Sport and physical activity have been, and always are, an important part of Marie-Huguette’s life. Able to reconcile competing in high-level fencing while attending graduate school, she quickly developed skills that would serve her throughout her career. In fact, it is this particular skill set that permitted her to strike a balance between her career and other interests.

In Marie-Huguette’s view, the best way to get girls interested in physical activity is to encourage them to try several sports and discover which ones they like best. Starting at an early age, Marie-Huguette provided her daughters, Béatrice and Mila, with the chance to engage in all kinds of sports and activities. Today, sports continue to play a major role in their lives — in fact, it is something they say they cannot live without!

Marie-Huguette decided to get involved in the FitSpirit Mother/Daughter Challenge because she believes that the event does more than simply provide girls with an opportunity to be active. For her, it is about helping them recognize the benefits of sports and exercise, such as how it helps girls build confidence and manage stress.

"It’s always been fun to play sports with our mom, but doing it for a cause that encourages young girls to participate in sports is even more enjoyable. Sport brings more balance in life, so I’m just hoping more girls discover it." – Béatrice, 26 years old

"In my daily work as a health professional, I observe that young girls have so much to gain from exercising regularly to feel good about themselves and avoid health problems. Encouraging this healthy lifestyle by running with my sister and my mother is great!" – Mila, 28, years old

A member of the Board of Directors for the Governance and Ethics Committee serving the Canadian Olympics Committee, Marie-Huguette has been involved in amateur sports for more than 30 years. She also does work in areas such as education, health and business.