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.
Ambassadors
Jonathan Vermette
Jonathan Vermette has always been an athlete. After becoming paraplegic in a car accident at the age of 9, he was introduced to wheelchair basketball.
At his first tournament at the Défi sportif AlterGo, where he saw professional players for the first time, Jonathan discovered the full potential of the sport and found within himself the ambition to one day compete at the Paralympic Games.
He joined the national team in 2014 and competed at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, Tokyo in 2021, and most recently in Paris in 2024, where the team finished 4th.
Now retired from the national team, Jonathan still plays wheelchair basketball for fun with Team Quebec and keeps his passion for parasport alive by giving back—especially through the Défi sportif AlterGo.
Caroline Séguin
Caroline Séguin is a powerchair soccer athlete and a veteran of both the Quebec and Canadian teams. She has competed in 10 editions of the Défi sportif AlterGo in this sport, as well as in many others during the school component, including swimming and boccia.
Caroline shares her love of powerchair soccer with her father, Pierre, who is a referee, coach, and board member of Powerchair Soccer Canada. Caroline, who has cerebral palsy, is a big fan of parasport. In addition to powerchair soccer, she also enjoys waterskiing, among others.
As an athlete ambassador for the Défi sportif AlterGo, Caroline hopes to raise awareness about the action-packed sport of powerchair soccer and parasport in general.Her current goal: help Team Canada qualify for the Powerchair Soccer World Cup taking place in Argentina in 2026.
Thomas Raymond
Thomas Raymond plays blind hockey with the Montreal Hiboux. Practically born with skates on, he started playing hockey at a young age.
At 15, he began experiencing vision loss due to Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy. That’s when he discovered blind hockey, an adaptation of the sport he loves that is made accessible to people with visual impairments—thanks in part to a noisy puck.
Now 22 years old, Thomas is participating in his very first Défi sportif AlterGo through the International Blind Ice Hockey Series. He is proud to promote parasport, and blind hockey in particular, and excited to see major competitions in his sport being held in Quebec.
Félix Gemme
Félix is a lively and cheerful boy. He has cerebral palsy, which affects the muscles in all four of his limbs, and only learned to walk after undergoing a major spinal surgery at age 4.Thanks to a lot of effort, physiotherapy, and physical activity, Félix has been making steady progress ever since.
Today, at 12 years old, he shares his daily life on TikTok with his mom, Sindy Durand, aiming to inspire others to push their limits just like he does. His ease in front of the camera and his positive attitude win over everyone he meets.
Félix loves the Défi sportif AlterGo for the opportunity to push his limits in running and para ice hockey—but also for the chance to see other young athletes push theirs by doing sports they love.
Océane Richard
Océane Richard is a friendly and outgoing young woman who has been taking part in the school component of the Défi sportif AlterGo for over 10 years. She won her first rhythmic gymnastics medal during her very first participation.
Océane has Down syndrome, and what she loves most is training for competitions with her teachers and friends—something she talks about with a bright, contagious smile. This year, Océane will be competing in team sports, which are making a big comeback after several years of absence.
It will be her last year competing in the school component of the Défi sportif AlterGo, but the event will continue to be part of her family: her father, Pascal, is a loyal participant in the annual SPVM Police Cyclist Tour, which raises funds for the event.
