Robert "Bob" Boisvenue
Robert Boisvenue has been involved in the local sports scene as a competitor, organizer and coach for over thirty years.
He was born the third of five children to René and Lucille Boisvenue of Alexandria. He attended École St. Joseph and École Perpétuel-Secours then Glengarry District High School, graduating in 1973. In 1975 he joined the Alexandria Public Utilities / Township of North Glengarry and is presently the Township Deputy Clerk.
First as a hockey player Robert played in the local ADMHA then at age fourteen he joined the Alexandria Jr. B Glens, being one of the youngest players to play Jr. B hockey which he did from 1970 to 1974. In his first year he was selected to play on an All-star Team which represented the St. Lawrence Hockey League in the first Boxing Day Tournament.
Robert started his minor hockey coaching career at age fourteen and continued uninterrupted for the next twenty-six years coaching at every level from B to AA to Jr. B. In 1996 he declined a scouting position for the “ Foreurs de Val d’Or” of the Quebec Major Jr. Hockey League due to the pressure of raising a young family at the time.
Robert was also an accomplished fastball player both in the local league and in the Cornwall Fastball League. In his rookie season at the age of 16, he finished second in the league batting with a .358 average in the Alexandria Fastball League. He won numerous league batting titles, most runs batted in and most home runs n regular and post-season play. He was the first player to finish with a batting average over .500 in regular season play. Winner of the Triple Crown, awarded to the hitter who lead in all of these hitting statistics: 1) Home runs 2) Batting average and 3) Runs batted in. Robert also won numerous tournament MVP awards. He was named shortstop for every All Star game played. In the 8 years he played in the Alexandria Men’s Fastball League he maintained a batting average over 400.
Among his personal highlights was playing against the California Cuties (comedians of softball) a team that has played across North America for charity events. Second was a game played against Jack and the Jesters, a 4-man softball team, featuring the world’s greatest and fastest junior trick pitcher Rusty Jack Sparks. He was one of the very few players to get a hit off their star pitcher. He hit an inside the park home run against Rusty Jack Sparks and won the game!
In 1977 he declined an offer to play professional fastball for the Red Deer Corvets of the Western Professional Fastball League.
Moving on, the Alexandria Team joined the highly competitive Cornwall Sportsman’s Fastball League that featured some of the best pitchers and fastball players in the area. Robert was awarded the CSSL player of the year in 1979. This was for the top league individual award and was also awarded the most sportsman-like player the same year. He was honoured at the 1980 Cornwall Lion’s Club Annual Sports Dinner as the Outstanding Defensive Fastball Player in Cornwall and awarded the Most Sportsman-like Player for 5 consecutive years. Robert won numerous CSSL Player of the Week awards and was named starting shortstop for every all-star game played, in which he won numerous MVP awards. Robert played on numerous Cornwall Teams after Alexandria folded. Robert has won tournament championships across Ontario, Quebec and the U.S.
Personal Highlights from this league included hitting a triple and a double against Eddie Feigner, the world’s best known fastball pitcher who toured around the world with the King and his Court. Robert was awarded the MVP for the team Cornwall All-Stars. He also played against the Prince and his Knights, a four man fastball team and was again awarded the MVP. The Cornwall All-Stars awarded Robert yet another MVP after an exhibition game against Team Eastern Ontario. Robert also played in the prestigious Thetford Mines, Quebec fastball tournament that featured teams from Quebec, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and the U.S.
Robert declined an offer to tour with the “Prince and his Knights” the four man fastball team founded by Cornwall Sports Hall of Famer Jim Martel. He also declined an offer to play in the 2005 World Master Games in Edmonton, Alberta.
Robert was also one of the first volunteers with the short-lived Alexandria Boys and Girls Club. He also volunteered his time with Jeunesse 225, a group of young people who helped organize teen dances in the basement hall at Sacred Heart Church.
His present interests and hobbies include Martial Arts (Karate) holding a first degree black belt (Shorin-Ryu). He also does weight training, plays golf and tennis, and roller-blades.
