Joey Moss has been honoured by the Edmonton Football Team with a helmet decal.
The Elks have put one on every helmet for the season opener against the Ottawa Redblacks in Week 1 on Saturday night at Commonwealth Stadium.
Moss became a household name with the Edmonton Oilers and the EE Football Team working as a lock room attendant for both organizations starting in the 1980s. Players and fans alike looked up to Moss for his passion, positive attitude and incredible work ethic. He taught many people about acceptance and inclusivity through his work and community involvement with both organizations.
Born with down syndrome, Mass was an incredible role model to all Edmontonians.
He helped start the Winnifred Stewart Association’s Empties to Winn fundraiser, which
supports programs and initiatives for people with disabilities in the Edmonton region.
Funds from his Home Trust, which started in 1988 with support from Edmontonians
and local organizations, were used to help open Joey’s Home in 2007, an assisted living
residence for people with developmental disabilities.
In 2018, with support from the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation, the Edmonton
Down Syndrome Society opened the Joey Moss Literary Centre for Excellence. The centre
offers workshops, an on-site library and literacy resources, reading coaches and a speech
literacy consultant.
He also volunteered annually for the Edmonton Police Service’s Lifestyle Camp and attended many local charity events as a special guest and ambassador. Moss received many awards, including: the NHL Seventh Man All-Star Award in 2003, Services for Persons with Disabilities Award in 2007, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award in 2012, and the Marlin Styner Award in 2015. He was also inducted in the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2015 and the Hall of Fame for Professional Hockey Athletic Trainers Society in 2017.
Moss’ rise to fame expanded beyond Edmonton as he became well-known on the North
American sports scene. People fondly remember seeing Moss on their TV with his hand over
his heart, singing the Canadian national anthem proudly at the top of his lungs before each
home game.
After Moss passed away in October 2020, the Joey Moss Memorial Fund was established.
Money raised is used to continue his legacy in the community by advocating for inclusive employment and meaningful opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to have the same opportunities as Joey, as well as to increase capacity at Joey’s Home to provide dementia care supports.
