In 2023, Sophie Boyer learned that she had breast cancer. A question of proving to him that he would always be at his side, the sports columnist of Hi Hello Charles-Antoine Sinotte asked for the hand of his sweetheart a few minutes after receiving the diagnosis. Meet a couple who are an inspiring example of strength, determination and resilience.
• Also read: Charles-Antoine Sinotte reveals that his fiancée has cancer
How did you meet?
Charles-Antoine: After being in a relationship for nine years, I was newly single when I came across the Infopresse article The 30 most influential people under 30. While consulting the list, I discovered Sophie, a former cross-country ski athlete turned entrepreneur. At the end of the article there was a link to his Instagram account. So I sent him a little message, to invite him for a drink.
Sophie: At the time, I was seeing someone, so I simply said I wasn’t available. We still started following each other on social networks and I saw that he was a former football player, who had taken up cross-country skiing and cycling: my two favorite sports. I realized that perhaps I had made a mistake in declining his invitation.
What happened?
Sophie: It didn’t work with the person I was seeing. Almost a year after receiving his message, as the holidays approached, I gathered up my courage and wrote to him: “Does your invitation have an expiration date?”
Charles-Antoine: We went for a drink on January 3rd. It was a little too formal as a first date, so for our second date, We chose something more like us: a cross-country skiing trip on Mount Royal.
Sophie: For our third date, we went downhill skiing in Bromont… and we didn’t let go afterward. In January 2025, we will celebrate our seventh anniversary as a couple.
Last year, you posted a cute photo on Instagram where you announced your engagement. How did this day of December 21, 2023 go?
Charles-Antoine: In November, I purchased the ring and hid the box in the Christmas tree. I had planned to ask for Sophie’s hand on December 25.
Sophie: In the previous weeks, I had gone to see what appeared to be a breast cyst. On December 21, Charles stayed with me as I awaited the results of my biopsy and MRI. My doctor told me that it was possible breast cancer, and that I would have more details on December 28, during a first meeting with an oncologist.
How did you react?
Charles-Antoine: We were both completely in shock. On the spur of the moment, I went to get the little box containing the ring and made my big proposal. I told myself that this date of December 21 would not be dark, but bright, because it would be our engagement date!
Sophie: Charles is “my” person. I had no doubt that he would be there for me during this ordeal. You know the expression: “For better or for worse.” This ring was somewhat of a symbol of the best that awaited us after my battle with cancer.
The treatments lasted several months. Isn’t it?
Sophie: Just before learning that I had stage 3 breast cancer, we were planning to have a child. Before starting the treatments, we froze my eggs.
Charles-Antoine: This step allowed us to project ourselves into the future, to have a longer-term project.
Sophie: My oncologist offered me two treatments. I opted for the most effective, but also the hardest physically.
Charles-Antoine: To reduce hair loss, Sophie chose to wear a cooling helmet. During his chemotherapy appointments, I was responsible for changing his helmet every 25 minutes to keep it at -30 degrees Celsius. Sophie did this like a champ.
Are your treatments finished?
Sophie: Yes, I recently rang the bell to mark the end of my treatments. All the people from the oncology department came out into the corridor to applaud. It was really touching.
Charles-Antoine: I sent the video to my bosses at TVA as well as to the teams at Hi Hello and TVA Sports. When I was absent to accompany Sophie to her treatments, they never asked me any questions. Being well surrounded by family, friends and work colleagues makes a big difference.
Did this ordeal bring you closer together?
Sophie: We didn’t need to confirm anything about our relationship, but going through this ordeal definitely solidified our relationship. We now know that we can get through anything, because together we are stronger.
Charles-Antoine: I know it’s cliché to say this, but it’s so true: cancer has changed our outlook on life. The little everyday glitches, which may have seemed serious to us before, no longer really matter. Health is all that matters!
And now, “the” big question: when is the wedding?
Sophie: We have devoted the last few months to treatments, so we will give ourselves time to recover from our emotions and resume our lives before embarking on other projects.
Charles-Antoine: A wedding with our loved ones or just the two of us on top of a mountain or in the jungle could be our style. We’ll see!
In closing, Charles-Antoine, you are one of the ambassadors of the campaign Bowvember from Procure!
My third participation has a particular meaning for me, since prostate cancer and breast cancer have several similarities: more and more young people are affected by it, and the diagnoses are very aggressive, hence the importance of prevention, detection and rapid treatment. In Quebec, 18 men per day are diagnosed with prostate cancer: news that has the effect of a tsunami not only for the patient, but also for his family, friends and work colleagues. It’s important to talk about it to break taboos and raise awareness among men about prostate cancer.
Psitt… For the photo shoot, the lovers wear their winter coats from Audvik, a company that Sophie has owned since 2012. “As a former cross-country ski athlete and lover of winter sports, I create the clothes I always dreamed of wearing. These are coats made here in Quebec, with eco-responsible fabrics made from recycled plastic bottles, and they are guaranteed for life,” Sophie proudly confides.
For more details: https://boutique.procure.ca/collections/noeudvembre
