Wayne Bourque facts for kids

Wayne Bourque (born 1959) is a famous Canadian boxer. He is known as the "Flurry from Fort McMurray" because of his fast boxing style. Wayne has won the North American Native boxing championship three times. He competed in both the welterweight and middleweight weight classes.

Wayne'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 was raised and trained in Fort McMurray. Wayne started boxing to protect himself from difficult situations.

Early Wins and Career Highlights

At just 13 years old, Wayne won his first big tournament. This was the Northwest Pacific Gold Gloves in Seattle. Throughout his boxing career, Wayne had 130 fights. He won about 109 of these matches and lost 21.

Wayne stopped competing in amateur boxing in 1985. This was because he hurt his knee while skiing. The injury happened just 18 days before the Olympic trials.

Life After Boxing

In 1987, Wayne moved to Toronto for 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 the St.Michael's Buzzers hockey team.

Wayne also runs a summer camp in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. At this camp, people use boxing exercises to get fit. They learn the moves without the physical contact of real boxing matches.

Wayne in the Movies

Wayne Bourque even appeared in the movie Cinderella Man (2005). He played the role of a corner man in a fight scene with actor Russell Crowe. Wayne also helped train Russell Crowe for his boxing scenes in the movie.

Returning to the Ring

In 2009, Wayne decided to compete again after many years. He took part in the Ringside World Championships. He had been asked to join for a long time before he finally said yes.

Wayne was also featured in a TV show called "Never Stop Learning" by TVO. In 2017, a book called "The World Needs More Canada" was published. Wayne was chosen for this book as one of the "cultural makers of our land." These are people who inspire others and show what Canada is all about.

Achievements and Awards

Wayne Bourque has achieved many great things in his boxing career:

• 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 strong contender to represent Canada at the Olympics
• 2009: Became 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
• Was a provincial champion 4 times
• Won the Golden Glove championship 4 times

Wayne's Family Life

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

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

Wayne's second cousin, Rene Bourque, is also a professional athlete. Rene played professional hockey in the NHL. He played for teams like the Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames, and Montreal Canadiens. Today, Rene Bourque plays hockey in Sweden.

See also

• Indigenous Canadian personalities