Montreal-raised NBA star Chris Boucher makes time for his second passion: helping his community
Toronto Raptors star Chris Boucher may make basketball look easy, but his rise to stardom was born from humble beginnings.
"I lived in Montreal and I've seen what it is not to have anything and being a kid trying to figure out ways to have opportunities," Boucher told CTV News.
The NBA player was born in St. Lucia and moved to Montreal North when he was five. At 16, he quit school and worked as a dishwasher at St. Hubert chicken.
At the relatively late age of nineteen, he was spotted playing pick-up basketball and eventually was offered a spot in an amateur league.
The rest is history.
He says he's always been a generous person.
"When I didn't have anything I was always a giving person so it feels good to be in a position to give back," he said.
Now that the ball is in his court, he's using the opportunity for his other passion: helping his community.
"When I got there, we sort of figured, you know, what would be the best? How can we help? But obviously we know a lot of there's a lot of issues in the world, but how can we help? Not only in basketball but in general. That's where the foundation came in," he said.
Boucher created Slimmduck Foundation to support youth in communities across Canada, particularly in Montreal and Toronto.
"We realized that there's a lot of kids in need , there's a lot of people that are struggling. Families immigrating to Canada, so we try to figure out ways and just try to be just for them and give them a good head start," Boucher said.
He received the Montreal Community Cares award on Friday night at his A night of laughter" fundraiser, which raised funds for his foundation.
"That's really exciting. It just show how much work we've been putting in, the great team I have... and obviously that it helps us to make a bigger plans for the future," he said.
He may be an NBA star, but when he's back home, it's all about his family.
"As soon as practice ends, I go home and shower and get to see my mom," he said. "She helps me to stay above water."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Alberta Premier Smith gets 91 per cent support in leadership review
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith received a dominating 91.5 per cent vote of support from her United Conservative Party members in a scheduled leadership review vote on Saturday.
'It’s a dream come true’: Holt, Liberal cabinet sworn-in to office
Susan Holt, the province’s first female premier, and 18 cabinet ministers took the oath of office in the chamber of the legislative assembly.
Vancouver quietly proclaimed Chip Wilson Day as billionaire installed sign calling B.C. NDP 'communist'
On the same day Chip Wilson erected a controversial sign at his Vancouver mansion, the city was quietly honouring the billionaire and his wife.
Here's what you can buy for $729,000 in 8 Ottawa neighbourhoods
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at what you can buy for the average Ottawa home price of $729,000 in eight Ottawa neighbourhoods.
Florida's convicted killer clown released from prison for the murder of her husband's then-wife
A woman who pleaded guilty to dressing as a clown and in 1990 murdering the wife of a man she later married was released from prison on Saturday.
Calgary police issue warning after receiving over 150 calls relating to personal fireworks
Calgary police issued a media statement Saturday reminding residents about the rules regarding personal fireworks after receiving over 150 complaints.
Carter speaks of legacy, relationship with Raptors fans ahead of jersey retirement
Vince Carter spoke about family, legacy, anger, and ultimately, love in an emotional news conference ahead of his jersey being retired by the Toronto Raptors.
The impact of Trump's lies in Springfield, Ohio
Springfield, Ohio was once a manufacturing hub. Now, people know it for Trump's comments at September's presidential debate, when he famously - and falsely - told an audience of 67 million people that Haitians eat their pets, echoing claims that had circulated on social media.
India trashes Canada for linking home minister to Sikh activist plot
India officially protested on Saturday the Canadian government's allegation that the country's powerful home minister Amit Shah had ordered the targeting of Sikh activists inside Canada, calling it 'absurd and baseless.'