A new mission for David Savard and Valérie Lachance

Last November 20, David Savard was at the Bell Centre for a media tour ahead of the Canadiens’ game against the Washington Capitals—the team he faced in the final game of his career, during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

But this time, he wasn’t there to talk about his performance on the ice.

The recently retired defenceman and his wife, Valérie Lachance, have recently agreed to become the new ambassadors for the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Since its creation in 2000, the Foundation has reinvested more than $54.4 million in its flagship program, the Bleu Blanc Bouge rinks, and in support of organizations whose programs align with its mission: encouraging youth from underprivileged communities to adopt healthy, active lifestyles.

Paths Shaped by Sport

Growing up, Lachance tried several sports, but swimming has always been her passion. A lifeguard until the age of 25, she also taught swimming lessons for many years. “My parents always encouraged me to try all kinds of activities. That’s what we try to pass on to our children,” she says.

In the Savard household, hockey was everywhere. “I played in the street, by myself, with my brothers or with my dad. I always played for fun,” he recalls. It was only later that he considered a professional career. “Even when I reached the junior level, I was thinking about playing for a Canadian university. It wasn’t until the end of my time in the QMJHL, when I was offered a contract, that I realized it could become a career.”

“Of course, it’s a little different for our children,” Lachance admits. “They play to have fun, but they also understand that it can be a career. They see that Dad’s dream was hockey, and that dreams can come true.”

But the couple knows that not all youth have the same opportunities. “I grew up in Lower Town Quebec City and attended schools in underprivileged communities. Many of my classmates were newcomers, and not everyone had the same resources. I saw very early on that access to sports wasn’t the same for everyone,” Valérie explains.

Giving Back to the Community

After 14 seasons in the NHL, a Stanley Cup title in 2021 with the Tampa Bay Lightning and four memorable seasons in Montreal, Savard wanted to continue making a positive impact. His guiding principle has always been to leave every team in a better place than when he arrived. He now applies that same philosophy to his community involvement.

A turning point came last spring, when the couple attended a dinner bringing together several organizations supported by the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation. Each year, the Foundation provides financial support to dozens of organizations whose projects help vulnerable youth discover the benefits of physical activity. Over 25 years, it has given back more than $22.2 million in donations to more than 1,000 organizations, providing more than four million children in need with greater opportunities to be active.

“It opened our eyes. We saw the tangible impact the Foundation is having across Quebec, and all the organizations that need its support. And we thought, ‘If we can contribute, we want to do it,’” Savard says.

For Lachance, social engagement has always been part of her life. A human resources graduate, she worked at the Quebec Suicide Prevention Association and then at the Secrétariat à la condition féminine before her husband’s career took them to the United States. More recently, she launched a project with other players’ wives to renovate a shelter for women experiencing intimate partner violence. “I get involved in causes I believe in. Community work has always been important to me.”

A Mission That Reflects Their Family Values

For Savard, the role of ambassador is a natural continuation of his career. “We were welcomed so warmly here. The fans have always supported us. Today, we have the opportunity to give back to that same community. It’s something we’re proud of.”

Parents to Emma (10), Elliot (9) and Zachary (5), the couple fully identifies with the Foundation’s mission. “It’s important to us that our children stay active. That’s exactly what the Foundation wants for all youth,” Valérie explains. “If we can also pass on to them the importance of helping others, that would be a wonderful legacy.”