Dynamic and tenacious sports commentator Jean-Charles Lajoie was born in Granby. His young, single mother never gave in to pressure from her parents or familyFurnishings to give birth to him. He went by his mother’s last name until his mother married Diane when he was five years old. Her husband Richard Lajoie, a man of few words, adopted Jean-Charles, who would henceforth bear the surname Lajoie.
The many moves between Granby and Cowansville forced him to change schools frequently. From kindergarten to the end of elementary school, he attended six institutions. Today he is fortunate to be able to fulfill his dream of working in the world of sport. He thanks life for everything it has given him.
In your early twenties you were the manager of a bar in Granby and one day someone pointed a gun in your face.
My reaction was calm and icy as I gently pushed the 38 Special away from my face to remind him to be careful or he might injure himself. He walked away slowly.
You had to live apart from your mother.
Before my mother got married, she had to work a lot, so I lived with a family during the weekdays and she came to my grandparents’ house on the weekends. I didn’t live in a normal life context, I was a child king.
“Wake up, we’re getting the Stanley Cup out.”
I was born in 1971, so I was young when this Canadiens dynasty won the Stanley Cup. I often fell asleep on the sofa while watching hockey on TV with my grandmother. She said to me quietly, “Wake up Jean-Charles, we’re going to get the Stanley Cup.”
Your mother’s marriage was difficult for you.
I would rather say that the contrast between the life of a child king and a structured and organized life was stark. I couldn’t do what I wanted when I wanted anymore. Also, I was more embarrassed then than I am now and less high-spirited than I am now.
They were street vendors, producers and journalists.
I delivered the newspapers, I produced shows for young people whose ticket price was 25 cents, not to mention I published my magazine which I sold on Saturdays for the modest sum of 10 cents a piece. I have also babysat my neighbors’ children. I can’t tell because of my age, but I started working in bars when I was 17.
I’ve always enjoyed commenting more than acting.
Well seated on the porch, I commented on the games on the street over three cases of beer. Sometimes I’ve used hockey player cards to describe a game. Also, in the bathroom, I read the statistics page of the newspapers and then a news program using the data I had in mind.
They organized the Olympic Games.
My brother Alexandre and my sister Marie-Noël were younger than me. At the age of 13, I gathered her friends to attend the Olympic Games, which I organized. The games included many disciplines and the presentation of medals on a podium.
Your uncle Michel was your father figure.
I spent most of my youth with my aunts and uncles. Michel was the entrepreneur and head of the family. My mother, who taught diction and drama and had a job in radio, was a big influence on me.
Every morning you had to read the newspaper aloud.
From elementary school to high school, every morning I had to read an article in the newspaper with the tonic accents and intonations. My mother taught me to speak French well and she still makes sure I speak Molière’s language well.
You did student radio.
I hosted a student radio show with my friends. It was supposed to be music only, but we featured local news, sports, the weather, not to mention our many chronicles.
Have you experienced bullying at school?
Young people laughed at me, and sometimes I experienced physical violence. I wondered how to get out of there. My last chance to get out of there was to experience improv at school.
Why improvise?
In 1st secondary school, I was selected to be part of the school team, which consisted mainly of 5th secondary school students. Suddenly my enemies who intimidated me became my friends.
Sport, the activity you loved.
Growing up, I played soccer, hockey, football, and baseball in the backyard, in the park, and on the street.
Sport has defined your leadership.
I was part of the Cosmos de Granby football team that took part in the Jeux du Québec. In high school I was the quarterback on the football team. Sport has undoubtedly shaped my leadership role.
You watched wrestling and ice hockey at Center sportif Léonard–Grondin.
On the bill were Les Rougeau, Géant Ferré and Dino Bravo. I often spent my days attending hockey games, which I described in my head.
Culture was part of your youth.
My aunts and mother loved music and theater, which I in turn discovered for myself. In high school I was part of a drama group.
A long lasting friendship.
In 1984 I met Bernard Roger at a bus stop and today we work at radio station 91.9.
You have three wonderful children.
My children Jean-Maxime, Pier-Gabriel and Charles-Olivier are my greatest wealth, my life and my strength. Marie Manon, the mother of my children, has always supported me, even if sometimes I have not reached my goal.
