Dr. Jacques Thibault: The Determination of a Fighter
Life is full of surprises—some pleasant, others much less so. The good ones we welcome with open arms. The bad? We must face them and choose how to respond.
Anyone who frequents the Centre Multisports has likely noticed a white-haired man walking the track, his right leg dragging slightly, right arm stiffly bent, eyes focused straight ahead. You might also spot him in the gym, steadily completing strength, flexibility, and coordination exercises under the watchful eye of his kinesiologist, Marie-Michèle Castonguay. That man is Dr. Jacques Thibault, 70 years old.
A 180-Degree Turn
We interviewed him while walking alongside him on the track—stopping was not an option. Born in Mont-Joli, Jacques began his career as a physical education teacher in Sainte-Thérèse. While he enjoyed working with youth, he soon felt the job lacked deeper purpose. A life-changing encounter led him to make a bold shift: returning to school to study dentistry—“an excellent decision,” he insists. He spent 33 years as a dentist in his private Ottawa clinic, all while living in Hudson.
“I loved being a dentist—truly, I was as happy as one can be.”
Sailing the Bay
An accomplished athlete, Jacques was an avid runner and passionate alpine skier. He completed several marathons, many 5K and 10K races, and numerous half-marathons. On the slopes, he conquered some of North America's finest mountains with vigor and joy.
With a second home in Georgian Bay, north of Toronto, he developed a deep love for sailing, exploring the bay and Lake Huron at the helm of several boats. He navigated both calm waters and stormy squalls with the confidence and determination that have always defined him.
A Body Turned Prison
Jacques had big dreams for his retirement—travel, adventure, movement. But three years ago, life changed in a flash. Within just three weeks, he suffered four strokes. The first three left him relatively unscathed, but the fourth was devastating: complete paralysis on his right side.
Suddenly, Jacques was trapped in his own body—three long weeks motionless in a hospital bed. The year that followed was a painful uphill battle: learning to stand, walk, and accept his new physical limitations.
Rising Again
The road was steep, but Jacques—bolstered by his unwavering determination and the steadfast support of his wife, Katherine (“the greatest gift life ever gave me,” he says tearfully)—returned to the Centre Multisports. Now, he trains almost daily.
“I walk the track, I work out in the gym, rain or shine. I swim twice a week, I use the NeuroTracker—and I’m actually pretty good at it!” he laughs.
His kinesiologist Marie-Michèle Castonguay praises his spirit:
“He’s a joy to work with. He gives his all, never complains, and always pushes to finish each set.”
Jacques has one goal in mind: to run in a race again.
“And I will do it. I swear to you!”
Forty-five minutes after our interview, he was still going—lapping the track with quiet intensity. A true fighter.