Spokespersons
Chantal Petitclerc
A spokesperson of the Défi sportif AlterGo since 1998, Senator Chantal Petitclerc embodies determination, commitment, and perseverance. Her capacity to overcome obstacles and discipline led her to receive 21 Paralympic medals – including 14 gold medals – throughout her athletic career. She is a source of inspiration for students as well as business leaders. Her conferences on motivation show her desire to promote everyone’s ability to tackle obstacles and follow their dreams. Chantal Peticlerc is a world-class ambassador for the promotion of justice and equality for all. She constantly works to ensure that the rights of people with functional limitations are respected, and that they are able to go beyond their limits and fully develop their potential.
Jean-Marie Lapointe
A spokesperson of the Défi sportif AlterGo since 2002, Jean-Marie Lapointe has motivated hundreds of young athletes with functional limitations. He uses his communication skills to shine a light on disabled people’s potential. Being a talented artist, he knows how to win people’s hearts, an essential factor for changing attitudes. Apart from representing Défi sportif AlterGo, Jean-Marie Lapointe assists youth who struggle with drugs or who have eating disorders. He also works in palliative care with youth and their families. Jean-Marie is also passionately vocal when it comes to making the reality of homeless people be known. He is a dynamic ambassador for social inclusion in all its aspects.
Hugo Girard
Hugo Girard has been a special guest at Défi sportif AlterGo since 2017. He has always been passionate about sports. At a young age, he committed to powerlifting. During his athletic career, he won many titles, including Canadian champion from 1999 to 2004 and North American champion in 2001 and 2002. Hugo continues to promote the benefits of training and excelling oneself by giving conferences throughout Quebec. For many years, he has been the spokesperson for BMR. He is also the host of several TV shows, such as “À vos risques et périls”, “Les Rénos d’Hugo”, and “BBQ Non Stop”.
Nancy Audet
Nancy Audet has been involved with the Défi sportif AlterGo since 2020! After 17 years of working in the newsroom and covering major sporting events, journalist Nancy Audet has decided to make a new move. Driven by a new mission, she used her own life story to raise awareness about the reality of children in the DPJ by writing her first book. A story about resilience, resistance and forgiveness. It is also proof that a helping hand can change a child’s life.
Meeker Guerrier
Host and columnist Meeker Guerrier has been spokesperson for the Défi Sportif AlterGo since 2023! He has been a member of the RDS team since 2020, appearing on programs such as “Le 5 à 7”, “Le basketball de la NBA” and “L’Antichambre”. He also talks weekly on 98.5 FM radio with his Sports and Society column on the shows “Sans réserve” and “Le Québec maintenant”. In addition to being a member of the Noovo team since its creation in 2021, Meeker has been a regular guest on Radio-Canada’s “On va se le dire” for the past 4 years, and appearing weekly in English on TSN 690, CTV and CJAD. Since January 2024, Meeker hosts “L’Émission possible” on Télé-Québec.
Ambassador
Iulian Ciobanu
Boccia
Already back when he used to walk to university and spend 30 minutes climbing five flights of stairs to attend his classes, due to the lack of adapted infrastructures in Moldova, Iulian Ciobanu possessed the resilience and determination of an athlete. Not long after moving to Canada, Iulian discovered boccia and since then, his rise in the sport has been nothing short of meteoric. The past year has been crowned with success for this veteran double gold medallist at the Montreal World Boccia Cup 2023 which was held during the 40th Défi sportif AlterGo. He carried that momentum into the Parapan American Games, where he won bronze in the BC4 men’s individual competition while taking gold in the mixed doubles alongside teammate Alison Levine.
Sofia Fassi Fehri
Wheelchair basketball
Sofia Fassi Fehri, who spent her childhood in Morocco taking part in various sports, won gold at her first Americas Cup just 3 months after joining the national wheelchair basketball team. When she started out, Sofia Fassi Fehri was drawn to the social aspect and the opportunity to meet people experiencing the same challenges as her. She has since participated in the World Championships in Dubai and won silver at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games. A driven athlete, Sofia makes the most of her time on the court, which she shares with her two sisters and team-mates, who joined her in Quebec after her accident. She particularly enjoys seeing the level of competition and the potential of the women’s teams all around the world and the adrenaline she gets when playing against them.
Alisson Gobeil
Para swimming
There’s no stopping Alisson Gobeil. This young athlete from Alma, who has been swimming for as long as she can remember, stops at no challenge, be it physical or psychological. The discovery of adapted sport through her first Défi sportif AlterGo was a turning point for the para swimmer living with a neuromuscular disease. Holder of 4 Canadian records, Alisson has qualified for all the finals of her first Parapan American Games in Santiago in 2023 and is now gearing up for the Paralympic trials next May. The strong-willed athlete dreams of taking part in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, while also continuing to live her competition experiences to the fullest and proving that it’s possible to achieve your sporting dreams even from a more remote region.
Nathan Galarneau-Desjardins
Parahockey
Already at his young age, Nathan Galarneau-Desjardins is a double medalist at the Défi sportif AlterGo. A proud member of the Montreal Pirates parahockey team, he has also taken part in track and field competitions in the school division. Participating in the Défi sportif AlterGo motivates the young athlete to practice and train even harder. Charismatic, Nathan Galarneau-Desjardins has energy to spare, and his future as a para-athlete is certainly one to watch.
Romy Hamel
Athletics (school division)
Romy Hamel first took part in the Défi sportif AlterGo when she was in 1st grade. Now in grade 6, this young athlete has participated in various track and field events, functional circuit competitions and soccer. Her enthusiasm for sport, the feeling of being herself and the time she spends with her friends are what keeps her coming back to the Défi sportif AlterGo year after year. This young girl with a hearing impairment perfectly personifies achievement, perseverance and surpassing oneself.
