Tribute to Stéphane CANTIN

Tribute to Stéphane CANTIN from Sandra D, Sandra M, Alex and Marie Mateos, Julien M.

Sandra D.

Stéphane, what can I say? There are so many words and not one strong enough to say how much we will miss him.

So let’s start at the beginning. Stéphane fell into it as a child, yes yes, a bit like Obelix. His magic potion was the air, flying with or without an engine.

Born in Switzerland to a father who was a paratrooper and a paragliding pioneer, Stéphane grew up and developed alongside paragliding.

Almost 40 years of flying experience took him to being a paragliding pilot and instructor (even in the cage, for those old enough to remember), and then a paramotor pilot, instructor and competitor. It was after a competition on Quebec soil at Métis that he truly decided he needed a propeller on his back. A great deal of dedication, training and hard work allowed him to start slalom competition. He took part in several European and World Championships, and was even invited to represent Switzerland (his nation of origin) at the WAG in Dubai (World Air Games) in 2015. Since 2016 he had been the pilot of Canada’s tandem paramotor crew in classic competition. Team Canada Paramotor took part in several championships, including the World Championship in Thailand in 2018. And from that same team was born the paragliding and paramotor school “Les Caribous Volants”, which Stéphane owned.

Stéphane was a partner, a friend, an instructor, a motivator, a mechanic, a diligent and demanding professional, a big kid who loved the sky and the challenges it can bring.

When I tell you there are no words, that is not quite true. Here are a few: passionate, loyal, kind, focused, with a big inner smile, creative, lots of potato salads, 17-day trips, training, sewing, determined, funny, grumpy, sincere, confession, sharing, “a big good character”. You won’t understand them all, and that’s normal, because Stéphane had several blades on his propeller…

He leaves behind a great void, people who loved him, students who no longer have their “bird daddy”, and a whole community that appreciated and respected him.

Fly in the sky, little Swiss-Quebecois caribou, you will forever be in our hearts.

Sandra M.

Stéphane was a sensational person. Always cheerful and kind, he lit up the week of the 2022 French championship in Auch, where I met him, with his witty remarks and good humour. Very generous, he gave me a personalised wing bag that never leaves me now. Many of us were looking forward to seeing him again next year at the World Championships. We will miss him.

Alex and Marie M.

Stéphane Cantin was a motivated pilot who travelled a lot.

Marie: I remember his visit to our school, where we exchanged our paramotor teaching techniques, an exchange from which I learned a great deal.

Alex: Stéphane, always smiling even after missing an event. We always knew him from our side of the Atlantic. What a pity not to have been able to fly at your place with you, Stéphane. You left too soon,

Someone always kind to others, and with a smile. He also taught us words such as “Tabernak”! and “Bon Matin”.

Strange expressions, with a strong accent. Nicely complemented by his co-pilot Sandra.

We already miss his accent, and we were proud to have a beautiful human soul like his on our team.

Happy flying, Stéphane

Julien M

Stéphane had a smile from sunrise to sunset, and good humour radiated around him.

He was our Canadian Swiss, whom we had adopted into the French team. He benefited from our techniques, our briefings and our advice, because we loved having him among us.

We will miss him, his accent, and the joy he spread.