The Ouellet Family: Moving Together

What if we just moved a little more?
In their thirties, Mélissa Théberge and Jean-René Ouellet are parents to Rafael (6) and Clara (5)—and the four of them probably spend more time playing sports than they do eating. At the Centre Multisports, they walk in as if it were their second home. It’s not that they’ve suddenly found more free time than the average family—they’ve simply chosen to make physical activity a priority.

But "moving" might be too soft a word to describe the Ouellet family’s lifestyle. Action verbs like swimming, running, cycling, jumping, striking, or skiing all naturally fit into their daily vocabulary.

“For me, sport, discipline, and training several times a week have always been part of my life,” says Mélissa, who once competed at the Junior World Snowboarding Championship. “My parents were very sporty too—I was raised on sport.”
When she met Jean-René at age 15, they had mutual friends but truly connected during an English immersion camp. At the time, Jean-René had already tried more sports in a decade than most people do in a lifetime—hockey, soccer, swimming, hiking, tennis, cycling, cross-country skiing. “Without sports, I’d probably be labelled as hyperactive in today’s world,” he laughs.

So Rafael and Clara were born into a family where physical activity is as normal as breathing.

Joy Before Struggle

Having kids slightly slowed down Mélissa—though running the Boston Marathon and finishing third at a Tremblant half-marathon don’t exactly scream "slow down."
Then came a life-changing trip to Mont-Tremblant: “We had gone to relax,” recalls Mélissa, “but seeing athletic young families at the Ironman competition really inspired us.”
“They looked just like us,” she adds, “and that made us want to live it—and help our kids live it too.”

Soon after, Rafael and Clara started triathlon training at just five years old. The family eventually settled in Vaudreuil-Dorion, far from downtown Montreal where Jean-René works, but close to their second home, the Centre Multisports.

“We’re lucky to have it,” says Mélissa. “For us, fun is what keeps sport sustainable. Some people think our schedule is crazy, but even with all the planning and discipline, we genuinely enjoy it. And when we see our kids’ eyes light up after practice, we know they’re having fun too.”

If there’s one word that sums up the Ouellet family, it’s joy. But more than that, the parents are building a future for their children—one aligned with the goals of Horizon 2035, a project the Centre will soon promote.

“I don’t need my kids to become Olympians,” says Mélissa, now 35. “Our biggest success will be if sports are simply a part of their lives—something they one day pass on to their own children.”
And when that day comes, Rafael and Clara can tell their kids that back in their day, grandma and grandpa never went a day without moving—something that, hopefully, will feel perfectly normal to them too.

A Typical Week of Activity with the Ouellets

Disclaimer: This is not a scientific study, but it does reflect a realistic routine.

• Weekend Tip for Parents: Prep meals in advance.

• Note for Kids: Get as much homework done as possible before Monday.

• Monday
  Wake up at 5:00 a.m.
  Midday workout for Mélissa (run or swim). Same for Jean-René.
  Rafael’s tennis 5–7 p.m.
  Jean-René’s bike ride 6–7 p.m.
  Family dinner and board games. Bedtime by 9:30 p.m.
• Tuesday
  Mélissa bikes; Jean-René handles the kids.
• Wednesday
  Repeat Monday’s routine.
• Thursday
  “Looser” day (but "loose" is relative in this household).
• Friday
  Clara’s gymnastics. Mélissa bikes.
• Saturday Morning
  Clara’s gymnastics. Jean-René bikes.
• Saturday Afternoon
  Mélissa goes off on an active solo adventure.
• Sunday Morning
  Family swim—except for Mélissa, who trains at home.
• Sunday Afternoon
  Mélissa’s turn in the pool.
• Sunday Night
  Pizza and “La Voix” (Quebec’s version of The Voice).