Michel
Paiement

Michel Paiement has one phrase that he believes sums up his career in volleyball: “right place, right time, right people.” It has been a theme in his time with the sport. He didn’t grow up playing volleyball or have any connections with the sport. Volleyball chose him.

Growing up in Amos, Quebec, where Michel grew up playing hockey, eventually playing for the Shawinigan Bruins of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. When he wasn’t drafted into the NHL, he ended up on a hockey scholarship with the University of Prince Edward Island. After one year, he knew he wanted to study Physical Education and transferred to Acadia University. It was here that volleyball found him and he fell for the sport.

Upon graduating, Michel returned to Amos to work at the high school as a Phys. Ed. teacher. At the time, all Phys. Ed. teachers had to coach a sport. He was offered basketball, a sport that his brother was already coaching successfully. Not wanting to be in his brother’s shadow, Michel decided to go with volleyball – a sport he had never coached. In his second year, he led the team to a regional and then provincial championship.

In 1980, he was brought onto the provincial team as an assistant coach and was named the course director for his region. In 1984, attended the University of New Brunswick to obtain his Master’s Degree in Sport Administration. While there, he was still instructing volleyball courses while also coaching his other passion – golf.

The University of Moncton caught wind of the up-and-coming coach, inviting him to lead a weekend camp for the men’s volleyball team. The camp went very well and with the team’s head coach taking a two-year assignment as the Athletic Director, Michel was offered the role, which he accepted.

In his second year, the team captured the Atlantic University Sport Championship title and earning the AUS Coach of the Year. He was then named head coach for Team Quebec for the 1987 Canada Games, leading the team to a silver medal.

With Michel’s two years as the coach in Moncton up, he decided to move to Ottawa to be with his partner, Louise. Shortly after, the position of Technical Director for Volleyball Canada became available. He applied and was hired into the role – right place, right time.

As the Technical Director, Michel impacted volleyball in Canada in every facet. From 1987 to 2001, he worked with the national teams, he was leading coach training and programs, and was working with all Provincial and Territorial Associations across the country. He was consistently working to bring everyone together as a unified force to grow and develop the sport.

One of Michel’s biggest accomplishments during this time was the restructuring of the coaching pathway. He worked to change this process from an in-class course to a competency-based system where coaches had to work with athletes by developing and implementing plans. Michel was travelling all across Canada to deliver these courses, influencing the next wave of volleyball coaches.

In his time with Volleyball Canada, Michel was also working internationally with the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball as an instructor and eventually a course director. In 1995, he was named the Secretary of the Development Commission. His ability to unify groups was seen here as well, bringing coaches from other countries to speak to Canadian coaches, discussing tactics and systems, something that was very secretive prior to Michel opening that door.

After leaving Volleyball Canada, Michel was offered a job with Collège Nouvelle Frontière in Gatineau, becoming the vice president while coaching volleyball as well. In 2007, he became the school’s principal, retiring from the role in 2016 but maintaining his connection by running the college’s foundation. He continued to deliver coaching courses for the FIVB until 2013 when he became the coach of the University of Quebec Outaouais women’s team, his first experience coaching women’s volleyball. He retired from the sport in 2018.

In recognition of his lifetime dedication to coaching development and education, Michel was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013.

Michel was instrumental in the growth of volleyball and coaching in Canada. His impact on the sport is still being felt today from helping to develop the next generation of coaches to the programs he designed and assisted on with Volleyball Canada. He’s known for his incredible work ethic, his ability to bring people together, and his kindness towards all those he came across. Today, we are honoured to induct Michel Paiement as a Builder into the Volleyball Canada Hall of Fame in recognition of his commitment and dedication to the sport of volleyball.