10 Trudeau Truths with Vice President of Children’s Services Andre Bessette
You know them as the educators, caregivers and leaders who work to keep everything running smoothly so that our clients at the Trudeau Memorial Center can have the best experience possible. But what are they like when they’re off the clock?
Here’s a chance to get a more personal look at the people who make up the team at Trudeau… 10 questions at a time.
Read on to learn more about Andre in this edition of 10 Trudeau Truths!
10 Trudeau Truths with Andre Bessette
1. What inspired you to pursue a career in human services?
When I was younger, I had my own struggles with ADHD, anxiety, and socially. Our society was not particularly mental health-focused and initially didn’t have the luxury of therapy, so I worked hard to try to manage this. I eventually benefitted from therapy and tutoring. I thus became fascinated with how people develop differently, their spectrum of abilities and challenges, and how certain supports/influences can help us change for the better. Also, my older sister is a psychologist as well, so I was always fascinated by her stories.
2. What do you find most rewarding about your job?
Getting to collaborate with such genuinely passionate, caring, and committed professionals, and seeing the joy in our students when they master something they’ve been working on for a while. I am thankful every day for the opportunity to work at a place where good people do the right things for the right reasons.
3. Can you describe a memorable moment or success story from your time working at Trudeau?
I would say it was my first week or so when everyone was so welcoming, friendly, respectful, and accommodating- treating me as if they had been expecting me for months.
4. What’s something about people with differing abilities (or working with them) that you wish other people knew or better understood?
No matter what a person’s talents or challenges may be, everyone has a story and an inner world that others should strive to get to know and respect. Especially with our students/clients, while someone may on the surface seem quite limited, they likely have a rich and unique way of perceiving and interacting with their world. We just need to learn how to speak their language.
5. What’s your favorite way to spend a weekend?
Going on a long bike ride, hanging with family and friends by the lake, doing some yard work, and cooking and eating some great food.
6. Favorite book, movie, and/or TV show.
Book: To Kill A Mockingbird; Movie: Shawshank Redemption; TV Show: M*A*S*H.
7. Do you have any pets?
A dog (Border Collie-Lab-Pit Bull) named Beatrice; a cat named Chrysanthemum; a pair of Canada Geese (not pets, but hang out on our property by the lake) named Arthur and DW.
8. What’s your favorite food?
I love so many different kinds. I love seafood, especially Asian or French/Mediterranean-style. I also love Neopolitan pizza and Korean food.
9. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
France (it is my heritage), back to Scandinavia (beautiful and they have a great quality of life), and Thailand (never been to Asia and I have friends there).
10. What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?
Back in 1993, a few years out of college, I decided to rollerblade across the country. I had been skating/playing hockey since age 4, so skating came naturally to me. So I did exactly that, starting May 9th in NYC, and finishing July 4th in Santa Monica/LA. I raised money for a pediatric HIV charity and for my agency serving IDD persons.
