MONTREAL – During his childhood, Geoffrey Cantin-Arku’s family sometimes resorted to food support and Christmas gifts. Compassion radiated on his face as he handed out food to dozens of families at the Welcome Hall Mission.
On a cold day, as Christmas approached, Cantin-Arku came to bring comfort to the many people who needed that boost.
An involvement which took on its full meaning and which inevitably brought back memories for him.
“Yes, for sure, I grew up in a single-parent family with four children. To be able to be in the opposite role, today, when it is up to me to give to others, it makes me feel good,” Cantin-Arku told RDS.ca.
The 26-year-old athlete recognizes that his family is proud of the path he has traveled. Especially since he now exerts a positive influence thanks to his role with the Montreal Alouettes.
“For people to recognize me, that’s one thing. But I want to stay close to people, stay down to earth. It sometimes comes with great responsibilities, but I love helping young people as much as people in need,” said the linebacker who excelled in his first season with the Birds.
We believe him at his word, but also by his actions. Even before becoming a known face of the Alouettes, Cantin-Arku was kind to others. Moreover, he exudes an endearing magnetism which warmed the hearts of those who collected foodstuffs.
“It was really nice to see that we were making people happy. That the Alouettes put me in a position to give back to my community, I greatly appreciate it,” he replied when we told him that his smile made people happy.
With his six-foot-four frame and 230 pounds – maybe a little more during the holidays while eating his mother’s good meals – he attracted attention from the moment he arrived at the Acorn Street location.
Geoffrey Cantin-ArkuThe valuable volunteers and dedicated employees were delighted to shake his big hand and even more so to take a photo alongside him. Impossible to forget this lady, smaller than the tiny former Alouette Ezra Landry, who was so happy with this memory with the kind colossus.
Thus, in less time than it takes him to make a sack on a quarterback, Cantin-Arku had earned his place within the welcoming team of volunteers and employees of the Welcome Hall Mission.
“They are very kind people who are there for the right reasons. We were so well received by their group,” insisted number 19 of the Alouettes.
For this volunteer outing, Cantin-Arku was accompanied by two Alouettes employees: Joey Alfieri and Francis Dupont, who each pitched in in their own way.
But no one was able to match the efforts of a volunteer, who we will call the lady in blue, who was so valiant. The organization relies on more than a thousand essential volunteers, including more than 200 who get involved on a regular basis.
A visit to Matthew Bergeron, a 1is camp in Quebec
Seeing so many people in need, Cantin-Arku also had in mind his trip to Atlanta in early December to visit his great friend Matthew Bergeron of the Falcons.
The contrast could not be more striking with the unlimited resources of the NFL.
Cantin-Arku relished this catch-up with his former teammate at Syracuse University.
“We’re quite busy and it’s allowed us to spend some quality time together. When I see him evolve in this environment, it makes me very proud of him. He’s dominant and it’s fascinating what he’s going through. He is a great Quebec talent and it is a source of pride,” he described.
Thanks to Bergeron, Cantin-Arku was able to watch the duel against the Los Angeles Chargers from the sidelines. He was excited to taste, once again, the frenzy of big stadiums like during his time in the NCAA.
It remains possible that he will get another opportunity in the NFL and his friend’s performance motivates him.
“That’s for sure. But right now, my heart is with the Alouettes. We’ll see about the future,” replied the friendly player.
While waiting for his second professional season, Cantin-Arku will do what he does so well: give back. Everything will come to fruition with the first edition of the GCA Academy, a camp for teenagers, on March 3 and 4, at the Honco Soccer Complex in Charny.
He wants to help the talented next generation of Quebecers continue to narrow the gap with the Americans. To achieve this, he requested the presence of great local players like Bergeron, Marc-Antoine Dequoy, Sean Thomas Erlington, Kevin Mittal as well as members of the Carabins of the University of Montreal and the Rouge et Or of the University Laval.
“I decided to attract the greatest Quebec talents, some of whom are obviously missing, to supervise young people. It takes place during high school spring break. I wanted to do this for the next generation so that teenagers could see professionals and hear our advice. Yes, it’s focused on football, but playing any high-level sport is a great opportunity for young people,” Cantin-Arku aptly concluded.
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