The move comes amid a surge in youth homelessness across Alberta, with local shelters reporting record numbers and long waitlists. Draisaitl, known for his dominance on the ice and leadership in the locker room, said he was “deeply moved” after visiting a downtown outreach center earlier this year.
> “Edmonton has given me so much,” Draisaitl said at a press conference this morning. “This city is my home, and I can’t sit by and watch its most vulnerable kids fall through the cracks.”
The new shelter, named “Leo’s House,” will feature 25 beds, mental health support, addiction recovery programs, educational services, and job training—all under one roof. The property, a century-old mansion on 104 Street, will be fully renovated and operational by the end of 2025.
Mayor Amarjeet Sohi praised the initiative, calling it “a shining example of how sports figures can use their platform for real, lasting change.”
This is not Draisaitl’s first act of philanthropy, but it is his most ambitious. The German-born NHL star, a fan favorite in Edmonton, has often expressed gratitude for the community’s unwavering support throughout his career.
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