CORNWALL, Ontario – CFL star Étienne Boulay visited l’école Rose des Vents in Cornwall recently.

Boulay formerly played as a Safety for the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL and was signed by the New York Jets of the NFL in 2008.

Boulay spoke to the kids about his inspiring story about his struggles with mental illness and addiction. The students were encouraged to listen and learn from his story for a research project they are working on.

“We greatly appreciated his sharing and we are learning good life lessons,” reads a press release from Rose des Vents translated to English by Seaway News. “Thank you to the students at Terre des Jeunes Elementary Public School and L’Héritage Public High School for joining us to live this incredible moment! Wow!”