Six Decades of Devotion Serving Young Generation
From Conception to Legacy: The Remarkable Journey of Edphy
In an off-the-cuff chat with La Presse, Yvan Dubois, the visionary behind the iconic outdoor center in Val-Morin, gleamed with nostalgia. "Edphy wasn't just a project," he reminisced. "It was almost like my own child." At 89, this former professional baseball catcher still finds his greatest pride in the multitude of young lives Edphy has touched.
Over half a million visitors from Quebec and beyond have passed through the doors of Edphy, founded in 1965. With its flagship center nestled in the Laurentians and five satellite sites scattered around greater Montreal, Edphy is poised to celebrate its 60th anniversary on June 7.
It all began in 1961, when Yvan Dubois, then a teacher and president of the Canadian Association of Recreation Centers, embarked on a world tour. His mission: to study the most effective practices and interventions in physical activity and Olympism. Over the course of one year, he visited 22 countries, garnering inspiration from Sweden, Japan, and France.
Upon his return to Quebec, Mr. Dubois noticed that physical education programs, especially at the primary level, were still in their infancy. Recognizing the need to nurture psychosocial qualities such as self-affirmation, autonomy, and self-confidence, he set out to create a place where these possibilities could blossom: the Edphy camp.
Once he found the perfect location, the Val-Morin center was born—all within six months of the initial concept sketched on a table corner. "I'd venture to say that the plan drawn on that paper… it probably wouldn't work today!" Dubois quipped, touched by the confidence his peers had in him at the time.
Enduring Values
Authenticity is a cornerstone of Edphy's philosophy, as demonstrated by Yvan Dubois during his humble interview with La Presse. Take Marylise Richard-Robert, the current Edphy president, for example. "When I talk with her, listen to her… I realize that it's still exactly what we're doing today," Richard-Robert acknowledged. "The industry has evolved, consumers, families… but the concept and values remain the same," she explained, having been a teacher herself before taking office in 2014.
A small yellow banner marking Edphy's five-year anniversary, sent by a former camper, still sits in Richard-Robert's briefcase—a testament to the profound impact Edphy has had in the lives of countless young people.
Passion and Humanity
Athlete, educator, and leader: Yvan Dubois was enigmatic in balancing his professional roles with his passions. "You know, in principle, I should be able to answer all the questions… But this one, I can't," he confessed to La Presse, pondering the intricate relationship between his work and his love for Edphy and his grandchildren.
Dubois' wished for every student in Quebec to have an adequate physical education program, a dream that has consumed him for half a century. His crowning achievements have never overshadowed his dedication to the development of young people. "No project has been more important or held my interest more than the Edphy camp," he admitted.
Yvan Dubois' Legacy
A star athlete drafted by the Milwaukee Braves in Major League Baseball and a close friend of legendary pitcher Claude Raymond, Yvan Dubois was no stranger to the limelight. But it was his pioneering role in shaping Edphy that resonated with him most.
Back in Quebec, he played an instrumental role in the development of physical education programs in several school boards. In 2019, he was inducted into the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame. Despite these accolades, none could compare to the legacy he built with Edphy.
Sports have always been an integral part of Edphy's impact on the lives of young people, fostering physical activity and Olympism through its programs. Meanwhile, education and self-development are the cornerstones of the values that drive Edphy, ensuring that thefoundational psychosocial qualities such as self-affirmation, autonomy, and self-confidence are nurtured, much like how Dubois embarked on a global quest to learn these very practices during his world tour in the 60s.
