It is with great sadness that Tennis Canada received the news of the passing of journalist and long-time federation contributor Mario Brisebois, who recently left us after a long battle with cancer.
A talented writer and dedicated storyteller of our sport’s evolution since the early 1980s, Brisebois enjoyed a long career as a sports journalist in Quebec. After making his debut as a golf contributor for the Journal de Montréal while serving as a caddie for renowned golfer Jocelyne Bourassa, the 1973 Canadian Open champion, he quickly rose through the ranks and was soon entrusted with a new responsibility: covering tennis. In doing so, Brisebois not only became the first full-time tennis columnist in Quebec’s history, but also began a long-standing love affair and commitment to our sport.
While he covered all the major sporting moments that have marked the history of Canadian tennis over the past decades, he was especially known for his efforts in shining a spotlight on the people working behind the scenes contributing to those successes. Volunteers, coaches, event organizers, chaperones – he met with all those who sought to use tennis to improve people’s lives. He also had a distinctive interview style known as the “friendly conversation,” an exchange that rarely felt like an interview, but that put people completely at ease and, often, brought out the best stories in Canadian tennis.
Brisebois’ love story with tennis spanned nearly 40 years. He did tremendous work promoting the sport by covering all of Tennis Canada’s activities, from junior tournaments to the National Bank Open presented by Rogers and beyond. In addition to his various columns in the Journal de Montréal, he also supported the federation as a contributing writer for Tennis Canada’s platforms, with the goal of further increasing the sport’s visibility among Canadians.
His overall contribution was so significant that in 2006, Brisebois received a rare distinction for a member of the media: one of Tennis Canada’s Distinguished Service Awards, presented annually to members of the tennis community whose contributions have created a positive impact on the sport and who are invested at the national, provincial, or community level.
His exceptional work also earned him mtembership in the International Tennis Writers Association (ITWA), a highly selective group of international journalists recognized as some of the best tennis writers in the world.
A friend to all, known for his rare ability to listen and for an aura often described as reassuring, he will undoubtedly leave a great void, even as he leaves behind a significant written legacy and countless lasting memories.
History will remember him as a man who, through his many columns, helped shape the public image of tennis. As for us, we will especially remember him as one of our most influential pioneers, who greatly contributed to making tennis a leading sport in Quebec and Canada.
Mr. Brisebois, Canadian tennis salutes you and warmly thanks you for everything you have done.
