on Twitter Share Walter's Gift on Linkedin Email Walter's Gift link

    Walter's Gift

    by cam59mac, over 3 years ago

    As a Brantford girl living in Edmonton when Wayne played for the Oilers, I will never forget when my parents were visiting one Christmas. The phone rang and it was Walter. He had arranged tickets for us all to attend an Oiler's game. Do I need to mention that no one believed me when I got off the phone?! My dad worked with someone who was friends with Walter and he mentioned to Walter that my parents would be in Edmonton visiting their daughter. Walter was so generous in arranging this for us since none of us had ever met... Continue reading

  • Share Walter & World Record Hockey Stick Stilts! on Facebook Share Walter & World Record Hockey Stick Stilts! on Twitter Share Walter & World Record Hockey Stick Stilts! on Linkedin Email Walter & World Record Hockey Stick Stilts! link

    Walter & World Record Hockey Stick Stilts!

    by Doug Hunt, over 3 years ago
    In support of Participation Support Services (Participation House Brantford) I led an attempt to break a Guinness World Record for most people on stilts. A committee was developed in partnership with Tourism Brantford to plan this fund-raising event at Cockshutt Park on Canada Day, Friday July 1st, 2005. One of the challeges was to have 600 stilts manufactured measuring one foot in height. Since this was a fund-raiser our comittee searched for product dontation (wood) to build our stilts. That's where our community champion Water Gretzy steps in!

    Walter got word that we needed materials to build these special stilts... Continue reading

  • Share Near Drowning on Facebook Share Near Drowning on Twitter Share Near Drowning on Linkedin Email Near Drowning link

    Near Drowning

    by Brad Horrocks, over 3 years ago
    When I first was introduced to Wally years ago by my wife Julie, he knew my last name right away. This brought back childhood memories from where he grew up in Canning, Ontario. The story starts when he was maybe around 10 or 11 years old. My father also grew up in Canning not too far from Walter's. My father Russ and his buddies had a rope swing set up in a tree on the Nith River in Canning. They had the rope secured in the tree. One day Wally made a trip down to the river and decided he... Continue reading
  • Share A Friend When Needed on Facebook Share A Friend When Needed on Twitter Share A Friend When Needed on Linkedin Email A Friend When Needed link

    A Friend When Needed

    by Krista Windsor, over 3 years ago
    In the early 90's I was a student at Mohawk College. It was my first time away from home, and I was feeling incredibly homesick. I went to the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre to use a payphone to call my Mom, and when I hung up, I was a crying mess. Now being a huge hockey fan, I knew who Walter was and recognized him when he entered the building; what I didn't expect was for him to come right over to me and ask if I was okay. From there, we talked for a little while about things and... Continue reading