Snowboarder Dominique Maltais is the first woman to win two Olympic medals in snowboardcross. She is also the holder of three large crystal globes, two small crystal globes in the World Cup and gold medalist in snowboardcross at the Winter X Games, in addition to having been world number one in her specialty from 2011 to 2014.
Fortunately, Dominique, who is a native of the municipality of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, decided to snowboard despite the first time she got on a snowboard, at the age of 11. , she had promised herself to stop doing it.
Who is this girl from Petite-Rivière-Saint-François?
The directors of the Canadian Snowboard Federation wanted to know who this unknown girl was who had just won the Canadian Championship. Far from knowing who I was, but even more surprised to learn that I didn’t speak English.
You were silent for two years.
I want to explain myself. I was able to communicate in French with only one other person who spoke French within the team. As a result, for almost two years, I remained silent and the team members gave me a hard time because I didn’t speak English.
The family home played an important role.
My mother, my two sisters and I were born and raised in this house. La Petite-Rivière-Saint-François is the gathering point for the great families of Charlevoix.
It was your grandparents’ house.
Previously, it was my grandparents’ house, until the day my parents, Gérald and Marjolaine, decided to move in with them. Besides, my parents still live there. It is, still today, the place where family members and friends meet to have fun.
Have you traveled as a family to take a vacation?
Never, because there was no need to go anywhere else. There was a large field behind the house down to the beach. The pleasures I shared with my cousins allowed me to experience memorable summers.
You were a tomboy.
I played hockey with the boys, not to mention my four-wheeling prowess and mud wars by the beach. And also our endless bike rides, my numerous injuries sustained while riding BMX, ski competitions. But I also had a feminine touch. That is to say, on occasion I gave roller skating shows at home for family members.
Your father is retired from the Sûreté du Québec.
Dad was a police officer with the SQ for almost 30 years before getting involved in municipal politics, as a municipal councilor for 8 years before becoming mayor until 2021.
Have you ever wanted to follow in your father’s footsteps?
I am my father’s girl, that is to say hardworking and sporty. Every time he came home, when he took off his gun holster, I would see his gun and his police uniform, which made me want to be a police officer.
In reality, you were a secretive person.
I told him I wanted to become a police officer, but in reality I wanted to work in emergency services. My father was a union representative and often the conventions were held in his ski resorts. While he negotiated, I learned to ski.
Your mother had a great influence in your life.
Whenever I had to make a choice, she was always there to encourage me, even if it was a big challenge for me. His encouraging words always helped me overcome any difficulties that came my way. A little anecdote about my mother: she is very popular with tourists in the Massif, because she works at reception. As she always did with me, she finds ways to help and encourage people.
A life lesson you never forgot.
I was starting to ski when I told my mother that there was no way I was carrying my skis. When our neighbor found out, he told me it was the first time he had heard a future world champion say she didn’t want to carry her skis. Since that day, I have carried my skis.
A friend of yours was seriously burned in a fire.
I was about 12 years old, playing golf with my dad. We heard the sound of the fire alarm and saw smoke rising from my friend Émile’s house. Quickly, we headed towards the house as we spotted him running towards his grandmother’s house. He was burned over 84% of his body.
Did you realize then that you wanted to be a firefighter?
I would rather say that it was my father’s instincts that influenced me. Without any hesitation, he helped Émile and his father get into the car on the way to the Baie-Saint-Paul hospital center. He drove the car, because Emile’s father’s hands were burned, but, more importantly, he saved Emile’s life. That’s when I wanted to pursue a career in emergency services.
Your career took the path of the Fire Department.
For several years at the Montreal Fire Department, this allowed me to practice my other passion, snowboarding, because the department allowed me a sabbatical leave. Today, I am a fire prevention technician at the MRC de Charlevoix and captain at the Baie-Saint-Paul Fire Department.
You have two beautiful children.
My partner Christopher and I have two magnificent children, Olivia and Félix-Albert, of whom we are so proud. However, I would like to add that Christopher’s support is essential. He is a man who is always there for the children and me.
