Senator Jacques Demers braved personal health problems to visit Whitehorse over the weekend to support the Special Olympics.

Demers, who was nominated for the Senate by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2009, was invited by Yukon Senator Dan Lang some six months ago, but didn't get clearance from his doctor to fly until last week.

"But I didn't want to miss it,” Demers told the Star. "There are a lot of people in worse shape than I am. I'm going to come out of it, and it was worth it, it's fun.”

The former Stanley Cup winning coach underwent two surgeries over the past year after undergoing a surgery to repair a hernia that went horribly wrong.

Still recovering, Demers had a weekend packed with events.

He attended a Special Olympics Yukon indoor soccer game Friday evening, a breakfast with the Special Olympics committee Saturday morning, a meeting with local hockey coaches Saturday afternoon and attending the 2010 Northwestel Senator's Ball, a non-partisan event for the benefit of Special Olympics Yukon, Saturday evening.

Demers and Lang were accompanied by Senator Jim Munson and Neil Glasberg, chairman of the board of directors for Special Olympics Canada.

Demers pointed to a collision during the soccer game where two players got up

and made sure no one was hurt.

"That's what the Special Olympics is all about,” Demers said following the game, adding that the trip is meant to simply show support to the Special Olympics. "That's the only thing I want to accomplish, is to leave here, remember that I was here to see what I call wonderful kids and a bunch of winners.

"I support those men and women that don't have it all in life like some people do.”

Lang said there were a number of reasons to ask Demers to visit.

The Special Olympics committee approached Lang to help sponsor the ball, Lang explained.

Naturally, he added, he wanted to invite other senators to Whitehorse.

"Jacques was new, and I know we've got a pretty good hockey culture here, and soon as I mentioned the Yukon, Jacques said, ‘I'd love to come,'” Lang said.

The weekend was a chance to show recognition of what people can do to give back to the community.

"And that's what the community is all about,” Lang said.

Demers' impact on the community certainly would be big, he added.

"You're looking at a Stanley Cup champion here,” Lang said, patting Demers on the back.

Demers said Whitehorse is lucky to have a facility like the Canada Games Centre.

"In Montreal, it's a big city, I don't know one place that has a facility like this one,” Demers said, adding about sport in general:

"It also keeps the kids off the street, when you have ice rinks, soccer or basketball.

When they're participating, they're not thinking about drugs or anything. If it happens, you can't control that, but at least they have a motive to come to practice, come to participate, teaches them how to win, teaches them hard work, discipline, I believe in that.”