I met Félix in the Gouin Park, the green space along the river behind the Sophie-Barat School, where he had just completed high school. He worked there for the summer at the site of the Association Récréoculturelle Ahuntsic Cartierville (ARAC). I talked to him while he was busy servicing rental kayaks. He is an active young man who loves outdoor sports like rafting and canoeing, as well as winter camping that he has practiced in the Lac St-Jean region. I spontaneously thought that his family had a cottage near a lake where he would have developed this passion, but this was not the case.
He also plays tennis in his spare time in the neighborhood. This is how I found out that we have a common acquaintance, another Félix who teaches the sport in Nicolas-Viel Park.
When I will publish this photo taken in July, Félix will have begun his studies in Gaspé at theCEGEP de Gaspésie et des Îles in the Adventure Tourism program to become an outdoor activity guide. Amazing for a young man who was born and lived until this day in the city in the district of the Sault-au-Récollet! This choice stems in part from the fact that Felix had chosen the outdoor’s option for his physical education classes, where, as you may guess, most activities take place outdoors. Seeing his natural interest in these activities, the physical education teacher told him about the program for which he clearly seems to have the right profile. Although he does not know what job awaits him when he graduates, he boldly told me he is sure he made the right choice.
To think of it, what would be more natural than a lifelong island resident to introduce neophytes to aquatic activities? After all, Montreal is an Island in a major river that eventually flows into the sea.