Winter 2019
Celebrating 16 years on my little rocky mountain

"If you quit now, you'll end up right back where you first began. And when you first began, you were desperate to be where you are right now. Keep going." - SG

A word from the director
Attitude of GRATITUDE

This late autumn, I received a call from a 2008 summer camp graduate, asking me how life was on my little rocky mountain. Now resident at Lac McGregor, he remembered my early debut in Val-des-Monts, and wished to share his mountain bike childhood memories with his two buddies, visiting from France and Mexico.

We had a beautiful visit. During those special moments, I give myself an earnest pat in the back for not abandoning my vision of transforming an abandoned cow farm into a summer residency for artists, consulting office and a forest gym, also the location of LaRoccaXC Mountain Bike School's headquarter.

Rodrigo's visit reaffirmed my intentions shared in my Word from the Director 2017 about the three very natural and yet practical steps in business development from the A. Harris (Bud) Stone Journal

1. humility in planting seeds;
2. patience in nurturing;
3. bearing witness.

Bearing witness to Rodrigo's joy getting out of his car, entering the lodge and listening to him share exuberantly with his friends what made my leadership style so unique and memorable was undeniably a heartening moment for me to continue planting seeds, with the help of millennials, for the next generations!

Rodrigo described his summer camp experience, using the words "magical" and "transformative" with pure sincerity and that touched me deeply as I am very well aware that my leadership style finds inspiration in my creative intuition and imagination, both inspired by nature, animals and children.

Like Einstein, I strongly believe that our"imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution".

Much gratitude is expressed to Olivia Robinson for her unflinching bold and imaginative leadership style which she perfected daily as this year's summer camp director. Olivia's discipline, self-motivation and initiative shone bright as she embodied, with passion, my LaRoccaXC "mountain bike forest school" concept. We spent 99.9% of our time outdoors and the lodge was used occasionally to refocused the kids and teens during Coach's Corner sessions.

I am also grateful for our amazing Boulders (age 13+) who bring joy and colorful diversity in the forest landscape. With so many trails now woven together on the land, all we did was play, learn, play on our bikes, rain or shine!

This winter, I am taking the time to re-focus my intentions in regards to the land for the many years to come. Both Olivia and I continue to perfect our first responder skills as we patrol the trails in the Gatineau Park. We are super excited for the upcoming 2020 season on the land! Joanne is busy updating all three websites: www.creativewheel.ca | www.mountainbikeschool.ca | www.forestgym.ca

To rainbows and unicorns and "NEVER doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens CAN CHANGE the world" as Margaret Mead so strongly professed.
We keep planting seeds, chopping wood, and carrying water.

Dominique

NOTE: Contact me. Come visit me at the bistro this winter at Amerispa Cantley.

2018 message

2017 message