Michel Laplante, former professional baseball player and current president and manager of the Capitales de Québec, has been named the official spokesperson for Motivaction Jeunesse, ici.radio-canada.ca reported. Laplante discussed his new role during an appearance on the Radio-Canada OHdio segment hosted by Alexandre Duval.
The Importance of Youth Inclusion and Community
During his interview with Alexandre Duval, Laplante emphasized the necessity of fostering inclusion so that young people can properly develop. He pointed directly to the psychological value of finding a personal passion and experiencing belonging within a collective group.
“I am convinced that if we are able to find a passion, to keep young people, to make them part of the pack, to make them part of a group, that is something important,” Laplante told Radio-Canada.
Early Guidance Shapes a Baseball Career
Reflecting on his own adolescence, Laplante recalled being a timid 16- and 17-year-old before an outside voice altered his trajectory in the sport. A brief piece of encouragement after a handful of games convinced him to press forward.
“Then if we are able in any way to attract people, I look at when I was 16, 17 years old, a little shy and there was someone who told me seeing me play three, four games of baseball that I should continue,” Laplante said. “I think we can have an impact on the destiny of these young people.”
Overcoming Doubt and Fear in Leadership
Laplante also addressed the psychological hurdles that face the younger generation, pointing out how internal fear can hinder personal and professional growth. He drew on his early days managing the Capitales de Québec to illustrate how external skepticism must be pushed aside.
“I find it so a shame that here and there, inside our chest we feel things and then we are afraid, we are constantly afraid,” Laplante noted. “I think I was like that in the past and it happened to me on occasions in my life. The Capitales, when we started, people came to see me to tell me that it won’t work.”
Radio-Canada OHdio Hosts Full Interview on Youth Mentorship
Listeners can access the complete interview segment on the Radio-Canada OHdio platform to hear Laplante’s full remarks on youth mentorship and community building.
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