Wayne Bourque facts for kids

Wayne Bourque, born in 1959, is a famous Canadian boxer. People called him the "flurry from Fort McMurray" because of his fast boxing style. He won the North American Native boxing championship three times. He was a champion in both the welterweight (lighter weight) and middleweight (medium weight) divisions.

Wayne Bourque's Boxing Journey

Wayne Bourque was born in 1959 in Lac La Biche, Alberta. His parents were Métis, and he grew up with four siblings. He learned to box in Fort McMurray to protect himself.

Early Boxing Success

Wayne started boxing at a young age. When he was just 13, he won his first big tournament. This was the Northwest Pacific Gold Gloves in Seattle. His boxing career was very active, with 130 fights in total. He won about 109 of those fights and lost 21. Wayne stopped amateur boxing in 1985. This was because he hurt his knee while skiing, just before the Olympic trials.

Life After Boxing

After retiring from boxing, Wayne moved to Toronto in 1987. He wanted a fresh start. He began by selling cellphones and working in plumbing. Then, he learned about a new fitness trend called 'boxercise'. His wife, Carol, encouraged him to try it.

In 1994, Wayne became a fitness trainer. He now owns a 'boxercise' center called Centre Ring. Many famous athletes have trained with him. These include NHL players like Matt Stajan and Olympian Marnie McBean. He also trains players from St.Michael's Buzzers. Wayne leads a summer camp in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. At this camp, people use boxing exercises to get fit. They do this without the physical contact of actual boxing matches.

Wayne even appeared in the movie Cinderella Man (2005). He was a corner man in a fight scene with Russell Crowe. He also helped train Russell Crowe for his role in the movie. In 2009, Wayne decided to compete again. He participated in the Ringside World Championships and won.

Wayne Bourque has been featured in books and TV shows. TVO showed his story in their Never Stop Learning series. He was also in a book called The World Needs More Canada. This book celebrated Canada's 150th birthday. Wayne was chosen as one of the "cultural makers" who inspire people.

Wayne Bourque's Achievements

• 1973: Junior National Champion, 80 lb class
• 1974: Junior National Champion, 85 lb class
• 1975: Junior National Champion, 90 lb class
• 1983: Won a bronze medal at the national championships
• 1984: Was a top contender for the Canadian Olympic team
• 2009: Ringside World Champion for Masters (age 40 to 50)
• Received a Lifetime achievement award at the Regional Aboriginal Recognition Awards
• 2012: Inducted into the Wood Buffalo Hall of Fame
• Won the North American Native championship 3 times
• Won the provincial championship 4 times
• Won the Golden Glove championship 4 times

Wayne Bourque's Family

Wayne Bourque is married to Carole. They have a son named Brandon. Brandon is a talented lacrosse player.

Wayne's mother, Clara Bourque, is featured in a book. The book is called Mark of the MetisL Traditional Knowledge and Stories of the Metis People in Northeastern Alberta (2009).

Wayne's second cousin, Rene Bourque, played professional hockey. He played in the NHL for teams like the Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens. As of 2025, Rene Bourque is playing hockey in Sweden.

See also

• Indigenous Canadian personalities