After opening the glass door to the Two Rivers Boxing gym in West Quesnel, a visitor, even one who has no prior knowledge of boxing, can tell the club is steeped in history.
While two walls are made of glass, the other two are pasted with hundreds of newspaper articles and pictures lauding the achievements of the venerated club and its fighters; who have put everything on the line to impress their coaches, family, friends and themselves.
On any given day, a rotating cast of characters from many walks of life can be found working on perfecting a punch or getting their fitness levels up, or simply connecting with friends who share a love of the sweet science.
Over the last year or so, one character who has stood out is assistant coach Cam Tetrault.
Tetrault is a barrel-chested, bushy-bearded old school B.C. man who smiles with his eyes and uses phrases like, B次元官网网址楢w geez,B次元官网网址� when asked to talk about himself.
He has won the respect and friendship of many of the older regulars and the admiration of the younger boxers, who he dotes on kindly but firmly.
When thinking of a word to describe him, many would probably offer B次元官网网址榮olid.B次元官网网址� Which Tetrault would appreciate, considering his world and sense of self all but crumbled twelve years ago when he came back from a tour in Afghanistan.
Although he doesnB次元官网网址檛 have a bad word to say about the military, he says his time serving with them was a transitional point in his life.
B次元官网网址淚 worked really hard in my career to have this opportunity to go overseas,B次元官网网址� he says, likening basic training to boxing. B次元官网网址淵ou train and you train for your fight and itB次元官网网址檚 what youB次元官网网址檙e working up for. A tour is kind of the same thing. You work really hard on your technical skills, your camaraderie and your skills as a unit and then you go over there and youB次元官网网址檙e actually able to apply them in real life, like you would in the ring.B次元官网网址�
Tetrault points out he was a young, somewhat innocent man when he went on his tour, so was bombarded with many life lessons about himself as well as the world.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e always had a sense I wanted to help,B次元官网网址� he says of his reasons for joining the Canadian Forces. B次元官网网址淏ut when you go into a certain place where people donB次元官网网址檛 want your help, it kind of makes it hard to live up to your expectations of yourself.B次元官网网址�
The work was difficult as he was based in Kandahar, AfghanistanB次元官网网址檚 second largest city and a hotbed of Taliban activity at the time.
Although he was proud to be a soldier, he couldnB次元官网网址檛 help but question what he was doing at times.
B次元官网网址淚t rocked me as a person,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淲hen I came back I definitely wasnB次元官网网址檛 the same person as when I left.B次元官网网址�
Over the seven and a half months of being overseas, he says he saw a vast physical and mental change within himself.
B次元官网网址淚 came back and I didnB次元官网网址檛 move back in with my wife,B次元官网网址� he admits. B次元官网网址淚 had to move in with my brother because I knew I wasnB次元官网网址檛 sleeping and I wasnB次元官网网址檛 well.B次元官网网址�
Since he didnB次元官网网址檛 want to lose his job, he tried to hide his condition but the attempt was fruitless. He ended up losing his job and was forcibly retired, medically released and told to stay home.
He says dealing with his PTSD has been a long journey, and many terrible days have passed.
Tetrault talks of his mind and body being affected to their core.
B次元官网网址淓ven when I donB次元官网网址檛 remember something horrible, my body does,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淔or example, my birthdayB次元官网网址檚 a hard one. There was an incident that happened overseas on my birthday, so I actually really struggle hard on the day. Same goes for Remembrance Day. There are a few times where I forget the date [that something tragic happened] but my body doesnB次元官网网址檛. IB次元官网网址檓 like, why am I feeling like this and why am I doing this and then it affects me mentally.B次元官网网址�
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On the bright side, TetraultB次元官网网址檚 two sons Caleb and Elias were born on the road to recovery and he embraced being a stay-at-home dad in Sooke on Vancouver Island.
Tending to a few chickens and raising a young family filled TetraultB次元官网网址檚 days as his wife, Cheri, commuted to Victoria for work.
While they were able to manage, the couple wanted a change.
B次元官网网址淚 wanted to be a lot more rural and she needed some amenities,B次元官网网址� he says and after much research Quesnel was chosen as a place to settle in the summer of 2017.
His wife went back to school for nursing, B次元官网网址淚t worked out well for her, as she was able to get work around here and this way weB次元官网网址檙e close to a hospital,B次元官网网址� and Tetrault took up farming, a profession he had little background in but embraced whole-heartedly.
B次元官网网址淚 knew I needed something that was going to pay the bills,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淎nd I knew there was a cash crop on the land we bought, so there was no point in wasting it.B次元官网网址�
While the learning curve has been steep, his first season this summer was successful and he managed to take about 95 per cent of the hay off of his field using an old swather and baler from the 1960s.
B次元官网网址淚 learned as much as I could, as fast as I could, as safely as I could,B次元官网网址� he says, chuckling, adding he received a lot of help from his neighbours, a community he is proud to call his own.
