The father of “the great one” might never have taught his son right from wrong if he hadn’t been wearing a hardhat 35 years ago.

Walter Gretzky, father of hockey great Wayne Gretzky, was working for Bell telephone in Ontario when a manhole cover hit him in the head. Luckily he was wearing a hardhat, but he still suffered head injuries and deafness in one ear.

Walter Gretzky, 68, gave the keynote address at the recent launch of North America Occupational Safety and Health Week in Vancouver, BC. Gretzky said if he had not been wearing head protection that day in 1961, he wouldn’t be alive today.

Wear your head protection – it could be THAT important.