RIMOUSKI, QC – The Cégep de Rimouski isn’t ruling out the possibility of reinstating a women’s basketball program, despite recently declining a request from local high school athletes hoping to launch a team for the 2026-2027 season. Julie Gasse, the Director General of the Cégep de Rimouski, confirmed that an assessment is currently underway to determine the feasibility and needs surrounding the potential addition.
The situation stems from a December decision where the college denied a petition from 13 student-athletes from École Paul-Hubert’s Sélect program, who sought the return of a women’s basketball team to avoid having to leave the region to continue their athletic pursuits. The athletes’ desire to play at home was met with concerns regarding capacity at the Cégep de Rimouski’s PEPS (physical education and sports) complex.
“We said no for next year because we weren’t ready,” Gasse explained, as reported by Le Soir. “We were in the process of reopening the PEPS. We also want to re-evaluate the three levels of needs of the PEPS – for physical education classes, the community, and the 250 athletes from the 11 teams in the Pionniers program – to ensure we have a solid formula.”
The decision wasn’t simply a matter of space, but a broader strategic consideration. Gasse indicated that the Cégep is also exploring the potential for adding other sports to its athletic offerings. “This decision is part of a more global analysis. We need to be careful about making choices,” she said. “However, we are open to reconsidering our sports offerings because there is an evolution happening at that level.”
Currently, a team is conducting a comprehensive evaluation, assessing sports participation rates in local secondary schools – including École Paul-Hubert in Rimouski, as well as schools in Amqui, Mont-Joli, and Trois-Pistoles – and analyzing the PEPS’s capacity to accommodate potential expansion. This long-term planning aims to ensure any additions are sustainable and meet the needs of the student body.
Gasse emphasized the Cégep’s commitment to supporting student athletics, noting a national study on student mental health demonstrates the positive impact of sports participation on well-being and anxiety reduction. “We have a capacity issue, and that’s it,” she stated. “When we have facilities, we need to use them to address these problems. The question is whether it’s recreational or competitive sports that will achieve this.”
The situation has already prompted some student-athletes to consider pursuing their post-secondary education outside the region. Mathilde Beaulieu, a fifth-year basketball player at École Paul-Hubert, shared in December that she may need to leave Rimouski to continue her basketball career, even though she intends to study sciences at the Cégep. “It’s frustrating because my course is offered here,” Beaulieu said.
Julie Gasse was appointed Director General of the Collège de Rimouski in May 2024, according to a press release from the institution. Her mandate includes leading the implementation of the college’s next strategic plan, in collaboration with existing teams, encompassing the Cégep de Rimouski, the Institut maritime du Québec, and the Centre matapédien d’études collégiales, as well as its continuing education services.
The Cégep de Rimouski’s decision reflects a broader challenge faced by many educational institutions: balancing limited resources with growing student demand for athletic opportunities. The ongoing evaluation suggests a willingness to address this challenge and potentially expand the athletic program in the future, but a firm timeline remains unclear.
For now, the Cégep de Rimouski is focused on gathering data and assessing the needs of its student population. The results of this evaluation will likely shape the future of athletics at the institution, and determine whether a women’s basketball team will once again take to the court as the Pionniers.
The next update from the Cégep de Rimouski regarding the evaluation of its athletic programs is expected in the fall of 2026. Archysport will continue to follow this story and provide updates as they become available.
What are your thoughts on the Cégep de Rimouski’s situation? Share your comments below.
Worth a look
