Looking Back, Moving Forward

Looking Back, Moving Forward

Celebrating 5 Years of the Centre Multisports!

October 2012. On a slightly windy morning, dozens of dignitaries gathered around a newly built centre for the much-anticipated cutting of a thin red ribbon. This ceremony marked the official opening of the Centre Multisports, providing the Vaudreuil-Soulanges region with top-tier sports infrastructure. Nearly 1,826 days later, the region now wakes up healthier and more active, and this story is just getting started.

To celebrate this milestone, we took a moment to ask four regional figures — Claude Chagnon, Guy Pilon, Lucie Vachon, and Gilles Besner — three questions:

• What has the Centre changed in Vaudreuil-Soulanges?

• What is your favorite memory related to the Centre?

• What do you hope for the Centre in the next 5 or 10 years?

Here are their answers:

Claude Chagnon, Chairman of the Board

More than 10 years ago, when Vaudreuil-Dorion was preparing its bid for the 2010 Québec Games, it became clear that the region lacked the infrastructure needed for its growing youth population. Our promising young athletes had to leave the region to continue their development. The Centre filled that gap — giving athletes of all ages and levels a place that meets their needs.

While I’m delighted every time I see the Centre buzzing with activity, the official opening remains a cherished memory. The presence of the project’s creators, such as Lucie Vachon, local leaders, sports clubs, and future users — all thrilled by this new regional asset — made that day unforgettable.

The first five years allowed the Centre’s management and board to better understand the community’s needs. In the next 5 to 10 years, the Centre will become a breeding ground for elite athletes, allowing them to thrive without leaving home.

Guy Pilon, Mayor of Vaudreuil-Dorion

The Centre brought enhanced services with modern facilities. Whether in sports or culture, you need infrastructure to support your ambitions. We saw the Centre as a continuation of our Québec Games bid in 2010. Our regional study revealed a lack of modern infrastructure.

My fondest memory is seeing people smile as they walked in for the first time. The Centre was comparable to university-level facilities — tennis courts, an indoor track. It felt like stepping into the 21st century.

I hope more citizens visit and use the Centre. It’s theirs. Many still don’t know its full potential. The first experience is key, and I believe time will help people discover and embrace it more.

Lucie Vachon, Executive Director (2012–2013)

This project sparked a unique enthusiasm for healthy lifestyles among citizens, sports groups, and healthcare professionals. The Centre offers unique spaces for large events that didn’t exist before. It also helped launch sport-study and concentration programs for local youth.

I have many great memories. We began planning in 2007, secured major funding in 2009, started construction in 2011, and opened with 75 local employees in October 2012. I’ll never forget that first day. We also raised funds through a community campaign — people bought tiles and sponsored rooms — to cover early salaries. Another key moment was creating mezzanine benches to represent every municipality in the region. This Centre truly belongs to the community.

I hope it continues to grow as a hub for all generations, cultures, and social classes, and that sports clubs feel at home here. May every citizen feel welcome at the Centre Multisports.

Gilles Besner, Executive Director

I was among the crowd at the Centre’s opening in 2012 and was blown away by the facilities — something you’d expect in a large city, not Vaudreuil-Soulanges! With its 200m track, tennis courts, climbing wall, high-end gym, and the province’s best virtual cycling studio, it was a major step forward.

The Centre has also become a hub for developing real fitness expertise in the region. Young kinesiologists are honing their skills to support both elite athletes and those looking to improve their health.

We’re also developing competitive clubs — in table tennis, judo, running, cycling — to help young people reach their potential with top-tier coaching and support.

The Centre will continue to evolve on three fronts:

1. Serving a growing local population with diverse services.

2. Leading the Horizon 2035 initiative for healthy living across the region.

3. Helping local youth rise to provincial and national athletic levels — becoming proud ambassadors of Vaudreuil-Soulanges.