Eastman key to Manitoba’s Francophone Games team

After nearly a decade on hiatus, the Canada Francophone Games are back.

The games opening ceremonies were held in Montreal’s Bell Centre, the home of the NHL’s Canadiens July 15, with the Manitoba delegation full of Eastman talent. The Francophone Games bring French-speaking youth from across the country together to compete in a variety of disciplines.

The Francophone Games were last held in 2017, with the 2020 edition of the games cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the over 100-member delegation from Team Manitoba is Otterburne’s Mélanie Curé, who is the coach of the province’s badminton team. The Francophone games feature both sports and culture competitions, including culinary, music and improv teams.

“It’s really good to see them back,” Curé said.

“It will come with a bit of a learning curve for a lot of folks. Typically when you have this sort of thing every two or three years, there’s continuity… When you go eight years without it, you’ve essentially lost two high school cycles.”

Sporting events include beach volleyball, badminton, athletics, ultimate, flag football and 3×3 basketball.

Eastman participants fill the Team Manitoba roster, with more than two dozen set to suit up for Team Manitoba across various events. Gabrielle-Roy volleyball standouts Colin Vermette and Logan Barnabé, who helped their AA school to an appearance in the AAAA semi-finals last season, will represent the province in beach volleyball.

Cure’s badminton team features a pair of Eastman players from St Adolphe and Aubigny. It’s going to be an intense schedule for badminton athletes. After individual events, the provinces will be seeded for a team competition, similar to the Davis Cup in Tennis.

“It makes for a very different feel,” Curé said, noting the players and coaches feel the pressure to perform for teammates.

“There’s a lot of emotional management happening as well. All of a sudden you’re not just playing for everybody on the bench with you. The fans are always a lot louder, you’ve got cowbells and signs. That’s not something that badminton players are used to seeing… It makes for a very different experience… Getting to do it in French is something that doesn’t happen very often.”

Some of the best badminton players in the U19 age group in Manitoba are Francophone, with more than 40 players trying out for the team earlier this year. Curé said it’s difficult to predict how badminton players will fare at the games, as even during normal games it was up in the air how good the top players from other provinces would be.

“I’m very happy with the turnout, we had a record number of players try out, which made my job very difficult but also very rewarding” she said.

“In terms of how they’ll stack up against other provinces, I truly have no clue.”

There are plenty of new faces on Team Manitoba’s mission staff, with many former athletes and participants now making the transition to organizers and coaches.

While the pressure to perform in their respective disciplines is strong, Team Manitoba is also the three-time defending Francophonie award winner, where athletes from other provinces vote for which region had the best spirit throughout the games.

“It’s something that’s definitely been discussed,” Curé said with a laugh.

“We’re really hoping to bring that vibe again.”

A new feature for the games this year has an Eastman connection as well, as the Francophone Games will give out the first Roxane Dupuis Commitment Award.

The award recognizes “the ongoing commitment of a person who has distinguished themselves by their contribution to the development of the games over the years,” and is named after La Broquerie’s Roxane Dupuis, who will be in Laval to present the award herself.

The 2028 edition of the games will be closer to home, as Regina was announced as the next hosts earlier this year.

Participants

Raphael Raharijaona – Grunthal – Ethics Cup

Nathalie Delaquis – Ile des Chenes – Music

Julie Fillion – Kleefeld – Music

Cédric Chartier – La Broquerie – Athletics

Yvan Turenne – La Broquerie – Basketball

Benjamin Niyomugabo – La Broquerie – Improv

Cédric Gendron – Lorette – Media

Mia Dupasquier – Lorette – Culinary Arts

Rosalie Dion – Lorette – Athletics

Calia Perreault – Marchand – Music

Élyza Jolicoeur-Funk – Richer – Survival Camp

Sarah Dupuis – St Adolphe – Badminton

Mia Hambleton – St Adolphe – Basketball

Colin Vermette – Ste-Agathe – Beach Volleyball

Logan Barnabé – Ste-Agathe – Beach Volleyball

Alek Ouimet – Ste-Agathe – Beach Volleyball

Tristan Cousineau – Ste-Agathe – Badminton

Leah Berard – Ste-Anne – Athletics

Alyana Beaumont – Ste-Anne – Social Justice

Coaches/Leadership

Nicholas Stevenson – Grande Pointe – Athletics

Alexis Bartlett – Niverville – Athletics

Mélanie Curé – Otterburne – Badminton

Zoé Savoie – St Adolphe – General

Alexandre Normandeau – Ste-Anne – Media