Exactly 96 athletes converged on Rimouski for the first outdoor concentric provincial archery championship, utilizing facilities left behind by the 2023 Quebec Games.
The two-day event drew nearly 100 archers from across Quebec to the regional capital of Bas-Saint-Laurent.
Organizers estimated that roughly 200 spectators visited the grounds on each day of the weekend tournament. The competition was hosted by the Club les Archers de Rimouski.
“We have a field that has been adapted to archery,” said Luc Thibault, president of the Club des Archers de Rimouski. “We can’t complain about our field, it makes people envious!”
Thibault noted that the club counts nearly 100 members. Competitors make up roughly 30 to 40 percent of the roster, while the rest practice bowhunting. The organization serves the Gaspésie region.
Virginie Chénier, an archer with Équipe Canada who competed at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, praised the venue layout. She pointed out that the target butt sits right behind bales of hay so shooters do not have to travel far for stray arrows.
“We have the airport also, so we see the flags for the wind,” Chénier said.
Gabriela Cosovan, technical and administrative director of the Fédération de tir à l’arc du Québec, stated that the new outdoor site has directly improved athlete performance. Registration filled to capacity and closed after just three weeks.
“There were no facilities, no development, which means that since there is a site, there are athletes who are a bit more performance-oriented,” Cosovan said.
Thibault added that dedicated outdoor infrastructure allows the sport to expand across the region.
Fifteen-year-old William Handfield-Paré traveled from Montreal to compete in the championship. He credited the discipline with changing his daily habits away from screens.
“It made me discover a whole other world than video games and movies,” Handfield-Paré said. “I play a lot less now.”
Chénier emphasized that the sport remains open to participants of all skill levels and physical backgrounds. She began shooting at age 11 and noted that success relies heavily on patience and frequent practice.
“It’s a sport for everyone,” Chénier said. “It’s not because you don’t have it naturally that you can’t be a good archer.”
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