As part of Together at School, a community outreach program co-sponsored by CN Rail, over 60,000 students and 120 schools will be visited by Als players over the next year.
"You need to pick a good role model," started John Bowman, a defensive end. "A teacher, a principal, somebody who's tangible. My role model was my uncle, because he took me from off the streets and brought me to a little boxing gym in Brooklyn, New York and that started me on my path to where I am today."
Dylon Lopes-Alves, a Grade 9 student at St-Raphael Centre, was thankful for a visit he received from the Als.
"They take the time to come here to help kids and show them about what to do in these kinds of situations," said Lopes-Alves.
Receiving a week's worth of training from school counseling experts, 16 football players are expected to participate in the program, which has reached 500,000 students since 1998.
Luc Brodeur-Jourdain, a centre with the Als who is finishing his Master's degree in finance spoke of the importance of helping students finish high school.
"It is important just getting involved into a program that is going to help teachers and people in their schools to keep kids in school and let them finish their high school degree," said Brodeur-Jourdain.
The program starts with a visit to the Hebrew Foundation School in Dollard-des-Ormeaux on Feb. 1.
