“A festive day”, “an openness to change”, an “unreal” announcement: Quebec coach Danielle Bouchard was not short of qualifiers to describe how she perceives the impact of the resignation of Daniel Trépanier on the Canadian boxing world.
• Read also: Boxing Canada: Daniel Trépanier resigns
Bouchard was one of the signatories of the open letter demanding the departure of Boxing Canada’s high performance director and was not on his first attempt to reveal the underside of the toxic climate that would have settled in the organization for several years.
“Today is like unreal, launched the ex-boxer at the end of the line. I can’t believe that we succeeded in our mandate to speak out and that it was broadcast, listened to, heard and believed.
“We believed in what we were saying because it was the truth.”
Under Trépanier, she said, Canadian amateur boxers could not reach their full potential. Behind-the-scenes games often determined Boxing Canada’s decisions, relegating performance in the ring to the background.
“I imagine myself in my gym on Monday, and the girls will arrive with a smile, thinking that there is no longer a ceiling above their heads, she continues. They can afford to go beyond, to dream and achieve their dreams.”
A first step
The departure of Trépanier should only be the first step in the overhaul of Boxing Canada, according to several stakeholders in the Quebec boxing community. Bouchard agrees, arguing that “the whole system needs to be rebuilt”.
“It’s a mentality that’s been going on for more than 10 years. It is a structure that has not worked. It’s not necessarily just one person that needs to be replaced.
“It’s to restructure, to reorganize, to take the time to choose the right people who will fill the right positions and who will be there for one and only reason: the well-being of the athletes.”
Although she is aware that this process could be long and arduous, the one who coaches Kim Clavel in particular has shown optimism about the future of Boxing Canada. However, she judges that “transparency and communication will be parameters to highlight for the next Boxing Canada”.
“You have to be transparent and open. When we have nothing to hide, it’s not embarrassing to show our numbers, our thoughts and what we think. When we have confidence in ourselves, when we are competent, there is no reason not to be transparent.