September 4, 2020

Once A Cheer, Always A Cheer – Guylaine

Ever wondered what happened to some of your favorite Alouettes cheerleaders? In our “Once a Cheer, Always a Cheer” series, we catch up with our former cheerleaders to see what they’re up to now!

This week, the spotlight is on Guylaine, who was part of our cheer squad from 2000 to 2008!

What have you been up to since your time with the Alouettes and where are you now?

Until recently, I worked in asset management in an actuarial firm. I am proud to say that I obtained my CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) title last year! However, I’m am currently on maternity leave taking care of an adorable little one. My partner and I are taking advantage of these very particular circumstances to enjoy quality family time.

What’s your best memory as a cheerleader for the Alouettes?

One of my top five memories would be shooting the Alouettes calendar in Cuba. It was my first time swimming in the sea and seeing palm trees! Going on a trip down South is always exciting, but traveling in the company of a group of sweet and funny girls is just priceless!

 

What’s your funniest anecdote?

At the time I was on the team, I was also a full-time student and I had a job to help me pay my way through school. When you combine university, work, and dance, it can become a lot to handle and you can become distracted at times. Well…one day, right before going on the field to perform the halftime show, I couldn’t find my second dance shoe. I had no choice but to perform the choreography in my socks. The girls (and I!) were wondering what had happened to my shoe.

After the game, as I was walking towards the parking, I noticed there was something on the roof of my car. It was the missing shoe! I now laugh about it, but never as much as the girls who witnessed the entire ordeal. To this day, I still can’t explain how it ended up there.

What’s a lesson you learned during your time with the Alouettes?

Being a part of the Alouettes cheerleaders taught me to accept criticism and showed me the real value of teamwork. It can be something as simple as getting corrected on a dance sequence. It’s never fun to make a mistake and to get told that you did something wrong, but at the end of the day, I’d much rather fix my mistakes in practice so I can avoid looking like a fool on the field. Constructive criticism is precious.