Dominique Chartrand: Switch On the Mic

Dominique Chartrand has been teaching group fitness classes since the very first day the Centre Multisports opened. If you’ve ever taken one of her classes, you probably remember her—mainly because you could barely climb stairs the next day. Known for triggering muscles you didn’t even know existed, Dominique initially comes across as gentle, quiet, even a little shy. But the moment she switches on the mic, she transforms and puts on a show:

“In everyday life, I’m very reserved,” admits the instructor. “But once I step in front and put on the mic, it’s like performing. I can’t really explain it. It just happens. It’s like two different worlds.”

Leading by Example

For someone who used to skip gym class in high school with any excuse she could find, Dominique Chartrand is now the kind of instructor you want to follow—if you can keep up. Energetic, upbeat, and full of vitality, she leads seven classes a week at the Centre Multisports, follows a clean diet, and lives a lifestyle centered around training.

She discovered her passion in her mid-twenties and turned it into a career, teaching for over 20 years now:

“It’s a passion for me. I thought, why not turn it into my job, share this passion, and give others the desire to move and live a healthier, more active life?”

She trains like a professional athlete and performs when she teaches:

“I train so that when I’m in front of my class, it looks easy,” she says. “You’ve got to lead by example.”

Group or Solo Training?

Beyond the sweat and the sore muscles, Dominique’s classes are thoughtfully prepared. While it might seem easy to reuse the same routines, Dominique takes a creative and musical approach:

“People think we just show up, play music, and teach the class. But we work on the tempo, count beats, stay on rhythm. There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work. You’ve got to be creative.”

She tailors her lessons based on the group’s energy and keeps her classes dynamic and varied, making sure they’re suitable for both beginners and seasoned fitness enthusiasts:

“Group classes have that energy—the instructor motivates you, the group uplifts you. Some prefer solo workouts, but others thrive in a group setting.”

Don’t Be Afraid to Try

One of Dominique’s greatest strengths is her ability to reflect and grow. She welcomes feedback, never stops improving, and always teaches with love and purpose:

“Fitness is good for the body and mind—it’s therapy,” she says.

A pillar of the Centre Multisports since day one, she’s witnessed hundreds of people—fit, less fit, young, old, motivated, discouraged—walk through the doors. Her advice to anyone unsure where to begin?

“Don’t be afraid to try. Once you find what you love, that’s when the results come, and that’s when you’ll keep pushing. You can’t get bored here—you can switch classes every week, every night. Sometimes we have five classes going on at once. The variety is incredible.”

Dominique Chartrand may go unnoticed on her way to class. But once the mic is on, it’s a different story—one made of muscles, music, and movement, written by a woman who never stops reaching for the next rep.