James Lavallée

At an early age, Lavallée was diagnosed with both dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which led to a frustrating elementary school experience[3]. To relieve the stresses of school life, Lavallée turned to the sport of kayaking at the age of eleven. His family would visit Fort Whyte, in southwestern Winnipeg, during the summers to take advantage of their kayaking program.[4]

Overcoming his earlier learning disabilities, Lavallée is currently an environmental science student at the University of Manitoba. He was also recently named to Manitoba's CBC Future 40, showcasing influential Canadian change-makers under the age of forty.

He is currently a student at the University of Manitoba pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Ecology and Environmental Science.[5]

Lavallée was named the Canadian flag bearer at the 2014 ICF Junior & U23 Canoe World Championships in Szeged, Hungary. Lavallée also attended the 2015 ICF Junior & U23 Canoe World Championships in Milan, racing the K1 200-m Then, at the 2017 Canada Summer Games (hosted in his hometown of Winnipeg) Lavallée won three medals, including a silver in the K1 200-m and two bronzes in the K1 500-m and K4 200-m events (K referring to the number of athletes in the kayak).

His goal is to qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.[6]

In 2018, he was named a 2019 Indspire Award recipient. [7][8]

Although in his family their "Métis heritage was hidden on both sides," Lavallée is an outspoken advocate for indigenous cultural heritage.[9] During medal ceremonies, notably at the 2017 Canada Games, Lavallée would wear his ceinture fléchée (Metis sash) on the podium. One day, he “hopes to introduce more people to kayaking through an Indigenous holistic paddling program he wants to start with a fellow Métis athlete.”[10]