Active Champions

Monique Hurteau

Monique Hurteau is a consultant, educator and presenter. Monique does a great deal of work in the area of health and fitness. She holds a Master's degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Management Consulting. Monique is proud of her Métis heritage and strives to help improve the health of Aboriginal people. Her master's project/thesis was "A Plan for Developing Physical Activity Programs for Aboriginal Populations - What Really Works ~ A Guide for Success". Monique has had the privilege of being called on to work with an Aboriginal health initiative called the Honour Your Health Challenge (HYHC) initiative for several years.

What Activities Keep You Fit and Active?
I love going to the gym and it's been like a second home to me since I was 13. My friends and I would go to the aquatic centre – they'd go to meet boys and I'd sneak down to the weight room to use all of the cool equipment. I LOVE resistance training and stretching! Pilates, yoga and balance training are favourites too. I have taken up running in the last few years as well. I like to take up new activities to challenge myself (safely of course!) and keep things interesting.

What Motivated You to Become Active?
I was diagnosed with arthritis at the age of 10 and told I'd be in a wheelchair by the time I was 25 years old. I used to end up in the hospital almost monthly for most of my childhood up until my early 20s. That was the main catalyst for me being inspired to learn about my health and wellness and how to take the best care of myself... I didn't want the doctors' predictions to come true.

What Did You Do to Become More Active?
Lately, I've taken up running. Cardiovascular training has always been my weak spot. I'm not naturally inclined to do "cardio" so I signed up for my first race ever, The 2005 Honolulu Marathon, to help raise money for arthritis research. I've raised close to $8000 so far. I'm currently training for the 2008 Jamaica Reggae Half Marathon to raise even more money.

How Do You Motivate Yourself to Stay Fit?
The pain of arthritis has been a big motivator for me. If I stay active and stretch regularly, I can control my arthritis symptoms.

What Are the Benefits of Being Fit?
I love how being fit feels. I regularly set challenging, yet realistic, goals for myself. I love that I can do things now that I couldn't do 10 years ago.

What Are Your Future Fitness Goals?
I've been considering doing a triathlon. I have ongoing goals for resistance training, stretching, cardio and balance.

Hobbies/Interests
I have been doing stand-up comedy for over two years. I love the challenge and it offers so many opportunities to use life's experiences – the good, the bad and the ugly – to make other people laugh.

Thrills
I went skydiving for the first time. I did a tandem jump and was able to experience free fall. It was amazing!

Favourite Quotes
"Always dream and shoot higher than you know how to. Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself."
~ William Faulkner ~

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