CALEB NICKERSON
MANSFIELD ET PONTEFRACT Aug. 12, 2020
Last Wednesday, a ceremony was held to celebrate a local volunteer’s contributions to the Pontiac sporting community.
Earlier this year it was announced that Stéphane Durocher had been named . . .
the Outaouais recipient of the Dollard-Morin Sports and Recreation Volunteer Support Award, a prestigious prize honouring those that have made significant contributions to the development of sports and leisure activities in their communities.
One recipient is selected from each region, and the award is typically handed out a gala in Quebec City. However, due to COVID restrictions, Durocher received the prize in front of friends, family and colleagues at the Maison des jeunes headquarters in Mansfield. Attendees were spread out under a tent and enjoyed a hearty pre-packaged lunch before the ceremony got underway.
Loisir Sport Outaouais’ Director General Frederique Delisle spoke about the prize and how it’s reserved only for those that have made significant contributions to their regions. Speaking in French, she said that Durocher was a leader that inspired others and that his immense contributions were made out of love for the region and its people.
MRC Pontiac Economic Development Officer Sabrina Ayers gave Durocher congratulations on behalf of Warden Jane Toller, who was unable to attend due to a plenary meeting. A short video was played, where several dignitaries, including local councillors, fellow volunteers and Pontiac’s provincial and federal representatives wished Durocher well.
Speaking after the festivities, the man of the hour was humble about his contributions.
“For me, it’s very, very flattering receiving that prize, but again, I’m just part of all the volunteer work that’s done with all the other volunteers that help me out to organize and produce those sporting activities for the youth throughout the Pontiac,” he said.
Durocher was instrumental in reviving the youth soccer and softball leagues in the area, as they had been shut down for over a decade. He has coordinated the soccer league for the past 14 years, and softball for around a decade. He said that keeping the entrance fees low has been one of his main objectives over the years.
“Even the families or kids that didn’t have the money, those kids had to play,” he said. “Everybody has a chance to play, that’s one of my main goals.”
Soccer takes place in the spring and early summer, with softball starting up shortly afterwards. Durocher estimated that he and his team put in several hundred volunteer hours every season to keep things on track. He said that around 600 youth participate in the leagues. In addition to summer sports, Durcher was a long-time minor hockey coach and currently runs a recreational men’s league in the winter.
Durocher said that though the plans for ceremony had to be adapted, he was happy to be able to celebrate this achievement with the people of the Pontiac.
“It was not in Quebec City, but this was very special for me,” he said. “My family was able to attend, the participants from Maison des jeunes, my employees, everyone was here. If I went to Quebec City it would have been me and a few members of my family. So I prefer local, which is very nice.”
