Day 2 of the 43rd Défi sportif AlterGo featured the school component’s boccia competitions, as well as the opening matches of the national boccia tournament, being held once again at the Maurice-Richard Arena.
Additionally, the day marked a historic milestone in the development of women’s adaptive sports.
Young talent, elite athletes, and pride
At the Maurice-Richard Arena, the day began with the school component’s boccia competitions. Nearly 50 young athletes competed in 3 different categories: elementary, secondary, or ramp.
In attendance was athlete ambassador and 3-time boccia Paralympian Alison Levine, who will represent Canada in the Montreal 2026 World Boccia Cup starting on Monday. She took in a few of the matches and presented some of the medals.
“This is the future; they’re the future of my sport. It’s so nice to see this continuity—there are more and more participants every year. It’s really great to see,” she said.
The young athletes were also filled with pride, especially those who won medals.
“Winning a silver medal is like winning at life,” summed up Jérémy Huard, silver medal around his neck.
A career honoured
During this morning’s opening ceremonies, Maxime Gagnon, president and CEO of AlterGo, took a moment to pay tribute to José Malo, executive director of the Quebec Association of Sports for People with Cerebral Palsy (AQSPC), as she departs for retirement.
“I myself have been here for 32 years, and when I first started, José was already here, so she’s been involved for a very long time. And who better than the next generation of boccia players to thank her? So thank you, José, for everything you’ve done. I know you’re working very hard right now to ensure a smooth transition; the team you’re leaving behind is a solid one that will carry on your excellent work. Year after year, we’ve been seeing more and more young people get involved in boccia through school programs. And it’s all thanks to the AQSPC team and José. We wish you a wonderful retirement. Thank you,” said Gagnon, before presenting Malo with a bouquet of flowers.
A historic moment for wheelchair rugby
Meanwhile, at the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex, a historic event was taking place: the opening matches of the very first Women’s Wheelchair Rugby National Championship.
The action kicked off at 11:00 a.m., with 3 all-female teams competing in the first championship of its kind ever held.
This major milestone is a much-needed step forward for women’s participation in the sport. The tournament will continue through Sunday, April 26, when one of the teams will be crowned the first-ever national women’s champion.
At the Centre des glaces Gilles-Chabot, the junior para hockey tournament also got underway. Our athlete ambassador Éloic Constantineau will be busy on the ice through Sunday.
