Jean-Paul Claude

Jean-Paul Claude of Alexandria has been an exceptional and versatile athlete all his life.

Born in 1946 on a farm near North Lancaster, he was like many other farm kids in the area who new nothing about organized sports. Along with his parents and six younger siblings, he milked cows, made hay, and worked hard. Today he credits those hard working days at the farm to his strength and agility that’s helped him in many aspects of his athletic life.

It’s a life that’s included broom ball, fastball, football, arm wrestling, canoeing, running, hockey, cycling and cross-country skiing.

“I never really worked out,” says that fit 70 year-old. “I started milking when we had 20 cows and we just worked hard.” Claude left school after grade 10 to work on the farm that then milked 45 cows.

He excelled in broom ball as a forward and played right wing for many years. He was a hit on the ball diamond as a back fielder due to his incredible speed. He won trophy after trophy as most valuable player and top scorer. At the age of 26, he left the farm to work at Carnation Milk in Alexandria but continued his life as a star athlete helping his teams to win many championships.

In 1947, he met his wife Cathy who owned Cathy’s Pine Inn in North Lancaster. Together they worked at the tavern while he continued in sports, adding touch football and soft-puck to his list of sports he excelled at. “There were so many trophies in the basement,” says Cathy who’s been a strong supporter of her multi-talented husband. They bought Cathy’s BBQ restaurant in Alexandria and both worked back and forth between the two establishments while he continued to pursue his athletic passions. They eventually sold both restaurants and in 1987 began a real estate business known as Alexandria Reality Ltd. Both retired from the work world in 2004, but the sporting world continues to remain a big part of Claude’s life.

He participated in and won many times the Raisin River Canoe Race in classes that have included some of the best in North America. He has claimed titles in duathlons and triathlons, a sport their daughter has also participated in. He has been in many cross-country ski competitions, Terry Fox runs, and would even consider another arm wrestling competition. “Arm wrestling used to be a big sport,” he says enthusiastically as his biceps twitch in memory of their wrestling days in local bars and restaurants. “And it’s coming back.” Claude won titles in the area as well as in Dorion and Valleyfield. “There was a competition at the Atlantic a while ago,” he beams. “I should have entered.” Claude explains that there are no age categories in arm wrestling. “It’s all about your size, your weight.”

Today he works out a bit by lifting weights and cycles three times a week. “He just goes around the block,” states Cathy swinging her arm around in a huge circle. She explains that the block is 70 kilometres long and can take him up to two and a half hours to complete. “I bike at least 4000 kilometres a summer,” he says.

When asked what he feels was his greatest contribution to Glengarry sports, he hesitates, but decides on broom ball. Peter McLeod of North Lancaster played the game with Claude. “He was the Gordie Howe of broom ball,” says MacLeod with a gleam in his eye. “He was amazing!”