Two Laval residents approaching 90, Paul Bondaz and Gérard Bérubé, rub shoulders because of their common interest, badminton, which they have been practicing together for more than 15 years.
Gathered in a recreation center in Montreal North every Tuesday, the two men practice sports and socialize with a group that can reach twenty people. “We just rub shoulders at badminton, explains Gérard. We are good chums.»
Formidable adversaries, the Laval residents also like teasing. “I would have preferred not to know him,” joked Gérard before placing his arm around his friend’s shoulders.
The training partners are unanimous: the veterans are among the best players in the group and they know how to entertain the gallery. “Gérard makes me laugh a lot and above all, he knows how to play”, commented a teammate, Madeleine.
They met in a group practicing at the Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard.
“It was he who called me to invite me to play here, explains Paul, who celebrated his 90th birthday in June.e birthday at Résidences Soleil, in Laval-des-Rapides, where he has lived for 11 years now. I do this mainly to have fun and meet people.
Gérard, who will be 90 at the end of February, lives in the Rose Blanche accommodation center in Vimont. “I’m not in my 90s, I’m in my 90s,” he jokes.
Souvenirs
Paul has lived in several places in Laval, including two decades in Duvernay. “I liked the area,” he says. It was more like a campaign back then. This is where I raised my children.” Her family now includes nine children, four grandchildren and six great-granddaughters.
As a young man, he was, in his own words, “belligerent”. “One day I was in the hospital for appendicitis,” he recalls. They didn’t want me to drink water. I hydrated with water from the radiator. I had an infection that kept me in bed for a month.”
Accustomed to physical activity, Paul practiced table tennis, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, bowling, broomball, boxing, hockey and baseball. He has also coached for the latter two sports.
Unfortunately, the day of his retirement, he suffered a heart attack. Since then, he has remained active thanks to badminton. “I will continue to play as long as I can,” he concludes.
