Charles Demers was officially named president of the Capitals. It was the worst kept secret in Quebec, but it’s the journey of the young 31-year-old baseball man that is sure to amaze. Portrait of the man who will wear Michel Laplante’s immense boots.
• Also read: “I took the team where I could take it”: Michel Laplante leaves his post as president of Capitales calmly
We could sum it up simplistically by mentioning that Demers has spent the last 12 years with the organization, but in reality, the Capitales have been part of its DNA for much longer.
“The Capitals represent much more than a professional baseball team to me. It’s the story of my life,” summed up the man who had been vice-president of the team since last January and who was expected to be Laplante’s successor.
We also know that Demers perfected his knowledge in baseball operations, management and marketing, notably as administrative general manager, from 2019 to 2023.
A long love story
It is today that he experiences the joy of a great promotion, but the love at first sight has been burning for much longer.
Les Capitales settled in Quebec in 1999, when he was only six years old. He quickly became a huge fan of the team. Like many other young people, he had the opportunity to accompany the players as they entered the field during the pre-match presentations.
With his young teammates from the Ambassadeurs de Lévis at the BB mosquito level, little Charles Demers with glasses (center), was already a fervent admirer of the Capitals, long before becoming president of the team. – PHOTO PROVIDED BY CHARLES DEMERS
Around the age of 11, he even became bat boy for the team. Little by little, he became involved in the organization from scratch, first as promotions manager, without receiving a penny at the start.
The Capitals then gave him some additional tasks, including the souvenir shop. The former Quebec Diamants player, in elite junior baseball, sometimes led at first base under manager Patrick Scalabrini, over time.
At the risk of divulging a state secret, know that the new president even found himself in the costume of the mascot Capi.
“I’ve always thought there’s no such thing as a sub-job. I was just proud, in everything I did, to wear the Capitals logo,” he explained to us after the official press briefing.
A mission
The new president of the Capitals was greeted by one of the most beloved former players in the team’s history by fans, Eddie Lantigua. – Stevens LeBlanc/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC
Another example demonstrating his passion for the Capitals, he even did his master’s thesis at Laval University in sports management, on the determinants that can influence attendance for a minor professional baseball organization.
Needless to say, becoming President of the Capitals at the start of your thirties represents an unexpected accomplishment.
“It was never part of my personal aspirations. Absolutely not!”, he assures.
“The fact remains that when the owners asked me if I was interested, the decision was easy to make. I feel like a fish in water in terms of managing a sports team. I grew up with the Capitals. I became a manager and a father with the Capitals. This environment is very important to me.”
An obvious choice
Charles Demers with the majority owner of Les Capitales and the Vertdure group, Philippe Tremblay. – Stevens LeBlanc/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC
For majority owner Philippe Tremblay, the decision to replace Michel Laplante with Charles Demers was obvious, without any other consideration.
“His blood is half blue and half yellow. He’s been in the boat for a long time. He knows the organization. This assures us that the Capitals will remain the Capitals. At 31, taking over the presidency of a team is remarkable. He deserves it 100% and the choice was easy to make. It came back to him,” he said.
When announcing the departure of Michel Laplante, Demers cited the massive investments in Stade Canac, the fact that the Ligue Frontière could increase to 24 teams within two years, as well as several improvements to come in the coming months such as being its main short-term challenges.
He will also sit among the governors, notably on the technological committee. This will at the very least revive the league’s outdated website.
“He is extremely creative and he will be able to continue the evolution of the Capitals. He will make his decisions and he will create his own identity,” promised Philippe Tremblay.
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