For the group “The guys who live”, Alouettes football becomes a kind of excuse to have a good time and share. Dozens of them gather around Percival Molson Stadium for an outdoor barbecue before every home game.
“The result of the game isn’t that important,” admits Claude Martel, one of the group’s figureheads. We had bad years, you knew beforehand that you weren’t going to win the Gray Cup, but that’s okay, you come here, you see your friends, it’s a fan picnic and that includes the supporters of the other club. We love each other! It’s a big family!”
Claude Martel, proud member of the group “The guys who live”. Benoit Rioux
“We didn’t invent the name ‘The guys who live,'” he emphasizes. Originally it was my friend Hyacinthe and one of his friends who started it. We met before an Alouettes game and there was a connection. We decided to join forces to create something.”
Enjoy life
Unfortunately, the death of “Mononcle Alain”, one of the members, last May served as a reminder of the essence of the project: the importance of enjoying life.
“Alan [Charland] “was one of our best friends,” said Claude Martel. He’s been with us practically from the start. We’re all getting older, obviously there are people who are going to leave… Alain, it’s the first one we lost, he was only 67 years old and it’s a big loss for us.
Amid laughter and the smell of hot dogs, a small memorial stands in the Guys Who Live facility to pay tribute to Alain. At each game, one member is invited to wear the Alouettes jersey with “Mononcle Alain” written on the back. During our visit, it was newcomer Vincent Proulx’s turn.
“We toast him every game,” Martel notes. He was an extremely sociable and kind person… His departure reminds us that life is precious. You can say you retire in 10 years but no, now is the time to have fun, now is the time to be happy, now is the time to share the time and make others happy.”
Photo Benoit Rioux
In the obituary of Mr. Charland, who lived in Estrie, we can also read: “He lived a happy life devoted entirely to his loved ones”. Alain left no one indifferent. Proud supporter of the Montreal Alouettes with the boys who live, couldn’t miss a tailgate party.
Since 2010
The group meeting, which has taken place before every game since 2010, is therefore in line with the “Mononcle Alain” way of thinking.
“When people ask me, ‘How much do you sell your hot dogs for?’ I reply that I am not selling them. I’ll give you one, two or three. But next game, bring some! That’s how it works,” summarizes Mr. Martel, who has held season tickets since the Alouettes returned to Percival Molson Stadium 25 years ago.
“Anyone who wants to join us is very welcome. It’s a community barbecue. We’re here for every game. People bring their food and drink with them. You eat what you want to eat and leave the rest to others. The same goes for what you drink.
It was missing in Montreal
Claude Martel stresses the importance of welcoming fans from other Canadian cities. This creates a network and we sometimes even meet up during the Gray Cup finals.
“In the other cities in the league, these pre-game barbecues are common and Montreal lacked them,” notes the 60-year-old.
In addition to the group “The boys who live”, other meetings take place, while the organization Alouettes also organizes parties before each local game.
“We don’t want exclusivity. I will look forward to the day when we gather by the thousands,” says Mr. Martel.
girls too…
Further proof of inclusion: the group also includes women. Among them Louise Laroche, 66, has been coming there regularly for several years, accompanied by her daughter Isabelle.
“There are also girls who are alive,” she says, smiling. We share, we bring food, we have fun, we talk about football and other topics.
Mrs. Laroche particularly enjoys the game presented on Thanksgiving weekend. This year Monday 9th October is circled as the Ottawa Redblacks will be the visiting club in the afternoon.
“It’s going to be an unprecedented roast turkey party and I’m making apple chips for everyone, as is tradition,” she says. It really is the big party!”
A life shaped by the Alouettes
If the Alouettes have the opportunity to present a playoff game at home, we travel the day before …
“I make my vacation at work dependent on the Alouettes games,” summarizes Mr. Martel, a 60-year-old computer scientist. I’ve been a fan of the Alouettes since I was very young, but I lived in Drummondville. I live in Montreal now and will have season tickets until I die.
Until his death, because he sees it as the best possible way to enjoy life. Win or lose for the Alouettes, he always comes out victorious.