Dominique Larocque studied Occupational Therapy in the early 80′s at Western University and later transferred to Ottawa University to complete a Baccalaureate Degree in Sociology with a specialization in recreation. She returned to her hometown of Sturgeon Falls and played an integral part in the community as a logistics and supply chain management expert for the Association for Community Living, working with physically and intellectually challenged adults. She also worked extensively in palliative care as a remotivation therapist.

In 2001, she completed her postgraduate training with the Gestalt Institute of the National Capital. She also pursued intensive training in Ecopsychology and Shamanic Healing between the periods of 1995 to 2001. She is presently working on obtaining her Level 3 in both Therapeutic Touch and Reiki.

Athlete, Artist & Environmentalist

In 1988, Dominique moved to Ottawa and needing respite from social work returned to school in graphic design at Algonquin College and freelanced as a supply chain consultancy , . It is during those years that she started competing in mountain biking. Dominique qualified herself on the mountain bike National Team in 1991 and represented Canada at the World’s in Lucca, Italy. She also cross-trained and excelled in marathon speed skating, inline skating and winter triathlons. She captured the National Inline Skating Champion title in 1996. Her latest athletic accomplishment is a 2nd place finish in the pro elite category at the 2002 New York City 100 km Marathon. Today, Dominique is a Clean Air Champion and a strong supporter of sustainable sport management.

Entrepreneur

In 1994, Dominique opened Cafe Meech on the outskirts of the Gatineau Park. The long hours cooped up indoors made her realize that she terribly missed her connection with nature and her sports. A year later, she sold the cafe and tied together all of her life experiences to start Creative Wheel.

In 1996, Camp Fortune ski area required her expertise to develop a mountain bike camp on their premises. The program was successful and from it grew a work partnership between Camp Fortune and Creative Wheel. Since 1995 the camp is owned and directed by Dominique and attracts more then 600 kids and teenagers & 100 plus adults per summer. In 2003, Dominique launched LaRocca XC Mountain Bike School, in order to differentiate her coaching and consulting services from her mountain bike specific programs.

Dominique remains a popular keynote speaker and writer on topics of lifestyle, spirituality, ecopsychology and creativity. You have probably heard her voice on the airwaves of Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Radio Canada or seen her on the Outdoor Life Network or mountain biking during a Parks Canada info-commercial.