Jean Grenier

Jean Grenier

Jean Grenier, doctor, administrator (b at Québec 18 Jan 1937). In the summer of 1969, this Québec doctor helped establish the renowned Ste Foy SPEED SKATING Club. His own children's keen interest in the sport proved to be the driving force for Dr Jean Grenier's volunteerism that made him a Canadian pioneer of this ice sport.

In 1970, Jean Grenier helped create and became the founding president of the Québec Speed Skating Federation. Two years later, his involvement shifted to the national scene when he became an executive member of the Canadian Speed Skating Association, an organization he led in 1976 and 1977.

In 1976, he worked tirelessly for the Canadian Olympic Association as its director. He held the seat of vice president from 1981 to 1989 and was the association's secretary treasurer from 1989 to 1993. In 1993 he again returned as vice president.

During this period Grenier was assistant chef de mission for the Canadian OLYMPIC team at the Sarajevo Games in 1984. A few years later, he was the Canadian team's chef de mission at the 1988 Calgary Olympics, and was on the Organizing Committee of the first Winter Games held in Canada.

Jean Grenier was heavily involved in the International Skating Union, and formed a committee on short track speed skating. In 1988, his relentless dedication bore fruit when his preferred sport won demonstration status at the Calgary Olympic Games. Officially recognized by the IOC the following year, short track speed skating was an Olympic sport in the Albertville Games in 1992.

In his professional career, this man of action practised medicine for six years, and then earned his MBA. He was director of the hospital in Laval, Québec for a decade, then coroner-in-chief for the province of Québec until 1992. Jean Grenier advocated for Québec City's bid for the Winter Olympics, and was executive vice president for the project "Québec 2002."

Grenier's determination and commitment have been highlighted on many occasions. He entered the CANADIAN SPORTS HALL OF FAME in 1992 and the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1995. Two years later, the Quebec Speed Skating Federation's Hall of Fame welcomed him as well.

In 1998, Grenier was inducted into the Temple de la renommée du PANTHÉON DES SPORTS DU QUÉBEC (Quebec Sports Hall of Fame), and the International Olympic Organizing Committee awarded him its highest honour, the Olympic Order. In 2009, one year before the Vancouver Olympics (2010), he received the Canadian Olympic Order.

Through the years, Dr Jean Grenier's contributions have encouraged the development of several Canadian skaters, the most talented later becoming Olympic winners and world champions.