B次元官网网址淚t was a lot of hard work and a lot of perseverance, which is one thing the military teaches you; just to dig deep and keep on going. I broke down every day but I had a lot of friends that said, B次元官网网址極h, you broke an axle, let me weld it for you.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
Tetrault jokes about needing to be a mechanic and a biologist just to get by every day.
His thrice weekly trips to Two Rivers Boxing are a huge help in keeping him balanced too.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e always had a passion for boxing,B次元官网网址� he says, B次元官网网址淢y grandfather boxed as well, so it always intrigued me.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲hen I saw there was a need for coaching [at Two Rivers] I knew I had the skill set and qualifications; so I threw it out to Wally that if he needed help, IB次元官网网址檇 be there for him. He graciously accepted and heB次元官网网址檚 been building me up, so I can build other people up.B次元官网网址�
Head coach and owner of Two Rivers, Wally Doern, says it was a no-brainer bringing him on.
B次元官网网址淚 knew that because he had taken the level one [boxing] coaching course that I could use him and use him a lot,B次元官网网址� he says.
B次元官网网址淭o be a good coach you have to be on time, you have to be reliable and you have to know how to get along and relate to both young and old. Obviously Cameron, with a young family, knows how to relate to young people and being in the services, knows how to relate to older people too, so he fit right in.B次元官网网址�
Doern adds that Tetrault brings good morals, a decent skill level and optimism.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 always willing to learn new things and passes them along to others in a positive way that gives them a good feeling where they want to learn more.B次元官网网址�
Most importantly to Doern, Tetrault has embraced the clubB次元官网网址檚 mantra that the kids are the future.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 learned to develop the younger kids and at the same time maintain a certain amount of discipline.B次元官网网址�
For Tetrault, he is finally able to provide help to those who really want it and it shows in his demeanour every time heB次元官网网址檚 in the club.
Even though he was performing back breaking labour during his first year on a farm, he would practically (and sometimes literally) skip into the gym and have a kind word, a nugget of advice or some much needed encouragement for anyone in need.
B次元官网网址淚t gave me a purpose to be able to walk in the club and be excited to participate,B次元官网网址� he says, B次元官网网址淚t really helped me with my PTSD to be accepted and itB次元官网网址檚 motivating to be there. I can look at other people when IB次元官网网址檓 not feeling good and theyB次元官网网址檙e motivated and that excites me. I know they came in to do their best, so I should do my best as well, so we feed off each other. IB次元官网网址檓 always working on myself and theyB次元官网网址檙e always working on themselves. ItB次元官网网址檚 exciting!B次元官网网址�
He speaks with great enthusiasm on the release that boxing provides.
B次元官网网址淵ou feel energized when you finish a workout and youB次元官网网址檙e thinking positive. You may be a little bit sore but you think to yourself, B次元官网网址業 accomplished something.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
One of the most special things for Tetrault has been watching his son Caleb, who is 10-years-old, embrace the sport too. He has fought a number of exhibition matches, some of which have drawn high praise from regional boxing fans.
B次元官网网址淚 admire Caleb,B次元官网网址� he says, B次元官网网址淎t the last Pro-AM [in Williams Lake] there was quite a big crowd and it didnB次元官网网址檛 phase him. He and his opponent [former Two Rivers boxer Rylan Maurice] fought very well. Very technical and very fast paced for ten-year-olds.B次元官网网址�
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B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been great to see Caleb progress the way he has.B次元官网网址� Tetrault continues, B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 excited because IB次元官网网址檓 able to help him and be a part of it and thatB次元官网网址檚 something which is one of my core values B次元官网网址� to be there for my children and be able to guide them the way that I think they should be guided.B次元官网网址�
He adds boxing is perfect for instilling many values.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 able to tell him when itB次元官网网址檚 OK to fight and when itB次元官网网址檚 not OK to fight, how to control his emotions and just overall respect.B次元官网网址�
TetraultB次元官网网址檚 fellow assistant coach, , says Caleb isnB次元官网网址檛 the only one who has grown since the pair have started at Two Rivers.
B次元官网网址淲hen Cameron started out, he didnB次元官网网址檛 have all the knowledge he has now. Since heB次元官网网址檚 come here, he been studying all the information out there about boxing and has become a real professional in my mind,B次元官网网址� he says.
Mott adds Tetrault really cares.
B次元官网网址淗e cares about how hard you try, he cares about you learning. He wants you to do your best and not get discouraged, so heB次元官网网址檚 always encouraging others with a pat on the back and a B次元官网网址榳ay to go.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
The praise heaped upon him by his peers would garner many an, B次元官网网址榓w shucksB次元官网网址� from Tetrault and he is overcome by gratitude when talking about all the gym and the community has provided.
B次元官网网址淚 appreciate everyone thatB次元官网网址檚 helped me out and I appreciate Wally giving me the opportunity to help him. IB次元官网网址檓 truly grateful for the opportunity to help other people and mold their lives.B次元官网网址�
sports@quesnelobserver.com
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