The La Jolie Tuque Shooting Club recently paid tribute to one of its most passionate members. Richard Blais has been involved in it assiduously since 1998, he who is also the Latuque soul of the Quebec Federation of Hunters and Fishermen (FédéCP), the two associations being almost linked.
The Shooting Club gave him a voucher to underline this involvement, but, above all, we wanted to give a tip of the hat to this volunteer as we rarely see.
Richard Blais is not just a great protector of wildlife. This popularizer has a knack for explaining it. This explains his long-term volunteer involvement, as does his 28 years teaching at the École forestière de La Tuque.
Over time, he has offered 100 Canadian firearms safety and handling courses, 87 introductory firearms hunting courses, 49 introductory bow and crossbow hunting courses in addition to a dozen courses to obtain the wild turkey hunting certificate. In all, more than 5,255 participants have benefited from his teachings over the years.
This impressive course was inspired by Jacques Rioux, member of the Shooting Club since the 1960s and current president. “It was Jacques who approached me to give lessons. It was also Jacques who invited me to go to the FédéCP ”, remembers Mr. Blais, grateful. It was then at the very beginning of the 2000s. One thing led to another, this involvement has always continued and has never slowed down.
He works on the board of directors of FédéCP Mauricie, as vice-president (2004 to 2006 and from 2015 to today), but we saw him as president from 2006 to 2015.
Since the la -Jolie -Tuque shooting club is mandated by the FédéCP to offer training, part of the money collected by the courses goes to the shooting club, which allows it to improve its facilities and services. Prizes totaling over $ 80,000 have been collected to date.
The -La -Tuque shooting club has a very good reputation with the federation, observes -Richard -Blais. The presence of -Jacques -Rioux, who was a gunsmith for 45 years at -La -Tuque, is not unrelated to this good press.
Always
It is not yesterday that the teacher is passionate about everything related to wildlife. “I worked almost all the time in there, near or far. My first job was with the Ministry of the Environment. Back in La Tuque, I worked for a company in impact studies, after that, I went to teaching in Protection and exploitation of wildlife territories ”, relates the one who retired last year, but who give a little more lessons. “I am in early retirement”, he laughs.
Succession
Éric -Giguère, also a teacher at ÉFLT, follows in his footsteps. In turn, he was inspired by a mentor: Richard Blais paved the way for him. He was her teacher in the 2000s, when he was a student. Mr. Blais brought the one who is now secretary of the Club de tir la Jolie Tuque to become an instructor of the Canadian course on the handling of firearms. This is a perfect example of what it means to pay it forward.
“The challenge,” says Richard Blais, “is to find instructors who will not only agree to offer the training, but who will do so over a long period.”
Richard Blais intends to continue his mandate at the La Jolie Tuque Shooting Club. Difficult to extinguish such a passion.
Besides Éric Giguère in La Tuque, two resources in the community of Wemotaci could also constitute this succession.
Richard Blais’ spouse, Jocelyne Ricard, supports the duo of instructors. She provides them with invaluable help. “We are a very good team,” he notes, noting in passing that the pandemic has given them even more work.
“We don’t get involved in committees to be rewarded, but it gives a good pat on the back. I am very happy about it and I will continue to work ”, affirms the one who says he has other ideas for the Club de tir de La Tuque.
Year in and year out, 110 people hold their La Jolie Tuque Shooting Club membership card.
