Par
François-Olivier Roberge
2006 and 2010 Olympian
Communications Advisor for the Aléo Foundation
Board member of the 2027 Canada Games Host Society
September 14, 2026, in Les Coops de l'information — Funding sports is winning from the very first whistle, as soon as the puck drops on the ice, it's raising your arms in victory right at the starting line. While influential figures are rightly calling for a reform of the Quebec sports system, and while financial needs have been decried from all sides for a very, very long time, I am adding my two cents to the discussion.
I see them, I meet them, I hear them. Business people are fascinated by the power of sport to shape leaders. Believing in our athletes and supporting them on their journey means empowering humans who have all the potential to become our great citizens of tomorrow. Let's team up.
I had another demonstration of this on Tuesday, September 8. The Quebec City Chamber of Commerce held its first breakfast-conference of the season. The theme: the 2027 Canada Games coming to Quebec City this winter. The occasion to demonstrate to the 300 business community guests the value of contributing to the genesis of these legends of tomorrow.
I had the privilege of being the moderator of the panel discussion there. Here is the introductory remark I delivered to break the ice:
As for me, it was in 2003. The Bathurst-Campbellton Canada Games. I was 17 years old.
It was cold. There were storms. A difficult combo for outdoor long-track speed skating.
I remember winning medals there, but the details of the results are fuzzy. Even if this memory hasn't survived the ages, I still remember my teammates very well: Marianne, Laurent, Jeff, Pascale, Mireille.
I remember the trailers that served as our locker rooms during competitions and as dormitories. I remember the craze of trading lapel pins. A true classic of the Games.
I remember trading my Quebec coat for an Alberta coat… I remember regretting it when I got back home. An Alberta coat at Cégep Garneau!
I remember the Canada Games as a milestone in my journey. Many athletes who will be here this winter will moreover be future Olympians. More than 2,500 athletes, tall teens or young adults with ambitions as great as their talents.
And for many others, for the vast majority, it will be one of the great highlights of their athletic journey. Their highest level of competition. A major success that will contribute to who they become and the leadership roles they will hold in our society. Regardless of their professional career, they will stand out.
For me, that is the greatest impact of sport. For me, that is the primary reason to invest in sport.
Then, the panel composed of Frank Pons, dean of FSA U Laval, and Olympic medalists Valérie Maltais and Laurent Dubreuil proved me right: inspiring and intelligent leaders, shaped by their journey as athletes. Their exceptional journey. A won-over audience.
My role at the Aléo Foundation gives me the privilege of meeting these wonderful young people. Competitive sport opens doors for them, elevates them as human beings, tests them, and rewards them, sometimes dramatically, and sometimes, often, in very small doses, over the long term.
The 2027 Canada Games team has set itself the goal of convincing businesses to join the adventure with 6 million $ in private funding. Less than 5 months before the games, 85% of the goal has been reached. That is more than 5 million $ for sports, from the private sector.
Another example: Once a year since 2024, the Aléo Foundation’s “À table pour les athlètes” event has brought together businesspeople and athletes. After three editions, it has generated 500,000$ in profits to support sports. The event will return to Quebec City on March 24, 2027.
It just goes to show how the team is coming together. The peloton is already riding as one. In a pack, distances feel shorter, false flats flatten out, and the headwind loses its strength. Let's go! Together as a team to propel the athletes across the finish line.
5000
They are also part of the team. They certainly believe in these young people too. The fact that the 2027 Canada Games managed to find the 5,000 volunteers they will need fascinates me! It is a first in the history of these games to fill this crucial sector so quickly. Bravo Quebec!
Thanks to the Coops de l'information for broadcasting. READ.
