On a quiet winter evening at the H.J. Hemens Public Library, the Town of Rosemère paused to formally recognize three of its youngest high-performance athletes, each of whom distinguished themselves on provincial, national, and international stages in 2025.
The ceremony, held on February 5, brought together families, municipal officials, and community members to celebrate cyclists Élodie Bédard, snowboard cross athlete Ellie Boudreau, and baseball player Elliot Lacoursière. The event culminated in a symbolic yet meaningful gesture: the signing of Rosemère’s Golden Book, a record reserved for individuals whose achievements become part of the town’s civic memory.
Presiding over the ceremony, Mayor Marie‑Elaine Pitre highlighted the broader significance of the recognition, noting that the athletes’ accomplishments extend beyond medals and rankings.
“These young people embody discipline, balance, and perseverance,” she said, emphasizing their ability to pursue elite-level sport while maintaining their academic commitments.
At just 13 years old, Élodie Bédard has already built an impressive résumé in competitive cycling. A Secondary II student at Académie Ste‑Thérèse, she competes with the Espoirs Laval cycling club and excels across multiple disciplines, including road cycling, track cycling, and cyclo-cross. Her standout performance at the Jeux du Québec in Trois-Rivières earned her four gold medals, while international victories in Belgium and a top-five finish at the Canadian Cyclo-Cross Championships further underscored her rapid rise. She is also a scholarship recipient from the Aléo Foundation, recognizing both athletic and academic excellence.
Ellie Boudreau, also 13, has made her mark in snowboard cross, a discipline known for its technical difficulty and physical demands. Enrolled in the Sport-Études program at École Saint‑Gabriel and competing with Club Survolt Développement Athlétique, she captured national attention with a first-place finish at the Canadian Junior Nationals in the U13 category. Her season also included a provincial championship title and multiple honours at the Gala Québec Snowboard, where she was named female breakthrough athlete of the year.
Fourteen-year-old Elliot Lacoursière rounded out the trio, representing Rosemère on the baseball diamond. A student at Collège Boisbriand, he plays with the Red Sox des Laurentides and was a key contributor to his team’s success in 2025. Their season included gold medals at both the Jeux du Québec and the Nicolet tournament, as well as a silver medal at the Quebec International Baseball Classic. During the ceremony, officials noted not only his on-field performance but also his leadership and team spirit.
The Golden Book itself holds a special place in Rosemère’s institutional life. Traditionally reserved for distinguished visitors and residents who have made notable contributions in various fields, it functions as a living archive of the town’s collective achievements, preserving moments that reflect its values and aspirations.
For the three young athletes, the evening was less about ceremony than affirmation: a public acknowledgment that their dedication, often unfolding far from home at competitions and training facilities, resonates deeply within their community.
As Rosemère continues to invest in youth development, the signatures added on February 5 stand as a reminder that excellence can emerge early, and that local support remains a powerful force behind national and international success.
