practice to lecture him in their native French. During the 1998-99 season, he also served as the Lightning's general manager. In 2007, he was named the 100th most influential personality in hockey by The Hockey News. Coaching record NHL WHA AHL Literacy struggles On November 2, 2005, Demers released a biography, written by Mario Leclerc, entitled En toutes lettres (English translation: All Spelled Out), in which he revealed that he is functionally illiterate. According to Demers, he never really learned to read or write because of his abusive childhood in Montreal. He covered for himself by asking secretaries and public relations people to read letters for him, claiming he could not read English well enough to understand them (though he speaks English and French equally well). When he served as general manager of the Lightning, he brought in Cliff Fletcher and Jay Feaster as his assistants; as it turned out, they did most of the work a general manager would normally do because Demers knew he could not do it himself. Political career On August 28, 2009, CBC Radio One reported that Demers was chosen to fill the Senate seat of Yoine Goldstein by Prime Minister Harper. According to the CBC report, he has "raised awareness about literacy issues" by "going public with his own struggles." A series of Montreal residents were interviewed regarding his Senate appointment and they were generally positive about the move. Many noted, however, that it was "important that he learn to read." Demers served in the Senate until reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75 on August 25, 2019. Health On July 5, 2010, Demers was reported to be in stable condition after undergoing two emergency surgeries. Demers was hospitalized after experiencing a stroke in April 2016. He remained in stable condition in a Montreal hospital. In October 2016, Demers was hospitalized for a serious infection. Since his 2016 stroke, he has been living with aphasia. Honours In 2010, he was elected as an inaugural inductee into the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame in the coaching category. In 2014, Demers was named the Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the Canadian Grenadier Guards, a Montreal-based, Canadian Army Primary Reserve infantry unit. References External links Former NHL Coach admits illiteracy – CTV news 1944 births 21st-century Canadian politicians Canadian ice hockey coaches Canadian senators from Quebec Canadian sportsperson-politicians Cincinnati Stingers Conservative Party of Canada senators Detroit Red Wings