Jean-François Manibal spent 42 years at Tennis Quebec. On Thursday, August 11, he will be honored on the center court of the IGA stadium to salute a career punctuated by progress and fulfillment.
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“I was surprised when I heard the news,” said Mr. Manibal from the outset, joined at his new home at the end of the Acadian peninsula. From his office, on the other side of the shore, there is the town of Bonaventure, in Gaspésie. Finally a bit of peace for one of the most active contributors to the development of Quebec tennis over the past four decades.
From his role as a tennis instructor in Roberval to the general management of one of the most important sports federations in Quebec, Mr. Manibal has devoted his life to tennis.
During his 42 years with the federation, he held the most important office of the organization for 32 years. Despite the major challenges he and his colleagues faced, Mr. Manibal braved the storms and gave players here a chance to succeed.
When he arrived in the workings of the organization, they were three employees. Time has passed, and since then, three Quebecers, Eugenie Bouchard, Félix Auger-Aliassime and Leylah Annie Fernandez, have reached the semi-finals and finals of Grand Slam tournaments.
“They went through Tennis Quebec development camps. There is indeed pride in seeing these young people succeed and be excellent ambassadors. We can’t have a better ambassador than Félix currently on the international scene, it’s really extraordinary. »
When Mr. Manibal began his career, tennis occupied a tiny place in the Quebec sports organization chart. It was hardly taught and broadcast. Today, Tennis Quebec has joined forces with Hockey Quebec and Soccer Quebec.
Unfailing longevity
Mr. Manibal has not always had it easy as CEO. At its inception, and long after, the lack of financial and human resources was glaring. Without saying that the federation has been handcuffed, he is proud today to have been able to achieve small miracles with the few means at his disposal.
“For me, it was essential that the organization was growing and becoming more and more important. Especially so that people can take advantage of the services offered by Tennis Québec and ensure that the sport evolves. We always want more. We watch it go and we say to ourselves that we can always do more, ”he added.
Everything being relative, time is often an indicator of success. Spending 42 years in the same organization is a fairly rare achievement. It is for this longevity that Tennis Canada has decided to pay tribute to one of the fathers of Quebec tennis.
It’s a wonderful environment. It was a privilege to work in that area. It wasn’t work, it was candy.
Jean-François Manibal, former general manager of Tennis Quebec
All his life, the former general manager wanted to make a difference with young people. Finally, it was through sport that it was orchestrated. Mr. Mannibal admits that he never looked for another job, he was so fulfilled by his duties. “Even though I’ve already been offered offers, I’ve never pushed the will to go elsewhere,” he said, laughing.
Over the years, it had become natural to evolve and grow in the world of tennis. It was mainly the people he met who convinced him to stay so long. This is also what makes him most proud.
“It’s incredible, the number of people I was able to meet, the relationships I was able to establish and the recognition I have today of these people,” he says, moved. Every day, he realizes a little more that he is leaving an environment that has greatly nourished him.
I feel so privileged to have been chosen in this environment, to have been accepted and to have been part of the history of Quebec tennis.
Jean-Francois Manibal
Today, he is grateful that his wife supported him from start to finish, in a job as unique as it was demanding.
On the shores of New Brunswick, Jean-François Manibal spends part of his days fishing lobster, to the delight of his friends in Montreal. He leaves Quebec tennis in an unexpected state, but his greatest legacy will remain the relationships he has built over the past 42 years.