Arrived from France to study at the University of Montreal, the current head coach of the FC Laval had joined the team of that same university. He also played in senior AAA, which was the highest level in the province at the time.

His strong performance on the field earned him the title of Canadian University Player of the Year. Later, he joined the Trois-Rivières Attak, the defunct Montreal Impact (CF Montreal) academy club, with which he was crowned Canadian Soccer League champion in the role of captain.

He then retired to start his career on the sidelines, becoming assistant coach with the University of Montreal Carabins.

Local Development

Shortly after his start in coaching, Coulibaly was approached by Marinos Papageorgopoulos, current manager of the CF Montreal Academy, who managed the former club of Chomedey. This was part of the merger leading FC Laval’s creation.

“He brought me to work with the 2002–03 group,” Coulibaly explained.”I had the chance to work as I wanted, and to have complete trust in what I was doing. We took our time.”

He admits the results weren’t always there at first.

“Results weren’t fantastic, but the youngsters have to learn how to lose games,” he said. “It’s necessary, and it pays off when you’re taking the time, and let young athletes develop.”

That age group’s also an integral part of the title won this summer by the FC Laval, in the men’s section of the Première ligue de soccer du Québec.

“They’re young people with whom I have had the chance to work since they were 11 or 12 years old,

“These are young people with whom I have had the chance to work since they were 11 or 12 years old,” Coulibaly said. “If we’re looking at the reserve team, they’re second in their league. They’re young athletes who are extremely solid mentally, and it turned out as we hoped.”

Collaboration

In addition to working with the younger players, Coulibaly continued to coach with the Carabins for a few seasons, winning two university championships.

It allowed him to rub shoulders with certain players, such as Wandrille Lefebvre, who is part of the champion edition of the FC Laval.

He is now 100 per cent focused on the performance of Laval’s team, while continuing his work with the Carabins. He believes the success of his project is linked to his collaboration with the players.

“I know I wasn’t always easy to manage as a player, because I had in mind what I wanted to do,” he admitted, laughing. “Today, it reflects on my way of coaching. The players want to be in charge of the project in the same way as the coaches. That’s the vision that I try to put in place by including everyone in the process.”

translated by Alec Brideau

L’article Boubacar Coulibaly: The Man Behind FC Laval’s Success est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

Police officers’ role in the school is to do prevention and raise awareness, with repression having no place in the targeted approach.

“Their presence responds to a need in terms of awareness, but mainly from an interrelational point of view,” said Andrée Primeau, principal of Saint-Maxime high school. “Police officers are involved with the students, establishing unique and privileged links.”

They’re discussing various topics with them, including cybercriminality, bullying, domestic violence and more.

Police officers are also trying to identify issues and concerns affecting school life.

In that sense, they’ll try to establish action or intervention plans that can help counter some of the problems.

“Mutual trust, active listening and dialogue are essential to maintain a real and lasting sense of security,” said Pierre Brochet, director of director of Laval’s police department. “It’s essential for us to strengthen the close relationship we have with the students.”

Those same police officers also inform students and school staff on topics related to the justice system and the enforcement of laws and regulations.

Positive Impacts

The goal of the project is to develop and consolidate interventions between police officers and students by increasing police’s presence in school environments.

“That pilot project is a perfect example of a collaborative and concerted initiative looking to fight against violence,” said Yves Michel Volcy, Executive Director of the Centre de services scolaire de Laval. “ will certainly have a positive impact on all students and staff.”

The implementation of that pilot project would allow any student living a difficult situation to be guided to a socio-community agent to get support.

Together, they’ll be able to find solutions, and the students will be oriented to the relevant resources.

Laval’s police department says the collaboration with the Centre de services scolaire will help students to act more effectively, and better equip themselves. (J.B.)

translated by Alec Brideau

L’article Collaboration Between Saint-Maxime School and Laval’s Police Department est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.