A Perfect Pass to the Community – Val-des-Prés Multisport Club

Sports and physical activity are at the very core of healthy living habits, and countless studies have shown their benefits—especially for youth. In the Soulanges region, a community-driven organization is working hard to give local children access to a wide range of sports in a structured and affordable way. Founded in 2014 by two passionate leaders, Vincent Thivierge and Ronald Blanchet, the Val-des-Prés Multisport Club offers low-cost sporting activities for kids aged 3 to 12.

For a fraction of what traditional sports associations charge, the club introduces young people to a variety of disciplines, including baseball, mini-tennis, floor hockey, badminton, and soccer.

Giving Back to the Community

To help build a sustainable community model, part of the registration fees is reinvested in sporting equipment for the Val-des-Prés school campuses, while the rest helps hire coaches and instructors to expand the club’s offerings.

The formula is clearly a success. One recent trial session of floor hockey attracted 70 young players. In total, nearly 200 children now participate in year-round activities—often in municipalities that lack the financial resources to run such programs on their own. Local governments help by providing space, and the Caisse Desjardins of Vaudreuil-Soulanges has also stepped up with support.

A Vision Rooted in Everyday Reality

For the past five years, Vincent Thivierge—a Soulangeois father of four—has volunteered countless hours each week to make sports more accessible for local youth. He does this alongside his work as a physical education teacher.

“My kids have played sports since they were young. But at first, I had to drive to Saint-Clet just so my daughter could play soccer,” he recalls.
“That distance was a barrier—not just for us, but for many families. Plus, there were very few options: only soccer in summer, and hockey in winter.”

That’s when the idea for a local multisport structure was born.

Thivierge was already experienced in amateur sports, having volunteered for the very soccer league in which he played. Teaming up with Ronald Blanchet, a vegetable farmer and long-time volunteer in community and sports associations, the pair laid the foundation for what would become a thriving community model.

A Passionate Dream with a Lasting Impact

The Val-des-Prés Multisport Club offers a win-win formula for the entire Soulanges community:

• Schools receive new equipment,

• Families benefit from high-quality activities, and

• Municipalities optimize their investments in sports programming.

However, the entire structure relies on a team of volunteers, which comes with ongoing challenges:

“Nowadays, people expect high performance—even from a recreational, community organization like ours,” says Thivierge.
“And recruiting new volunteers is a constant struggle.”

Still, his long-term vision is clear: ensure the club’s sustainability.

“Right now, we run everything as volunteers, in the time we have. But I hope that in a few years, the club will become self-sufficient, and we’ll be able to hire a director.”

Until that home run is achieved, Vincent continues to “work hard in the corners”—and an entire community benefits from every shift he puts in.