Michel Forget is a passionate and dynamic man that I discovered while playing golf with him. He’s an impulsive man, which cost him jobs.
When he was younger, he was studying at the National Theater School and after school he cleared snow in Town of Mount Royal. One evening, he asked his teacher at the National Theater School to leave early. He refused.
He then left school. Her mother describes the family’s financial situation well: “We’re too poor for you to be sick and not go to school. “
You are from the Rosemont district in Montreal.
My parents, Maurice, Marie, and my sister, Josée lived in the area. Three alumni of Louis-Hébert high school left their marks at this school, Serge Savard, Michel Bergeron, the former Nordiques coach, and your humble servant.
You also attended Boscoville in Montreal.
At the time, there was the Mont-Saint-Antoine Reform School for young delinquents. I was less delinquent, but rather the buffoon of my class. So I found myself in Boscoville. I believe that our behavior was originally for the psychoeducational classes.
The role of your parents in your youth.
My father, absolutely nothing, my mother fulfilled her role and I was brought up by my grandmother.
You saw Maurice Richard at work.
I remember it like it was yesterday. My grandfather and I went to see the Canadian at the Forum with the huge columns supporting the building.
A wait of over two hours to meet the Rocket.
I accompanied my mother to the Dupuis et Frères store, frequented mainly by French speakers. There was a huge line outside to meet a special guest signing autographs: Maurice Richard.
Maurice’s gaze?
As I approached him, I was shaking so much. He greeted me with a nice pat on my head before autographing his hockey card. The look, his eyes and his smile are memories I will never forget.
You liked baseball.
I attended the Royals’ matches at the Stade Delormier. I consider myself lucky to have seen Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play in major league baseball, in action.
You cleaned prisoners’ cells.
On weekends, police from the legendary Station 4 arrested several intoxicated people. So my friends and I were cleaning the cells.
The link between your work and baseball.
Several police officers worked on security during the Royals’ matches. So we would show up in front of their turnstiles. Slowly, but surely, the police were glancing to their left and we were marching to their right, no tickets.
You were a caddy at the municipal golf course in Montreal.
Golf professional Damien Gauthier told us: “Be polite, your nails well cleaned and your laundry clean, because that will give you better tips. “
You took the taxi to go golf.
Do not jump to the conclusions that I was in the means. At first, I took the Sherbrooke East bus to go to the golf course near Viau. One morning, I was shopping for a taxi driver who made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.
Explain yourself.
Unlike today, there were no reservations for tee times. The great luxury has arrived. The taxi driver was passing near our house around 4 a.m. to pick me up. Once I got to the golf course, I put his golf ball with his name written under it in a huge pipe. When his name came out several hours later, I would pick the ball, place his bag right in front of the tee, and then run quickly to his car in the parking lot to wake him up.
Would you have liked to have a career in hockey?
I am invited to the Villeray Junior training camp. I take the bus with my goalie pads around my neck and my gear bag in my hands. Two hours later, I arrived at the Verdun arena. We were seven goalkeepers who were trying to get the goalie position. There was a shootout and a preparatory match. I was so happy, because I hadn’t allowed a goal … I was the first goalie to be cut.
The moment that dazzled you the most in your youth.
It is the arrival of television. Sitting in the living room watching TV before the set even goes on the air. There were only programs in French before the arrival of CBC. Saturday night hockey of which only the third period was presented. French films which allowed me to discover the great actors of France.
Radio for you was CKVL.
Without a doubt, listen to one of our greatest Quebec artists, Jacques Normand, who hosted the very popular radio show The French song parade, has influenced my life.
Your children live in London.
I have two wonderful sons, Robert and David, and grandchildren who live in London. The pandemic is very difficult, because it has been almost two years since I could see them.
Your partner has structured your life.
My wife and accomplice Marie Desmarteau structured my life. She is a remarkable woman who has always supported me and advised me well. We share a beautiful life that allows us to love and appreciate each other more and more every day.