Albertans could be even more numerous than Quebecers, a surprise for the head of the organizing committee of the event and director of leisure and programs of Réseau FADOQ, Isabelle Michaud. “We expected it to be one of the smallest delegations since Albertans are completely to the west, so they are the ones who have to pay the most to come here, but no.”
Quebec will host the competition created in 1996 for the first time this year. Another surprising fact is that hockey could have a majority of women’s teams. This could be explained by the fact that more women are discovering this discipline in retirement, a movement which follows the resurgence in popularity of our national women’s sport.
Isabelle Michaud believes she has struck a major blow by recruiting Pierre Harvey as spokesperson for the event. (Frédéric Matte/Le Soleil)
Twenty sports will be featured during the August event, including tennis, swimming and badminton. Disciplines that are “more psychological to allow a more inclusive tournament,” such as bridge, scrabble and sieve, have helped convince 2,040 people to register so far, including 380 from Quebec.
Harvey wants to participate
Among the participants, aged between 55 and 93, the ex-Olympian, Pierre Harvey, in great shape despite his well-rounded 67 years. His presence as spokesperson alone had the desired effect in the rest of the country.
The former Quebec cyclist and cross-country skier will be present during the competitions and it is not impossible that he will take part in one or two events, including running. “A 5 or a 10 [kilomètres]! he smiles, hoping that other sports will be added in the future. If there had been a triathlon, it would have been fun!”
Pierre Harvey during the Gatineau Loppet in 2017. (Archives Le Droit)
A sportsman at heart since the age of 12, Harvey still has “as much pleasure” in moving as he did at his first Quebec Games, in Rivière-du-Loup, in 1971. He cherishes the luck he has to be able to age in health and move around while visiting, which is what he wishes for people here and elsewhere.
“My grandfather, who had worked on the land all his life, would not have been able to ride a bike at 70,” Harvey remarked Friday during a meeting at the Ice Center. Our living conditions are improving, people can move for a long time.”
“But there are still a lot of people who think that after 60 you have to watch TV and play cards, when that is far from being the case!”
— Pierre Harvey
Pleasure above all
Nine weeks before the event, The sun arranged to meet three participants at the Intact Assurance Ice Center in Quebec on Friday. The three athletes can no longer hold still the idea of surpassing themselves in their respective disciplines.
For the first time, Céline Roy, Lynne Ménard and Louise Desrosiers will participate in the Canada 55+ Games this summer in the greater Quebec City region. (Frédéric Matte/Le Soleil)
A fan of pickleball, Céline Roy will participate in her first Canada 55+ Games this summer. It all started one Sunday morning, more than two years ago, when his cousin invited him to play on a tennis court on the South Shore. “After that there were four of us, then six, then ten and now there are 650 members,” enthuses the one who, with her 75-year-old teammate and friend, wants to “have fun above all”.
For Lynne Ménard, these Games will represent a chance to perform, meet people and surpass herself. Athletics and running having been at the heart of her daily life for 15 years, she makes future meetings with the best athletes of her age a personal challenge.
“What motivates me is seeing people who are 65, 70 and 75 years old. They are still moving and they are very active. I want to be the same later!”
— Lynne Menard
Passionate about curling for half a century, Louise Desrosiers is “looking forward to adding this experience to the range of championships” experienced over the years. The 63-year-old woman is delighted to be in good shape and to be able to “keep up with the younger ones” and “not lag behind”.
And this time, the great curler Marie-France Larouche, who has several times had the best in competitions on the South Shore, will not be there to block her!
A lack of volunteers
While the Canada 55+ Games and the FADOC Network were able to find many of the required volunteers, there are still shortages in curling and as officials and timekeepers. Interested people can contact the organization directly on its website.
