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PROVINCIAL VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP                                  Journalist: Myriam Sainson  

The Provincial Benjamin Volleyball Championship will take place in Lac-Mégantic, on April 13 - 15, 2012, for "first time in its history" to be held in this municipality, but also in the new Sports Center. This exceptional event has been organized through a partnership among the Network of the Student Sports of Quebec (RESEQ), la Ville de Lac-Mégantic, la Polyvalente Montignac and la Commission scolaire des Hauts-Cantons. The organizing committee, whose dynamism is also worthy of praise, is composed of Aurèle Dulac, Yvan Plamondon, Yannick Thibault, Bruno Fillion, Janot Gosselin, Patrick Hallé, Marie-Helene Gagné, Julie Cloutier, Maurice Giroux, Kathleen Dulac.

At the time of the press conference held on March 13, 2012, at la Polyvalente Montignac, we also noted the presence of two of the Benjamin players, captains of their team, Olivia Lessard and Rachel Beaudry, André Desjardins - city councilor for la Ville de Lac-Mégantic and person in charge of Sports and Leisure, Roland Perreault - President of the Commission scolaire des Hauts-Cantons, Diane Turcotte – School Commissioner, Richard Hallé - Director of Polyvalente Montignac, and Olivier Audet - coach (Photo 1). The Honorary President for this three-day event is Pascal Boulanger, whose career as Head Volleyball Trainer is rather impressive. Winner of Honorary Estrien 2012, he is currently a certified level III trainer of the Canadian National Trainers Program (PNCE).

The Provincial Volleyball Championship 2012 will be presented at three different sites throughout la Ville de Lac-Mégantic: la Polyvalente Montignac with 4 courts, the Megantic Sports Center (2 courts) and l'école Notre-Dame-de-Fatima (1 court). Because of the new installations at the Sports Center, such as the addition of new sports courts, this project was accepted without any hesitation. 20 female teams and 16 male teams will take part in the Championships. This event represents important benefits for Lac-Mégantic and the surrounding area as these young people will be accompanied by their trainers, officials, parents and supervisors. One should also not forget the participation of close to 100 volunteers who will assist all these visitors and residents of the MRC du Granit who come to attend these events. The closing and opening ceremonies will take place at la Polyvalente Montignac, with both the male and female finals being held at the Sports Center.

In conclusion, I recall words spoken by Andre Desjardins, in referring to the Championship event being held at the Lac-Mégantic Sports Center: "We have obtained an interactive tool which answers the needs and desires of the population", and in addition, "for the young people, it is an occasion to promote and challenge themselves". All the speakers echoed their sense of pride vis-à-vis the arrival of such an event to the area and in promoting the popular sport of volleyball...

Information: (819) 583-3023, ext. 6056

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Photo 1: The organizing Committee and participants in the press

conference.

Photo 2: Olivia Lessard and Rachel Beaudy and Coach Olivier Audet

Photo 3: Yannick Thibault acted as MC for the press conference.

Photo 4: Honorary President Pascal Baker.

Photo credits: Myriam Sainson